from States Newsroom
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By Robin Opsahl |
Economic worries are top of mind for many Americans planning to vote in the upcoming Nov. 3 election — and some polls show people’s concerns about how policies advanced by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are making life less affordable could fuel a potential “blue wave” in the midterms.
In contentious congressional districts, a growing number of voters are taking their anger about affordability to the polls this midterm election and blaming Trump’s tariffs as a culprit for rising expenses.
Overall, 69% of American adults, and 52% of Republicans, say Trump is not meeting his promise to fix the cost of living, according to an Associated Press/NORC nationwide poll of just over 2,100 voters from Sept. 24-28.
Some Democrats and critics have also pointed to the ongoing U.S. war with Iran as a driver of high costs, especially for fuel and diesel prices. Though Trump signed an executive order to make the tax-free version of diesel, typically reserved for off-road vehicles, heavy equipment and farm use, available to anyone, there are doubts within the transportation industry and among analysts over whether the order will have any impact on their bottom line.
Trump and other Republican leaders, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, are touting measures like the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act and other policies advanced by GOP majorities in Congress as helping the U.S. economy and small businesses as they campaign alongside embattled Republicans in the weeks ahead of Election Day.
TOP IMPACT
A growing number of state officials fear prediction markets are opening the door to a new era of gambling on elections — a practice many states have long prohibited. In this photo, a voter casts a ballot during the March 3, 2026 primary in Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Katie Adkins/Arkansas Advocate)
By Jonathan Shorman | News from the States
On Friday morning, the prediction market platform Kalshi gave the Democratic candidate in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race an 87% chance of winning. The volume of trading on the outcome exceeded $1.8 million. This is exactly the type of activity Minnesota and numerous other states want to shut down.
Some state election officials have warned their residents in recent months that using prediction markets to place money on elections is illegal. Others are locked in litigation with the platforms. But the prediction markets remain widely available as Election Day approaches, with the industry maintaining that the federal government has authority over the platforms, not the states.
An aerial view shows a data center situated near single-family homes in Northern Virginia. The backlash against data centers has become a flashpoint in state and federal races across the country. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
By Alex Brown | Stateline
In the course of a single election cycle, the backlash against data centers has grown from an issue at local planning commission and city council meetings to become a flashpoint in state and federal races across the country.
Candidates who once touted data centers as an economic boon have backtracked, and voters in at least three dozen cities, counties and townships will consider ballot measures in November that could ban data centers in their communities. Analysts say the opposition to data centers has come from Republican and Democratic voters alike.
BIG PICTURE
President Donald Trump made his second visit to Tennessee in as many weeks, stopping in Clarksville on Oct. 10, 2026, to urge Republicans to vote in the upcoming midterm election. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS AND COURTS
TN: Trump touts Memphis law enforcement surge in Tennessee rally meant to shore up midterm support | Tennessee Lookout
USA: Documents show DHS probed nonprofits, obtained millions of records in hunt for noncitizen voters | News from the States
USA: Aging workforce, immigration crackdown are depleting skilled workers | Stateline
ME: How the Scarborough ICE facility is feeding the nationwide detention apparatus | Maine Morning Star
AZ: Detainees say fire alarms blare day and night at Arizona ICE facility, creating ‘cruel’ conditions | Arizona Mirror
KS: Coordinated lawsuits against in-state tuition for immigrants a ‘threat to rule of law,’ groups say | Kansas Reflector
CO: Trump administration sues Denver over law enforcement mask ban | Colorado Newsline
CA: Sudden surge in ICE arrests empties streets in California’s San Joaquin Valley | CalMatters
USA: US Senate Dems demand apology from Chuck Grassley to Jack Smith for attacks at hearing | News from the States
USA: Trump may backtrack on livestreamed execution of Fort Hood shooter | News from the States
MN: Minnesota seeks to replace fraud-ridden Housing Stabilization Services with new program | Minnesota Reformer
USA: Trump auto-enrolls 10s of millions in child investment accounts | News from the States
MD: Court blocks SNAP penalties, clarifies eligibility, but advocates still worried | Maryland Matters
FL: DeSantis boasts about Medicaid fraud crackdown efforts | Florida Phoenix
MO: Missouri rejects optional hardship exceptions to Medicaid work requirements | Missouri Independent
WV: Digital system will help some WV Medicaid recipients navigate coming work requirements | West Virginia Watch
NE: How big a deal is the red-dyed diesel directive? | Nebraska Examiner
WI: Wisconsin, 13 other states sue U.S. after Trump administration kills jobless pay upgrade grants | Wisconsin Examiner
MA: Eversource CEO tells industry conference he expects Healey to turn down the ‘volume’ on utility criticism post-election | CommonWealth Beacon
USA: Judge extends temporary access to White House for news organizations Trump banned | News from the States
CAMPAIGNS, VOTING AND ELECTION LAW
USA: Trump drops longtime aversion to mail-in voting with GOP trailing in polls | News from the States
GA: Election workers prepare for early voting as talk of DOJ ‘intervention’ leaves advocates unsettled | Georgia Recorder
USA: Voting rights advocates organize volunteers to track potential intimidation at the polls | News from the States
UT: In a time of distrust, how do we know Utah’s elections are secure? Clerks show us | Utah News Dispatch
NC: As early in-person voting approaches, North Carolina election officials seek to ease fears | NC Newsline
USA: Gen Z politicians who want to make a change grapple with parties that aren’t always ready for them | Stateline
USA: No major gains projected for count of women in Congress after midterms | News from the States
NC: North Carolina Muslims have spent decades building political power. What has it produced? | NC Newsline
AL: Alabama Supreme Court affirms dismissal of Tommy Tuberville residency challenge | Alabama Reflector
IN: Sharp divides in Indiana secretary of state debate over noncitizen vote, spending audit | Indiana Capital Chronicle
MI: El-Sayed, Rogers trade barbs, accusations during first televised US Senate debate | Michigan Advance
TX: James Talarico returns to campaign trail at ACL festival after illness spurred GOP calls for “proof of life” | Texas Tribune
ME: In first debate, Collins and Jackson blame each other for Mainers’ struggles | Maine Morning Star
USA: US Senate candidates in 9 key races quiet about Social Security benefits cliff | News from the States
NC: Democrats see opening in North Carolina as Whatley campaign pauses ads | NC Newsline
IA: California U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna rallies with Iowa Democrats ahead of midterms | Iowa Capital Dispatch
SC: US Senate majority leader campaigns with Darline Graham in SC, saying GOP can’t ‘take any chances’ | South Carolina Daily Gazette
TN: Out-of-state Dem govs with 2028 ambitions are working to boost TN US House candidates | Tennessee Lookout
MI: Speaker Mike Johnson talks Iran, public safety with Tom Barrett in Michigan 7th campaign stop | Michigan Advance
KS: Roger Marshall’s complicated history of blurring the line between taxpayer dollars and campaign cash | Kansas Reflector
KY: Lundergan, Calipari and more: In KY governor race, Adkins nets $1.75 million from donors | Kentucky Lantern
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