from States Newsroom
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By Robin Opsahl |
While previous No Kings rallies were focused on demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions, the 2,500 No Kings events which happened across all 50 states and the District of Columbia Saturday were focused on getting people to the polls. Early voting has kicked off for the Nov. 3, 2026 election in many states.
No Kings organizers shifted their focus for the October rallies nationwide with the understanding that the midterm elections will determine which political party controls Congress. If it’s the Democrats, they could put up roadblocks to Trump’s agenda. Organizers are hoping the day of early voting could not only increase the pool of voters, but also ease the burden on poll workers on Nov. 3, Election Day.
Though the October event, labeled the “Vote Early Day of Action,” was focused on voting efforts, there were still plenty of demonstrations criticizing Trump across the nation. In Washington D.C., hundreds of people carrying decorated umbrellas walked from the former Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House to the U.S. Capitol lawn as part of the No Kings event, which parterned with the advocacy group Umbrella Walk 4 Change to hold the street protest.
Beyond the speeches, music and marches, some No Kings participants braved cold, rainy weather or waited in long lines as they went to the polls to cast ballots. And in some communities, volunteers registered voters, wrote letters and encouraged neighbors to make a plan to vote.
States Newsroom reporters across the country reported on the latest round of No Kings events Saturday. You can read more at States Newsroom's liveblog covering the protests, and find more information about the events in your state and more at your local outlet’s website.
TOP IMPACT
President Donald Trump waves to the crowd after speaking at the Mitchell Center at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama on Oct. 2, 2026. (Photo by Dan Anderson/Alabama Reflector)
By Shauneen Miranda | News from the States
President Donald Trump has a flurry of travel on deck in the final frantic weeks leading up to the end of the midterm elections, in which the GOP is vying to maintain its control of both the U.S. House and Senate.
But that outlook looks increasingly less favorable for Republicans, as analysts say Democrats remain heavily favored to win back the majority in the House, and Senate races continue to shift in the Democratic Party’s favor. Adding to the trend, the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, an elections forecaster, shifted 11 additional House races in the direction of Democrats on Friday. Those shifts come as the president weathers dismal approval ratings amid the costly war in Iran and its impact on gas prices.
Members of the New Hampshire state House meet during session this May. Both of New Hampshire’s legislative chambers are considered among the most competitive this midterm election cycle, according to a recent analysis by Sabato’s Crystal Ball. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)
By Kevin Hardy | Stateline
Party control is up for grabs in 15 state legislative chambers across the country as Republicans are increasingly on the defensive this midterm election cycle, a new analysis found.
The nonpartisan newsletter Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics released its final analysis of state legislative races ahead of November. Senior Columnist Louis Jacobson changed projections for 10 chambers — all shifting in favor of Democrats. Jacobson also said Democrats may make inroads even in states not considered competitive.
BIG PICTURE
A recent court decision on voter rolls marks the latest rebuke of the Trump administration during more than a year of legal confrontations with dozens of states and voting rights groups. (Photo by Will Steinfeld/New Hampshire Bulletin)
CAMPAIGNS, VOTING AND ELECTION LAW
USA: Trump pressed states for info on millions of voters in the midterms. It’s mostly failed. | Stateline
USA: Last-minute Trump DOJ suit in California targeting noncitizen voters alarms advocates | News from the States
CA: How election deniers are using public records to sow doubt in California | CalMatters
UT: Of about 6K Utah voters needing to prove citizenship under new law, fewer than 2K have responded | Utah News Dispatch
TX: Texas’ glitchy voter registration system makes it harder to clear backlog, election officials say | Texas Tribune
AZ: White-powder letter sent to Arizona Secretary of State amid national threat wave | Arizona Mirror
USA: 2 states, 2 abortion ballot measures, and the effort to win over Gen Z voters | Stateline
MO: New Missouri nonprofit pours $2.9 million into campaign to reinstate abortion ban | Missouri Independent
SD: Closing a ‘loophole’ or ‘fearmongering’ about noncitizens voting: South Dakota’s Amendment J | South Dakota Searchlight
LA: Amendment 7 would let New Orleans use federal money for private lead-pipe removal | Louisiana Illuminator
KY: Trump parachutes to KY to stump for Republicans in safe seats, give GOP nod in ‘tight race’ | Kentucky Lantern
GA: Will Trump’s Georgia rally be a lifeline or an anchor for the GOP candidates he seeks to boost? | Georgia Recorder
NC: NC Republicans Tillis, Moore prepare for GOP losses in upcoming election | NC Newsline
MI: Jeffries joins Hines for roundtable on community concerns in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District | Michigan Advance
IA: Turek campaigns with former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin in final stretch before election | Iowa Capital Dispatch
SD: Challenger takes aim at incumbent’s campaign finances in South Dakota US Senate race | South Dakota Searchlight
ME: In final debate, Collins and Jackson share different outlooks on future of democracy | Maine Morning Star
TX: Elon Musk is the donor behind Senate Republicans’ massive rescue mission for Ken Paxton | Texas Tribune
MI: Lack of ‘moral outrage’ over Islamophobia is helping normalize religious hate, advocates say | Michigan Advance
AK: Alaska’s final US Senate debate devolves into mudslinging between Peltola, Sullivan | Alaska Beacon
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS AND COURTS
USA: US senators from both parties blast Trump order to import Russian diesel as illegal | News from the States
AR: Arkansas US Rep. French Hill seeks classified briefing on Trump waiving Russia sanctions | Arkansas Advocate
USA: Ukrainians and Sudanese with temporary legal status will keep protections for now | News from the States
USA: US House Dem leaders condemn Homeland Security raid on home of Rep. Ilhan Omar | News from the States
USA: Trump immigration policies could turn away much-needed foreign doctors, critics say | Stateline
NM: ACLU of New Mexico sues ICE over detention contract documents | Source NM
FL: Byron Donalds says states must work with ICE, but a dozen of them aren’t | Florida Phoenix
USA: Nonpartisan government watchdog recommends automated activation of ICE body cameras | News from the States
CO: Colorado activists call for transparency measures as they attempt to track ICE flights out of Denver | Colorado Newsline
USA: Trump: Execution of Fort Hood shooter will not be livestreamed | News from the States
LA: Louisiana opens enrollment for 274,000 Medicaid recipients who must switch plans | Louisiana Illuminator
NC: Stein says NC counties will shoulder costs of new Medicaid rules, urges Congress to reverse cuts | NC Newsline
AR: Arkansas lawmakers OK contract for center to field questions on Medicaid, other services | Arkansas Advocate
MD: Pentagon searching medical records to identify transgender troops | Maryland Matters
USA: Social Security benefits increase will hit 3.6% in 2027 | News from the States
KY: About 80,000 Kentuckians have lost access to food aid under federal rule changes | Kentucky Lantern
USA: Data centers are now the largest financial bet in US history | Stateline
ND: Data centers can’t be stopped, but good policy is needed, NDSU researcher says | North Dakota Monitor
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