US Midterms: New Polls, Charges, and Trump's Influence as Election Nears

The lead-up to the November 8, 2022, US midterm elections saw a dynamic political landscape with shifting poll numbers and legal developments. National polls presented a mixed outlook for congressional control, with some surveys in late October indicating Republicans held a slight lead among definite voters, while others showed Democrats with an 8-point advantage among likely voters, accompanied by higher Democratic enthusiasm. Ultimately, Democrats outperformed historical expectations in the 2022 midterms, notably retaining control of the Senate and narrowly losing the House.

In a broader context surrounding election integrity and influence, charges were brought against several right-wing figures. As recently as October 2026, two conservative influencers, Cam Higby and James O'Keefe, faced felony charges in Minnesota for identity theft and unlawful voting, stemming from an alleged attempt in August primaries to expose perceived voting weaknesses while in disguises. Additionally, a September 2024 indictment revealed that a media company linked to prominent conservative influencers, including Tim Pool and Dave Rubin, was reportedly funded by Russian state media to produce content amplifying US domestic divisions, though the influencers were not accused of wrongdoing.

Former President Donald Trump significantly influenced the 2022 Alaskan races, particularly in the Senate contest. He endorsed Kelly Tshibaka in her challenge against incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who had been a vocal critic, though Murkowski ultimately secured re-election. Trump also voiced strong opposition to Alaska's ranked-choice voting system. Furthermore, his administration's Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to block the certification of Alaska's Senate election results if the Republican candidate lost narrowly, citing potential voter confusion from another candidate with a similar name on the ballot. Reports also indicated that the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola reportedly recruited a second Dan Sullivan to be on the ballot, aimed at potentially diverting votes from the Republican incumbent.