US Midterms: High Stakes as Campaign Trail Heats Up, Key Endorsement Shakes Michigan Race

With just one day remaining until the United States midterm elections, the campaign trail is buzzing as Democratic and Republican leaders intensify efforts to mobilize voters. Democrats are aiming to seize control of both chambers of Congress, currently held by President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate's 100 seats are up for election on Tuesday. Additionally, gubernatorial races will be contested in 36 of the 50 US states.

Amidst a cost-of-living crisis, further complicated by the US-Israel war on Iran, these issues have become central themes of the elections. As of Monday, here’s a snapshot of the developing situation:

Campaign Trail Developments

In a significant political turn on Sunday, Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens declared her support for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, bypassing her own party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, in the closely watched Michigan race. Stevens had previously lost the Michigan Democratic Senate primary in August to El-Sayed. Her announcement followed weeks of friction with El-Sayed concerning US support for Israel, which has faced accusations of genocide in Gaza. El-Sayed has opposed military aid to Israel, asserting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu propelled the US into the Iran war. Stevens, conversely, accused El-Sayed of anti-Semitism for his criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza.

El-Sayed stated that a vote for his opponent, Rogers, would be a vote for Donald Trump. His campaign reportedly experienced a surge in fundraising following Stevens's cross-party endorsement. Democratic leaders have rallied behind El-Sayed, who has been subjected to Islamophobic attacks during his campaign. Curtis Hertel, the chairman of the Democratic Party in Michigan, criticized Stevens's stance in an interview with CNN, stating, “She does not speak for that larger community.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also condemned Stevens's endorsement of the Republican candidate on X, calling it a “despicable betrayal.” Schumer emphasized, “Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors.” The advocacy group Michigan Jews for Democracy has endorsed El-Sayed, issuing a statement that rejected Stevens’s “attempt to divide our community” just two days before the election.

While Democrats expressed anger over Stevens’s move, President Trump celebrated it. At a rally in Iowa on Sunday, Trump expressed his desire for Stevens to join the Republican Party, praising her for saying “what few people are willing to say,” calling it “bravery.” The impact of Stevens’s endorsement on her supporters, whether it sways them towards Rogers or discourages them from voting, remains to be seen. Polling data suggests El-Sayed has largely maintained Democratic support, according to Reuters.

Alaska Election Lawsuit Dismissed

In a separate development, a federal judge has dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit aimed at preventing Alaska from certifying the election results that saw Republican Senator Dan Sullivan potentially lose. The administration had argued that a rival candidate with a similar name on the ballot could alter the outcome. Sullivan, an ally of Trump, affirmed his commitment to accepting the election results, even after the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit seeking to decertify the race if he lost. Alaska's Senate race is among seven critical toss-up contests that could determine whether Republicans retain their majority in the US Senate.

Early Voting Figures

As of 10 am US East Coast time (15:00 GMT) on Sunday, 54.5 million out of approximately 210 million registered voters had cast their ballots early, according to an analysis from the University of Florida. This figure comprises 30 million in-person votes and 24 million mail-in ballots. This represents an increase from the 46 million early voters in the 2022 midterm elections. Early voting enthusiasm appears higher among Democrats this year, with over 11 million registered Democrats voting early compared to approximately 8 million registered Republicans. Texas has seen a significant surge in early voting, with over 7.7 million people casting ballots. In South Carolina, a state Trump won by nearly 18 percentage points in 2024, early voting has increased by 83 percent compared to the same period in 2022. Open races for governor and US Senate are being contested in South Carolina this year. Kansas, Michigan, and Maine have also experienced a rise in early voting. However, these early turnout figures do not indicate voter preferences or predict final outcomes.