Trump rallies, Pope votes, and key races define US midterms' final days

As the U.S. midterm elections approach their final days before Election Day on November 3, 2026, political activity is intensifying across the nation. Former President Donald Trump is actively campaigning, holding numerous rallies and tele-rallies to support Republican candidates, although he initially canceled some in-person events in Kansas and Iowa before reinstating them. Trump has urged voters to consider the midterms a referendum on his own political standing, despite reports of varying crowd sizes at his events.

In a historically unprecedented event, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff who was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago and elected in May 2025, has cast a mail-in ballot for the U.S. midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed his participation, highlighting his long-standing belief in civic engagement and marking him as the first Pope to vote in a U.S. election.

Control of Congress hangs in the balance, with all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate being contested. Key races across the country, including competitive Senate battles in states like Kansas, Iowa, and Ohio, are capturing national attention as both parties vie for power. These elections will also determine numerous gubernatorial, attorney general, and other state and local offices.