Make America Great Again

Iowa, long reliable MAGA territory, is showing signs of competitiveness. Polls show Democratic state auditor Rob Sand consistently ahead of Republican Zack Lahn in the governor's race, despite outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds winning by 19 points four years ago and Trump carrying the state by over 13 points. Grassroots activity has grown alongside the polling shift, including No Kings rallies in Dubuque and Des Moines and early-voting pushes. In the Senate race to replace retiring Joni Ernst, Trump-endorsed Republican Ashley Hinson faces organized opposition from Iowans for Decency, a bipartisan PAC formed by her former teachers and fellow alumni, ahead of Democrat Josh Turek's campaign.

Republican Greg Dolezal and Democrat Josh McLaurin, both Georgia state senators, met in an Atlanta televised debate ahead of the lieutenant governor race. Dolezal called property taxes an unfair burden and criticized state subsidies for data centers, while touting the Georgia Promise Scholarship Program's reach among lower-income and Black families. McLaurin defended his bipartisan record, warned that eliminating property taxes would gut local services, and said communities need more control over data center growth given its strain on power and water. The two also traded accusations over public safety votes, with McLaurin framing his positions as constitutional pushback. Early voting runs through Oct. 30, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has moved South Carolina's Senate race to "lean Republican" from "likely Republican" and Mississippi's to "likely Republican" from "solid Republican," citing candidate quality and Democrats' broader push into red territory. Democrats are backing the shift with money: the Senate Majority PAC announced a $1.2 million ad buy in Mississippi attacking incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, boosting Democratic nominee Scott Colom. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews is challenging appointed Sen. Darline Graham. Both races remain steep climbs for Democrats given past Republican margins, but the ratings change adds two more contests to the list Republicans must defend amid economic headwinds ahead of the midterms.

Colorado, once a reliable Republican state, has leaned decidedly Democratic in recent cycles, and 2026 looks similar. Gov. Phil Weiser and Sen. John Hickenlooper are favored for easy wins over underfunded Republican opponents Victor Marx and Mark Baisley, with some GOP figures, including former Rep. Ken Buck, crossing over to back Weiser. The closest races are in the U.S. House: Democrat Manny Rutinel is seen as favored over Republican incumbent Gabe Evans in District 8, while Republican incumbent Jeff Crank is expected to hold District 5 against well-funded Democrat Jessica Killin despite backlash over the Space Command relocation. Analysts attribute the overall Democratic advantage to anti-Trump sentiment and weak Republican statewide recruitment.

Jaime West, a Democratic candidate for the Fayette County Council, District 4 seat in Indiana, has drawn national attention after remarks made during a televised candidates' forum ahead of the general election. Asked about an unpopular policy she might pursue, West said she would "fire all Republicans" and remove those aligned with the MAGA movement from county positions, calling them racist and unintelligent while saying she avoids associating with them. She claimed she had been threatened by a nephew of the local sheriff, who allegedly said he would "blow her head off," though Sheriff Zac Jones said he has no nephews and does not know West. Asked for a closing message to voters, West responded, "We have guns too," and cited her experience delivering groceries and packages as a reason to trust her with a vote.

West appeared to have difficulty speaking clearly during portions of the exchange, prompting online speculation about her condition; she has not responded to requests for comment. Video of the forum went viral, with early voting already underway in Fayette County.

Florida's two marquee 2026 statewide races present unusual racial pairings, and candidates are handling the dynamic very differently. In the Senate race, Democrat Angie Nixon, a progressive from Jacksonville, faces Republican Ashley Moody, the former state attorney general appointed to the seat Marco Rubio vacated. In the governor's race, Republican Byron Donalds, who could become Florida's first Black governor, is running against David Jolly, a former Republican turned Democrat with strong Black voter support.

Analysts say Donalds has mostly avoided Black-specific outreach and race-focused messaging, emphasizing the economy and school choice instead, reflecting a common strategy for Black conservative candidates wary of alienating their base. Despite recent efforts to court Black voters, polling shows Jolly holding a commanding lead among Black voters. Nixon, by contrast, has leaned into discussing race directly while also courting white working-class voters with economic messaging, trailing Moody in current polling but with strategists calling her a credible underdog capable of winning with strong turnout.

Donalds has continued to draw national attention on other issues, recently criticizing far-left Florida Democrats who have called to abolish ICE amid the broader immigration debate.

President Donald Trump is set to rally in Youngstown, a onetime Democratic stronghold that swung sharply toward him over the past decade amid the collapse of regional steel manufacturing. Republicans, including Sen. Jon Husted, see the visit as crucial to motivating MAGA voters ahead of Ohio's statewide races, with strategists warning that even a small drop in Trump-aligned turnout could cost the GOP. Mahoning County backed Barack Obama by a landslide in 2012 before flipping to Trump, who won it by double digits in 2024.

Democrats, led by Sen. Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial hopeful Amy Acton, argue that rising costs for gas, groceries and utilities have eroded Trump's appeal among working-class voters who once saw him as an outsider fighting for them. Local Democrats accuse him of breaking promises on affordability and jobs, while Republicans counter that falling unemployment and policies like ending taxes on tips show progress. Both sides view the Mahoning Valley as a bellwether for whether Trump's coalition can still be mobilized now that he is the incumbent rather than the challenger.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker spent a day campaigning across South Carolina, headlining the state NAACP's annual convention and stumping for Democratic candidates including Senate nominee Annie Andrews and gubernatorial nominee Jermaine Johnson. Pritzker urged Democrats to be more combative toward President Trump and Republicans, saying the party has been "too dainty" and "too nice," and calling for a "team fight" posture ahead of the midterms.

Pritzker, who faces reelection in Illinois next month, declined to say whether he's running for president in 2028, framing the trip as support for down-ballot Democrats. Still, his appearance before Black voters in the first-in-the-nation primary state fueled speculation about his national ambitions. He also voiced concern that federal immigration enforcement could be used to intimidate voters in competitive states like South Carolina, and touted his financial support for Southern Democratic candidates, including a $1 million donation to Texas gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa.