US Midterm Elections 2026 Highlights: Donald Trump Faces Election Test As Americans Vote

US Vice President JD Vance has said the Trump administration has not set a strict deadline for Iran to reach an agreement to avoid a possible resumption of US strikes.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections, Vance said Washington’s main concern was securing a firm and verifiable commitment from Tehran that it would not rebuild its nuclear programme.

“We want to make sure they don’t rebuild it or try to rebuild it. That’s what matters most to the United States,” Vance said.

Vance said he believed Iran placed importance on its sovereignty and economic recovery, adding that an agreement was possible if Tehran made a verifiable commitment on its nuclear programme.

Trump has said in recent weeks that he does not plan to launch fresh strikes on Iran before the US midterm elections.

-AP

Mike Johnson says polls miss GOP enthusiasm at Virginia rally

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday dismissed polls showing Democrats with an edge in key congressional races, saying they did not reflect Republican enthusiasm on the ground.

Johnson was speaking at a campaign event in suburban Richmond, Virginia, in support of Republican Representative Rob Wittman, who faces Democratic challenger Shannon Taylor in the state's 1st Congressional District.

“I’m telling you: Dismiss the polls; dismiss the pundits,” Johnson told supporters gathered at a restaurant.

Wittman, who has represented the district since 2007, is facing one of the toughest re-election campaigns of his congressional career. Johnson praised his experience, calling him a “steady hand at the wheel” and a hard worker, and predicted he would win re-election on Tuesday.

-AP

US President Donald Trump has suggested that a deal with Iran could be reached soon, claiming that Tehran wants a settlement “as soon as possible” in a post on Truth Social on Monday, November 2.

“It could happen!” Trump wrote, while claiming that oil prices were “DROPPING LIKE A ROCK”.

Vice President JD Vance also expressed optimism about the possibility of negotiations, telling reporters that he and Trump “both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement”.

The comments come a day before US voters head to the polls for the November 3 midterm elections. The Iran conflict has contributed to higher fuel and household costs, making the war an economic concern during the campaign. Oil prices fell sharply on Monday amid renewed hopes of a US-Iran agreement.

-BBC

President Trump spent Monday at the Lincoln Memorial rather than on the campaign trail. He held up a poster of the algae-clogged Reflecting Pool while music played and promoted the renovations. Republicans were fighting to keep control of Congress. Strategist Doug Heye said the setting was “bizarre and being very self-focused” and of little help to undecided voters.

-AP

Volunteer Cheryl has knocked on at least 1,000 doors since March in Georgia. She says many voters, including some independents and Republicans, are focused on President Trump and the high cost of living. In Roswell, independent Sally said she is voting for all Democrats because she wants politicians who will “stand up to Trump”. Suburbs like this will be watched closely on Tuesday.

-BBC

Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran has reached its ninth month. Unlike earlier short US operations, it is settling into a longer fight. Oil, petrol and diesel prices have risen and stayed high, adding to inflation. The Strait of Hormuz has become a low-intensity war zone, limiting supplies of fertilisers and liquefied natural gas. Iranian drones and missiles have hit US bases in the Gulf. The Ukraine war continues as well, and Trump’s approach to Russia has drawn criticism at home and from European allies. If Republicans lose Congress, the next steps remain unclear.

-BBC

The Supreme Court has turned down the Trump administration’s request for California to set aside about 20,000 mail ballots ahead of the midterms. The administration said the ballots were sent to non-citizens. The court refused the application, so the ballots remain valid as voting begins.

-AP

All US citizens aged 18 and above are eligible to vote in federal, state and local elections, although certain restrictions apply. The right to vote, once largely limited to white, land-owning men, was gradually expanded following decades of activism and civil rights movements to include women and African Americans.

However, voting eligibility varies across states. Some states restrict voting rights for people convicted of felonies or those currently serving prison sentences. US citizens residing in territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam cannot vote in the general presidential election, though they can participate in presidential primaries and certain other elections. Meanwhile, some states allow noncitizens to vote in specific local elections.

-AP

Abdul El-Sayed vs Mike Rogers

Abdul El-Sayed (Democrat): A physician and former director of the Detroit Health Department, El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary with a progressive campaign.

Mike Rogers (Republican): A former US representative and ex-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rogers is seeking to return to Washington.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren campaigned alongside Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Monday, continuing to urge voters to support his bid for the Senate.

In a post on X, Warren wrote: “Vote Abdul for money out of politics, money in your pocket, and Medicare for All.”

-Al Jazeera

“The application for injunction pending appeal presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied,” the order stated.

The ruling came hours after the Justice Department filed an emergency appeal seeking to segregate around 20,000 ballots linked to voters whom federal officials suspect may be noncitizens, ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections.

-BBC

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and other major carmakers, has backed the Trump administration in a legal challenge brought by California and other states over its revised fuel economy standards.

The US Department of Transportation finalised the revised C orporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in September. They set a fleet-wide average of 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031, down from the 50.4 miles per gallon target established under former President Joe Biden’s 2024 rules.

The development comes as fuel prices remain a concern ahead of the US midterm elections. Regular petrol averaged $4.17 per gallon on Monday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), about 12 cents lower than a week earlier.

Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has urged Michigan voters to reject Republican rival Mike Rogers in an opinion article published by Fox News on Monday, November 2, a day before the US midterm elections.

El-Sayed said his campaign had held more than 700 events across 120 cities, including a week-long town hall tour of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. He argued that residents in these areas had been overlooked by both Republicans and Democrats, and said working families were struggling with the cost of gas, groceries and healthcare.

He also criticised President Donald Trump and Rogers over tariffs and the war with Iran, claiming that Trump's policies had increased financial pressure on Michigan households. Reiterating his campaign priorities, El-Sayed wrote: “money out of politics, money in your pocket, and Medicare for All”. He called on voters to send Rogers home and support his Senate bid.

US President Donald Trump has no public appearances listed on his schedule for Tuesday, November 3, as Americans vote in the midterm elections. His White House diary instead lists private meetings and an election-night reception.

The schedule includes a closed-door meeting with John Joseph Arrigo, the US ambassador to Portugal, and a session marked “signing time”. Trump typically uses these sessions to sign executive orders, proclamations and bills passed by Congress. The signing session is listed as closed to the news media.

Trump is also scheduled to host an election-night reception in the White House East Room. The event is currently listed as closed to press coverage, although the arrangements could change depending on how Republicans fare in the elections.

More than 57 million ballots had been cast across 47 states and Washington, DC, as of Monday, the night before Election Day, according to an Associated Press analysis. The tally includes early in-person voting and mail-in ballots.

Early voting has increased compared with the 2022 midterm elections, when just under 44.5 million ballots had been cast across 49 states and Washington, DC, at the same point.

US Senator Bernie Sanders has endorsed Florida Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon, saying working people across the country are “sick and tired of status quo politics and status quo policies”.

In his endorsement statement, Sanders said voters “want change, real change”. Nixon would become Florida's first Black US senator if elected in November.

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s final rally ahead of Election Day is drawing supporters to a packed outdoor amphitheatre, where bars are serving drinks, trees are illuminated with blue lights and dance music is playing from the stage.

Beyoncé’s voice blares from the speakers as instruments wait on stage for a band. The event has the atmosphere of a concert and a final gathering after a long campaign.

Supporters hope Talarico will become the first Democrat in more than 30 years to win a statewide election in Texas.

Republican US Senator Darline Graham spoke for barely more than a minute at the end of her four-month campaign in South Carolina, with her voice turning raspy at her final stop. She apologised twice before quickly introducing fellow Republican Alan Wilson, the state attorney general running for governor.

Graham was appointed to her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat after his death in July and later won the special Republican primary runoff. Her Democratic opponent, paediatrician Annie Andrews, attended a get-out-the-vote rally in Charleston on Monday.

“This is the final stop, and I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I promise you I will work so hard for this state every single day,” Graham said.

A database by Indian Country Today and Advance Native Political Leadership counted 364 Indigenous candidates in the 2026 primaries for 368 seats; four candidates ran for multiple seats. For the general election, 225 candidates are on ballots across 30 states and represent nearly 100 Indigenous nations. Among federal candidates are former Alaska congresswoman Mary Peltola and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, both seeking Senate seats, and Chickasaw US Senate candidate N’Kiyla “Jasmine” Thomas in Oklahoma. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is running for governor of New Mexico, while Navajo Nation's former president Jonathan Nez is contesting Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District.

Americans will vote in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, with the economy, the cost of living and immigration among the issues shaping the campaign. While Democrats and Republicans share concerns about rising living costs, recent surveys point to differences in how voters view the economy, President Donald Trump and other key issues.

In an NBC News poll released on Sunday, 75 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the state of the US economy, while 51 per cent said they were dissatisfied with their personal financial situation.

Democrats are hoping to pull off an upset in the Texas Senate race, particularly as no Democrat has won a statewide election in the Lone Star State since 1988.

Democratic Texas state lawmaker James Talarico is facing off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Both candidates are holding rallies tonight in a last-minute effort to drum up support.

Texas, which launched the political careers of Republican presidents George H W Bush and his son George W Bush, has also seen members of the same political dynasty cross party lines to support Talarico.

Paxton became the Republican nominee after defeating Senator John Cornyn, a prolific fundraiser for the party. He has been hit by several scandals and was even impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas legislature.

Polls show an extremely tight race, with both candidates scheduled to make one final appeal to Texas shortly.

-Al Jazeera

Polling stations have opened in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, two US territories observing Election Day.

Both territories follow Chamorro Standard Time, which is currently 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).

The US has a significant military presence in Guam, with approximately 24,000 personnel and their families on the island, according to a government website.

-Al Jazeera

As campaign rallies approach in Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers is taking on Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in the normally Democratic-leaning state.

El-Sayed’s campaign was rocked yesterday when Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers, two days before the election.

Stevens had previously offered her endorsement to El-Sayed after conceding defeat to him in a closely fought primary contest in August. Her decision to switch support and back a Republican drew condemnation from fellow party members.

Rogers and El-Sayed are both holding competing rallies this evening.

Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are making their final pitches to supporters in Michigan tonight, ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The Senate race has drawn nationwide attention following Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Rogers and allegations of Islamophobia against El-Sayed by Republicans.

-Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump has been travelling across the country in recent weeks to campaign for candidates, including in states once considered safe Republican strongholds.

Although Trump has publicly expressed optimism about the midterms, election observers have widely interpreted his visits to these “Deep Red” states as a sign that the races are closer than Republicans would like.

Trump has repeatedly visited Texas to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is facing a tight contest against Democrat James Talarico.

A Democrat has not won a Senate seat in Texas since 1988, and a Republican defeat there would be a notable loss for the party.

Alaska, too, was once considered an easy Republican win. But incumbent US Senator Dan Sullivan is facing unexpectedly stiff competition from Democrat Mary Peltola.

The outcomes of both races remain uncertain. After the election, analysts will examine whether Trump's campaign appearances made a difference or whether his presence did little to prevent defeats in states considered Republican strongholds.

Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdeva said the 2026 US midterm elections are particularly important for President Donald Trump, as opinion polls suggest Republicans could perform poorly in the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate, where they currently hold majorities.

Sachdeva said losing control of either or both chambers would be a setback for Trump's legislative agenda, including taxation, immigration, deregulation and environmental policies. It could also lead to further investigations into administration officials, including inquiries into Trump's appointments and the Department of Justice.

He said a Democratic takeover would give the party control of congressional committees, including Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Taxation and Defence, allowing Democrats to launch investigations and summon Trump administration officials.

Losing the Senate would create another challenge for Trump, as many presidential appointments require confirmation by the chamber.

“All in all, it will be a bleak scenario for Donald Trump for the remaining two years of his presidency,” Sachdeva said. He noted that the final two years of a presidency are typically known as a lame-duck period, but said Trump's could be “a lame duck presidency plus a very troubled presidency”.

He added that there could be “many witch hunts, even by the Democrats, against Trump and his officials”.

US President Donald Trump has said he may have to become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats win a majority in Tuesday’s midterm elections.

“They’ll be sending stuff up, you veto it,” Trump said in a preview clip of a New York Post podcast interview aired on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. “Eventually, after a month or two of getting all vetoed — you know, it’s just waste — they come over and make a deal.”

“Hopefully we don’t have to worry about that,” he added.

The remarks come as Democrats are well positioned to gain the three House seats needed to take control of the chamber. The Senate contest remains more competitive, with seven races polling within narrow margins, according to Bloomberg.

California voters who missed the October 19 registration deadline can still register and vote through Election Day on November 3.

Eligible citizens can use the state’s same-day, or conditional, voter registration process at their county elections office, polling place or vote centre. They must complete a voter registration form and cast a provisional ballot.

The ballot will be processed and counted after the county elections office verifies the voter’s registration. Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on Election Day.

South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews has made opposition to the US war on Iran a central part of her campaign.

Retired Brigadier General John King, a member of the steering committee of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A), introduced Andrews at the Democrats’ election-eve rally in Charleston. The nonpartisan veterans organisation endorsed her last Wednesday.

“Dr Andrews is the clear choice,” King told the crowd.

Andrews has called for an end to the war, arguing that it puts US service members at risk and adds to the financial pressures facing families.

South Carolina has a significant armed forces presence, with several military bases across the state. Andrews is challenging Republican Darline Graham, sister of the late Lindsey Graham, for a Senate seat Republicans have held for decades.

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan, reiterated his calls to lower the cost of living and take money out of politics in his final speech before Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Speaking to supporters in Detroit, El-Sayed said it was “an honour” to close out his campaign in the city.

As the crowd joined in, he repeated his campaign mantra: “Money out of politics. Money in your pockets. Medicare for all!” He added that “it shouldn’t be this hard to buy a second bag of groceries. To go to the doctor”.

El-Sayed also targeted his Republican rival, Mike Rogers, calling him an “NPC” and describing him as “a corporate non-playing character who takes corporate money”.

“Trump can’t keep my name out of his mouth,” he said, adding that the president “can’t seem to remember what my name is”.

“Donald Trump take notes,” El-Sayed quipped. “My whole name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed”.

“You can call me senator,” he said.

US President Donald Trump’s job approval rating remains close to a record low on the eve of the country’s midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The poll found that 32 per cent of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the presidency, up one percentage point from his rating two weeks earlier.

Several Republican candidates in Iowa gathered in Des Moines for a final rally ahead of Tuesday’s election, including Senate candidate Ashley Hinson and US Representative Zach Nunn.

Hinson’s rain-soaked campaign bus drove into a ballroom as Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” played to a cheering crowd, reminding them that no one can “stop thinking about tomorrow”.

Nunn, whose district is one of the most competitive in the country, described it as the “tip of the spear” in Republicans’ efforts to maintain their slim majority in the House. He touted “a record we are proud to stand behind”.

Before introducing Hinson, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley asked Iowans to give him a colleague who “won’t neutralize my vote”.

Hinson closed out the rally flanked by her family, saying Iowa values were worth fighting for and “are on the ballot tomorrow”.

“Grab an umbrella,” she said to those voting on Tuesday. “At least it’s not a blizzard.”

El-Sayed says Republicans target ‘my name and my faith’ in closing speech

Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan Abdul El-Sayed said he hoped to become the next senator during his closing campaign speech in Detroit, arguing that basic expenses should not be so difficult to afford.

“I hope to be your next United States senator because, y’all, it shouldn’t be this hard,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be this hard in the richest, most powerful country in the world to afford a tank of gas,” he said, adding that it also “shouldn’t be this hard” to afford groceries, home ownership and medical care.

El-Sayed said his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, was like a computer-controlled character from a video game, “doomed to do the same thing they’re forced to do because of the programme”.

He also attacked President Trump, mocking his use of El-Sayed’s full Arabic name.

“They keep pointing to my name and my faith because they are trying to distract you,” he said of Republicans.

El-Sayed was introduced by his wife, Sarah Jukaku, a psychiatrist who has mostly stayed out of the limelight during his campaign.

Haley Stevens, who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic Senate primary and stunned her party by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, received a long ovation at his election-eve rally in Michigan, despite not attending the event.

The crowd chanted, “Haley! Haley! Haley!” as Rogers spoke about her endorsement.

Rogers said Stevens only told him she was endorsing him after a church service in Detroit on Sunday, where she appeared alongside the Republican.

“You know courage when you see it,” Rogers said of Stevens. He added about the election: “We’re going to surprise some people, I think.”

Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio, criticised her Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Addressing a rally in Cleveland, Acton said Ramaswamy “just doesn’t get it”.

She described him as not only out of touch but also out for himself, calling him “a danger to my state”.

36 US states will vote for their next governor this year. The governor is the most powerful elected official in state government. An unusually high proportion of these races are for open seats, with no incumbent governor seeking re-election.

The US has conducted defensive strikes against some Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official says.

-AP

Former US President Barack Obama has urged Democratic supporters in Georgia to vote for Keisha Lance Bottoms as governor and re-elect Jon Ossoff to the US Senate.

At a campaign rally, Obama called on voters to elect Bottoms and send Ossoff back to the Senate ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could target Iran’s suspected underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain if diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran fail. “We might have to go after Pickaxe, we can do that in one hour, as soon as we want, at any time we want,” Trump told Fox News.

The US president did not rule out a renewed conflict with Iran, saying military action remained possible if negotiations collapsed. “It could happen if they don’t make a deal, but they want to make a deal very badly and there is a very good chance we make a deal,” he said. Trump added that he would prefer an agreement to avoid further casualties, saying it would “save a lot of lives”.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned US President Donald Trump against interfering with the state’s midterm election ballots, saying anyone who assists such an attempt will face prosecution. In a post on social media ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections, Newsom said California was taking election security seriously and would ensure a free and fair vote.

“California is dead serious about the security of tomorrow's midterm elections. If Trump tries to meddle with California's ballots, you can be sure as hell that we'll prosecute those who help him,” Newsom wrote. “Californians deserve a free and fair election, and that is exactly what we'll deliver.”https://x.com/AGToddBlanche/status/2117446704094155224?a=7Zw9XYarXUBd7NYljX4&s=20

US President Donald Trump acknowledged that the party of a sitting president traditionally faces difficulties in midterm elections, as Americans prepare to vote on Tuesday, November 3. Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington on Monday, Trump said his administration had made a strong effort to secure Republican victories.

“For some reason, the sitting president doesn't win the midterms, but we gave this a very strong shot,” Trump said.

Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev said US President Donald Trump could become more active in international affairs if Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives, the Senate or both in the November 3 midterm elections. He said losing the legislative majority could make it harder for Trump to pursue his domestic agenda, including policies on taxation and immigration, which require congressional approval.

“In America, when a President loses the legislative majority in the House or Senate, it becomes difficult for him to pursue his domestic agenda... In such situations, history has shown that Presidents tend to turn more actively towards foreign affairs, as foreign policy, trade and national security offer greater executive flexibility,” Sachdev said.

He added that Trump could focus more heavily on international issues if his domestic agenda faces legislative obstacles. “Whether Trump wins or loses control of the House, the Senate or both, he will become more proactive in foreign affairs, be it West Asia or elsewhere,” he said.

Sachdev pointed to several outstanding issues on Trump's international agenda, including Latin America, West Asia, Greenland, Europe, Japan and South Korea. However, he said the midterm results were unlikely to have a significant impact on the proposed India-US trade deal.

“I do not think the midterm results will significantly affect the trade deal with India,” he said.

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan, breaking with her party’s nominee Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections. Announcing her decision in a video posted on social media, Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign. “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign. Who we are as Michiganders is not hate and is not what we are getting from our Democratic nominee right now. That’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers,” she said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump held his 30th campaign rally in Salina, Kansas, on Sunday, making a final push for Republican candidates ahead of Election Day. Addressing supporters, Trump said he had travelled to Kansas to ensure incumbent Senator Roger Marshall secured re-election. “I’m closing it down — this is it. I had to come here to make sure that Roger got elected. I didn’t want to take a chance,” he said.

As the US midterm elections are in full swing, several Indian-American candidates are contesting, with races spanning the US Congress, governorships, state legislatures and local offices. From Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s bid for the Ohio governor’s office to Democratic lawmakers seeking re-election to Congress, candidates of Indian origin are on ballots across 22 states.

The candidates include one contender for the US Senate, 11 for the House of Representatives, three for statewide offices, 36 for state legislatures and six for local posts. The count includes candidates whose Indian heritage could be confirmed, while another 15 potential candidates were excluded because their backgrounds could not be verified. Read more

The Trump administration has been preparing for the possibility of Democrats taking control of Congress, working on ways to push ahead with key policies through executive powers while getting ready for potential investigations into its actions.

Since April, senior officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Budget Director Russell Vought, have been working with the White House Counsel’s Office to identify measures Trump could take without congressional approval. Read more

Winning the White House is one battle. Holding on to political power is another. For US presidents, the real test often arrives two years after taking office, when voters return to the ballot box for the midterm elections. And history has rarely been kind to the party occupying the White House.

Beginning from Harry Truman to Donald Trump many presidents have continuously seen their parties lose seats in Congress halfway through their terms since 1946. Read more

On November 3, millions of Americans will mark their choices on paper ballots, touchscreens or ballot-marking devices, then return home to watch the numbers appear on television screens and election websites. Some races may be called within hours. Others could remain undecided for days, their outcomes resting on mail-in ballots, provisional votes, recounts or legal challenges.

In the United States, election night is not the end of the process. It is the beginning of a painstaking exercise in counting, checking and certifying every valid vote. Read more

The White House has included the India-Pakistan military de-escalation of May 2025 among US President Donald Trump’s claimed diplomatic achievements in a list of 127 promises it says he has fulfilled during his second term. The document, titled President Trump’s Second Term: Promises Made, Promises Kept, Results Delivered, was released on Monday, a day before Americans vote in the US midterm elections.

Under its foreign policy achievements, the administration credits Trump with helping secure peace in eight conflicts, including between India and Pakistan. However, New Delhi has consistently rejected the US President’s claim that Washington mediated the understanding reached after the military confrontation in May 2025.

US President Donald Trump has touted his administration’s economic record as Americans head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections, claiming that $25 trillion in growth and wealth has been created since his election.

In a post shared by the White House’s Rapid Response 47 account early Tuesday, Trump said the country was experiencing a period of unprecedented economic growth. He also highlighted his administration’s tax policies, citing the removal of taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits.

Trump described the economic developments as a “blessing” for the country and said he considered it an honour to serve as president during what he called a historic period in American history.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has criticised Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed over remarks he made about transgender children and parental rights during an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, accusing him of dismissing parents’ concerns.

In a post on X on Monday, Johnson described El-Sayed as a “radical socialist” and claimed that the candidate had defended biological males exposing themselves in girls’ locker rooms. Johnson also highlighted El-Sayed’s statement that “the free flow of information is actually a beautiful thing” and his description of attempts to shield children from information they may find disagreeable as “profoundly outdated”.

However, the locker-room allegation in Johnson’s post is not supported by the interview. El-Sayed was asked about parental control over children’s education and transgender children participating in sports teams. He argued that children already have access to information through the internet and that parents should guide them in understanding what they encounter. He did not mention girls’ locker rooms or say that biological males should be allowed to expose themselves to girls.

The remarks have drawn criticism from Republican politicians and conservative commentators in the run-up to the November 3 midterm elections, in which El-Sayed is contesting Michigan’s Senate seat against Republican Mike Rogers.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States and Venezuela together possess more than half of the world’s oil reserves, making them collectively more resource-rich than Saudi Arabia, Russia and the next-largest country combined.

“When you add up the United States' oil and Venezuela's, we have over 50% of the world's oil,” Trump said, adding that their combined resources exceeded those of Saudi Arabia and Russia.

However, the claim is contradicted by an Associated Press fact-check. Using the officially reported figures of approximately 303 billion barrels of proven reserves for Venezuela and 46 billion barrels for the US, their combined total comes to around 349 billion barrels — roughly 22 per cent of the world's estimated 1.6 trillion barrels of proven oil reserves.

The AP investigation also found that Venezuela's reported reserves have been questioned by energy experts. Six experts consulted by the news agency estimated that the country's actual proven reserves could be between 60 billion and 120 billion barrels, substantially below the official figure.

US President Donald Trump has played down the ongoing conflict with Iran, describing it as a limited confrontation and insisting that Washington is negotiating with Tehran from a position of “total strength”, hours before Americans head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections.

Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News on Monday, Trump questioned whether the situation should be described as a war, arguing that there had been little recent fighting between the two countries.

“A war is fighting. When was the last time you saw us fighting with them? We go months and months; we talk,” Trump said, adding that Iran was not in a strong position to negotiate.

The president also claimed that the United States was respected internationally again, contrasting his administration with the previous four years. “We are respected again all over the world. We were laughed at two years ago. We were laughed at for four years, like we were fools,” he said.

Trump described his administration’s record as a success, declaring: “We've had a GREAT two years.”

His remarks come as the Iran conflict and its impact on fuel prices have become political concerns ahead of the midterm elections. Trump has recently indicated that he is not considering renewed strikes against Iran immediately after the elections, while maintaining that Tehran must agree to a deal and never acquire a nuclear weapon.

Iran has warned that any renewed US military aggression would trigger an immediate and wider response, potentially extending beyond West Asia, according to the country's semi-official Mehr news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Iranian military spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said any future US military action would face a response “harder and broader than in the past”, warning that a new conflict would not remain confined to West Asia.

Akraminia said Iran's armed forces were updating their list of potential targets, adding that US military facilities, equipment, personnel and interests within Tehran's reach could be targeted in the event of renewed hostilities.

He also alleged that Iran's adversaries had attempted to establish a ground front along its western borders by arming anti-government groups based in northern Iraq's Kurdish region. He claimed Iranian military deployments and pre-emptive operations had thwarted those plans.

US Vice President JD Vance has urged voters in Ohio to elect Republican Vivek Ramaswamy as governor and return Jon Husted to the US Senate, as Americans head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections.

In a post on X, Vance said he was pleased to be back in his home state and called on voters to support Ramaswamy and Husted. “Tomorrow get out and make Vivek Ramaswamy your next Governor, and send Jon Husted back to the Senate,” he wrote.

Vance had held a campaign rally in Swanton, Ohio, on Monday, where he described the election as one of the most important midterms of his lifetime. He urged supporters to vote for the Republican candidates, presenting the contests as crucial to the party’s political future in the state.

Ramaswamy is the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, while Husted is seeking election to the US Senate. They are facing Democratic candidates Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown, respectively.

Ohio is among the states with closely watched gubernatorial and Senate contests as voters decide which party will control Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.

US Vice President JD Vance has said that the Trump administration is optimistic about the possibility of reaching a negotiated settlement with Iran, adding that Washington has made progress in discussions with Tehran.

“The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement. We're going to keep on working at it... We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more,” Vance said in remarks shared by the Vice President's official account on X.

US President Donald Trump has said he would be willing to pardon people around him if necessary, as he faces a crucial electoral test in the November 3 midterm elections.

In an interview with a New York Post podcast, Trump was asked whether he would consider granting pardons to people in his circle. “I would if I needed to, sure. I would not even think about — I’d do it,” he said.

Trump pointed to pardons issued by former President Joe Biden to members of his family, administration officials and people involved in investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

US President Donald Trump has promised to give every adult American citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, according to the BBC.

The pledge comes as Trump makes a final appeal to voters to support Republican candidates, with control of Congress at stake. A Democratic victory in either chamber could complicate the president's legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.

The proposal's funding, eligibility conditions and implementation details should be clarified before it is presented as an actionable policy commitment.

A Democratic victory in the US midterm elections could significantly constrain President Donald Trump's domestic agenda, allowing the party to block legislation and launch congressional investigations into his administration.

However, even if Democrats take control of the House of Representatives, the Senate or both, Trump would retain his executive powers and the authority to veto legislation passed by Congress. This could make it difficult for Democrats to reverse some of his policies without sufficient support to overcome a presidential veto.

The election outcome will therefore determine not only which party controls Congress but also how effectively lawmakers can scrutinise and challenge the administration during the final two years of Trump's presidency.

The 2026 US midterm elections are on course to become the most expensive congressional election cycle on record, with total campaign spending projected to approach $12 billion, according to estimates by OpenSecrets cited by BBC Verify.

Political advertising alone reached a record $4 billion in October, the final month before Election Day, according to AdImpact data reported by The Wall Street Journal. Republicans spent around $1.9 billion on advertising during the month, compared with approximately $1.8 billion by Democrats, while independent groups accounted for the remaining expenditure.

The spending reflects the high stakes of the election, with both parties seeking control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's presidency. The outcome will determine the president's ability to advance legislation and could shape congressional scrutiny of his administration.

California voters are choosing a successor to outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom in a closely watched contest between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, with President Donald Trump and the state's high cost of living emerging as central campaign issues.

Becerra, a former California attorney general and US health secretary, has positioned himself as an experienced defender of the state's liberal policies against the Trump administration. Hilton, a former Fox News host and adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, has blamed years of Democratic leadership for California's affordability crisis and promised sweeping changes, including lower petrol prices and tax cuts.

Trump endorsed Hilton during the Republican primary, while Becerra has repeatedly sought to link his opponent to the president. Hilton has attempted to appeal to voters dissatisfied with Democratic governance while indicating that he would not necessarily align himself with Trump on every issue.

The race also carries historical significance. Becerra could become California's first Latino governor in more than a century, while Hilton could become the state's first immigrant governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Pre-election polling indicated a substantial advantage for Becerra. An Emerson College survey conducted from October 17 to 19 gave him 60 per cent support among likely voters, compared with 33 per cent for Hilton, according to CalMatters.

The winner will succeed Newsom, who is barred by term limits from seeking another consecutive term.

US President Donald Trump has said he will accept the results of the November 3 midterm elections only if he considers them “honest”, renewing concerns over his repeated claims of election fraud.

Asked by a reporter a week before Election Day whether he would accept the results, Trump replied: “I will if they are honest,” according to the Associated Press.

The comments come amid heightened scrutiny of the Trump administration's involvement in election administration, including federal investigations into suspected non-citizen voters, plans for polling-place monitoring and legal challenges involving state election procedures.

Several of the administration's efforts have faced legal setbacks. The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected its emergency request to make California set aside around 20,000 mail ballots linked to voters whose citizenship federal officials questioned.

Voting on Tuesday has so far proceeded with relatively few problems, despite concerns raised by Democrats and voting-rights groups about possible federal interference, the AP reported.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that the responsibility for preventing a renewed war with the United States now rests with Washington, after Tehran sent what he described as a “strong and rational response” to the US.

Addressing a parliamentary session, Ghalibaf said regional countries should understand that Iran had delivered its response to the American side and that “the ball is in the US court to prevent war”, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.

He said Iran remained prepared for a military confrontation, warning that any strategic miscalculation by Washington would put US troops on a new battlefield.

The remarks come after US Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration believed there had been progress in indirect negotiations with Iran and remained hopeful about reaching a negotiated settlement.

The contrasting statements underline the gap between the two sides even as diplomatic exchanges continue. Tehran has insisted that Washington must address its demands, including lifting the naval blockade, before an agreement can be reached.

Heavy rain and flash flooding across parts of the US Southwest could make it difficult for some voters to reach polling stations on Election Day, according to the Associated Press.

Parts of Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico were expected to be affected by the adverse weather. Election officials were assessing conditions, although most polling locations had not been changed at the time of the AP report.

The weather concerns come as millions of Americans head to polling stations to decide control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voters have been advised to check with local election authorities for any changes to polling arrangements.

Election officials and voting-rights advocates have advised Americans casting late absentee ballots to use official drop boxes or deliver them to polling places in person, rather than rely on postal services, amid concerns over delays in postmarking.

The Associated Press reported that changes in US Postal Service operations have raised concerns that some ballots could receive late postmarks and miss state deadlines for counting. Late-arriving ballots and delayed postmarks affected tens of thousands of voters in California, Oregon and Washington during this year's primaries.

The advice comes as Election Day voting gets under way across the country, with states following different deadlines and procedures for accepting mail-in ballots.

Democrats lead Republicans by eight percentage points in the nationwide congressional preference poll ahead of the US midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey completed on Monday.

The poll found that 46 per cent of respondents preferred Democrats to control Congress, compared with 38 per cent who favoured Republicans. President Donald Trump's approval rating stood at 32 per cent, close to its lowest level, amid voter dissatisfaction over the war with Iran and rising fuel prices.

The survey also found that half of independent voters viewed Tuesday's election as an opportunity to express opposition to Trump. The findings point to economic concerns and dissatisfaction with the president as significant factors shaping the midterm contest.

However, the nationwide preference poll does not directly predict the outcome of individual Senate or House races, which depend on voting patterns in specific states and congressional districts.