Midterm Close: Democrats press economy, Trump touts Washington repairs

More than 57 million ballots were cast in 47 states and the District of Columbia as of Monday, marking a sharp increase in early voting compared to the 2022 cycle. This surge occurred less than 24 hours before polls opened for the midterm elections, a contest that could determine control of Congress and key governorships. The outcome will shape President Donald Trump’s final two years in office and his legislative power.

President Trump delivered his final scheduled public remarks at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday afternoon. He spent the majority of the speech discussing construction projects in Washington, including new grass, a promenade to the Potomac River, and a golf course. Trump also addressed the condition of the Reflecting Pool, referencing algae removal and rusty pipes. He repeated claims that vandals had sabotaged the project, although the Justice Department has acknowledged in court that a rushed repair job caused the new blue liner to peel.

The President offered little detail on the national economy, which voters have identified as their primary concern. He described the economic situation as the best it has ever been and criticized his Democratic opponents. “Democrats have nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history,” Trump said. He also portrayed the party as a group of radicals, a message that contrasted with his focus on local infrastructure improvements.

Democratic candidates focused their election eve efforts on high prices and cost of living. They campaigned in red states including Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, and Texas, aiming to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with the current administration. In Iowa, Democrat Rob Sand, running for governor against Republican Zach Lahn, told canvassers that the race was critical for changing the state’s political direction. Sand campaigned alongside Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who cited his own victories as evidence that Democrats can win in Republican-leaning areas.

Tensions within the Democratic Party in Michigan presented a distinct challenge for the party’s Senate campaign. Representative Haley Stevens, who lost in the primary, endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday. This move followed a dispute involving Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens is a staunch supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed has been a critic of the U.S. ally. El-Sayed dismissed the controversy on Monday, urging supporters to vote. He campaigned with Senator Elizabeth Warren and his grandparents at an event in Ypsilanti.

In Virginia, Democrat Shannon Taylor, a prosecutor challenging Republican Representative Rob Wittman, said voters were demanding change. Taylor ran on an anti-corruption platform and emphasized the cost of living. The Supreme Court also rejected the Trump administration’s request to set aside thousands of disputed mail ballots from California. Meanwhile, the President raised the possibility of voter fraud in Alaska. Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Rome, New York, where he promoted tax cuts on tips and overtime while labeling Democrats as lunatics.

Over 2.3 million Michigan voters had already cast their ballots as of Monday. The state’s regular early in-person voting period ended on Sunday, with polls reopening statewide on Tuesday. Nearly 4.5 million people voted in the 2022 midterm elections. Lori Goldman, a Democratic organizer in Oakland County, noted that while half the state had already voted, the outcome of the Senate race could still be heavily influenced by remaining voters.