US 2026 Midterms shaped by costs and Trump
With national polls showing Democrats holding a nine-point lead over Republicans ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, voters across the United States are preparing to cast ballots in the elections, according to reporting by The Age and Al Jazeera. The campaigns are being heavily shaped by soaring living costs, massive cryptocurrency donations, and the divisive popularity of President Donald Trump.
Alaska’s ‘Decoy Dan’ Senate Race and Voting Integrity Disputes
In Alaska, surging heating fuel, electricity, and grocery prices are disproportionately affecting residents of the traditionally red state, where Democrat Mary Peltola is facing Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan alongside an unaffiliated retired teacher who shares the exact same name, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., as reported by The Age. With control of the Senate at stake, the contest has grown increasingly bitter. The Trump administration’s Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last week requesting that Alaska not certify its Senate results if Peltola wins, arguing that having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot threatens the integrity of the vote count. Peltola dismissed the legal bid as raising profound constitutional concerns.
Elon Musk Funds Republican Push Against James Talarico
Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton is facing a competitive challenge from Democratic state representative James Talarico, who is attempting to become the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from the conservative state since 1988, The Age reported. Talarico has framed his campaign around political corruption, pointing to substantial financial backing from billionaire Elon Musk. Musk ploughed hundreds of millions into Republican campaigns this cycle, including payments of $75 million on September 9 and $83 million on September 23 to the Senate Leadership Fund PAC, which transferred the funds the next day to Paxton’s campaign. “Elon Musk is trying to buy this Senate seat,” Talarico told supporters.
Cryptocurrency Spending and the Battle for Ohio
In Ohio, the cryptocurrency industry has poured $176 million into promoting allies in the midterms, with its main target being Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown, a former senator who chaired the Senate banking committee from 2021 to 2024 and was a vocal crypto critic, according to Reuters reporting cited by The Age. Ad-tracking firm AdImpact noted that the crypto sector has spent $68 million specifically on defeating Brown, who is running against Republican Jon Husted. Meanwhile, the state’s gubernatorial race has drawn intense scrutiny over a controversial TV advertisement aired by Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton. The ad featured Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a lifelong liar despite having had no contact with her for nearly 50 years. Arthur lost custody of her children in 1978 after her husband was indicted for raping Acton at age 12. Though prominent Republicans called for the ad’s removal, Trump encouraged Ramaswamy to keep airing it, saying it was hitting pay dirt, before Ramaswamy announced on Thursday that the ad’s run was over.
Michigan’s Swing State Dynamics and Data Centre Techlash
In Michigan, progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are locked in a tight race for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Gary Peters, as Trump's trade dispute with Canada and high petrol prices are deeply unpopular. El-Sayed has faced anti-Muslim rhetoric from Trump, who has frequently referred to him by the name Mohamed. At the same time, Pennsylvania is grappling with a broader political backlash against data centres, often termed “techlash.” Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro has shifted from broadly supporting data centres to imposing new rules on them, while his Republican rival, Stacy Garrity, has accused him of opening the state’s doors to large technology firms and giving away state tax dollars.
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