US Elections 2026

Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson debated affordability, taxes, data centers and Trump in Georgia’s only scheduled gubernatorial debate, NBC News reports. Bottoms proposed relief on household purchases and insurance; Jackson pledged income, property and utility tax cuts. Both invoked their records and challenged the other’s approach; the promises remain campaign proposals.

John James said he disagrees with Trump on parts of the Iran war and tariff policy during his first debate with Jocelyn Benson, NBC News reports. Benson challenged his votes against war-powers resolutions and linked tariffs to household costs. James defended those votes as support for deployed troops; their competing claims form part of the gubernatorial campaign.

Susan Collins and Troy Jackson traded arguments over Trump, living costs and abortion in Maine’s first Senate debate, NBC News reports. Collins emphasized disagreements with the administration and federal funding secured through her seniority; Jackson criticized her voting record. Their policy arguments and campaign claims come as the race could affect control of the Senate.

The NAACP sued the Justice Department seeking records about planned election-monitor deployments, The Guardian reports. It says a September records request went unanswered and warns of voter intimidation. DOJ says monitors follow legal requirements and will not interfere with voting. The lawsuit seeks transparency; no ruling or finding of misconduct is reported.

An NBC News/Telemundo poll finds registered Latino voters prefer Democratic control of Congress by 59% to 35%, amid concerns about prices and immigration enforcement. The September 21–28 survey included 800 voters and has a 3.5-point margin of error. It measures current preferences, with turnout and regional differences still uncertain.

Southern Baptist Convention president Willy Rice urged pastors to engage in the political process before the midterm elections, Fox News reports. He described abortion, marriage, gender identity and immigration as matters with theological and moral implications. His comments express his position on church involvement in politics; they do not establish that all Southern Baptists share it.

A Fox News survey puts Democrat Josh Turek at 49% and Republican Ashley Hinson at 47% among Iowa likely voters, within its three-point sampling margin of error. The September 24–28 poll interviewed 1,204 registered voters, including 1,008 likely voters. Cost-of-living concerns dominate respondents’ priorities; the result measures current preferences rather than predicting the election.

James Talarico leads Ken Paxton 51% to 49% among Texas likely voters in a Fox News poll, a difference within the survey’s three-point sampling margin of error. The September 24–28 survey interviewed 1,203 registered voters, including 881 likely voters. It also finds Governor Greg Abbott ahead of Gina Hinojosa 52% to 47%; neither result is an election forecast.

The Democratic National Committee sued over the removal of a checkbox for overseas US citizens who have never lived in the country, the Guardian reports. The Pentagon said the change was intended to reduce confusion. The lawsuit argues the rushed procedure was unlawful; experts say changing the form does not itself remove eligible citizens’ voting rights.

November’s state legislative and governor races could change party control in closely divided states and affect abortion, school-choice and data-center policy, AP reports. More than 6,100 lawmakers and 36 governors are on the ballot. Results in Minnesota, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin could open a path to redraw congressional maps before 2028.

An AP-NORC survey found 65% of US adults blame President Trump’s policies for unusually high prices, while 67% of Republicans blame factors beyond his control. The September 24–28 poll interviewed 2,140 adults and has a ±2.9-point overall sampling margin. These are respondents’ views, rather than a measurement of which policies caused inflation.

The Justice Department charged 10 people in Minnesota with allegedly voting illegally across three elections, AP reports. Election experts say noncitizen voting remains rare and has not been shown to change outcomes. The charges are allegations; DOJ’s broader 90-case figure includes other kinds of election misconduct.

Senate majority leader John Thune joined criticism of the administration’s taxpayer-funded advertisements Monday, the Washington Examiner reports. Ad-tracking firm AdImpact estimates nearly $1.5 million spent since last week, including more than $315,000 around football broadcasts. The White House did not provide totals to the outlet; the figures are tracker estimates, not an official accounting.

NPR profiles Democratic congressional candidates who make Christian faith central to their campaigns, including ordained clergy and Texas Senate nominee James Talarico, a seminary student. They connect religious teachings to health care and economic policy. The report describes Republican criticism and mixed voter reactions to religion’s role in politics.

The Supreme Court blocked another attempt to restore Missouri’s 2025 congressional map, leaving the 2022 districts in place for November, NBC News reports. The justices cited the disruption of changing boundaries after voting had begun. The order preserves a map with six Republican-held and two Democratic-held seats.

The Cook Political Report shifted fifteen House races toward Democrats and assessed the party as favored to win the chamber, the Washington Examiner reports. Its analysis points to competitive-district polling, economic conditions and campaign spending ahead of November. These ratings are forecasts, and control of the House will be decided by voters.