The United States will hold its midterm elections on 3 November 2026, a vote that will determine which party commands Congress for the final two years of Donald Trump's second term. Americans are judging candidates on five dominant themes: the cost of living, the war with Iran, immigration policy, the president’s personal influence, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Key data points shaping the race include: a September 2026 Emerson poll naming the Iran war the top voter concern; a Pew Research Center survey showing 65 % of respondents view Trump’s economic policies as harmful; Reuters/Ipsos reporting only 34 % approval of Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict; a Joseph Rainey Center poll indicating 57 % rank groceries, gas or utilities among their three biggest worries; and a University of Massachusetts Amherst poll finding 97 % believe some corruption exists in the federal government.
What economic concerns dominate voters?
Affordability remains the foremost issue. While headline inflation eased to 3.7 % in September, households continue to feel higher prices for gasoline, housing, electricity, groceries and credit. The Pew Research Center found that 65 % of Americans think Trump’s economic policies are damaging, and the Joseph Rainey Center poll showed 57 % list food, fuel or utilities among their top three priorities. Tariffs imposed by the administration are blamed by opponents for rising costs, even as officials argue they protect domestic industry and generate revenue.
Why has the Iran war become a domestic pocket‑book issue?
The conflict that began in February has pushed energy prices upward and grown increasingly unpopular. Emerson’s September survey rated the Iran war as the single most important factor influencing voter decisions, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll recorded just 34 % approval of Trump’s management of the war. Several Republican candidates have urged an end to the fighting, and four GOP senators joined Democrats in a September vote seeking to curb the conflict.
How is immigration shaping the campaign?
Trump’s signature promise of mass deportations has lost traction after high‑profile deaths during arrests and aggressive ICE raids. Reuters/Ipsos found 55 % of respondents disapproved of the president’s immigration handling. A Marist poll revealed that Democrats and Republicans are now equally trusted on the issue, a stark shift from the Republican advantage seen in 2024. Among Latino voters in competitive House districts, 62 % expressed disapproval of the administration’s deportation and enforcement policies.
What does the public think about Trump’s use of power?
The president himself is a central campaign issue. He has urged voters to treat the election as a referendum on his second term. Government ethics ranked second behind the economy in Pew’s open‑ended survey, cited by nine % of participants. The University of Massachusetts Amherst poll indicated that 97 % believe some level of corruption exists in the federal government, and 66 % say they have little trust that Trump would avoid using the presidency to benefit his family’s businesses. Democrats have pledged investigations into Trump‑family business dealings if they gain subpoena power, while Republicans dismiss such probes as partisan attacks.
Why is artificial intelligence entering the political arena?
Artificial intelligence has moved from tech labs onto campaign trails. Voters worry about job displacement, safety, regulation, and the massive data centers required to run AI models. Pew reported that half of Americans are very concerned about AI’s economic impact, and 59 % dislike political leaders who support local data‑center projects. In Emerson’s September poll, AI regulation ranked just behind immigration and gas prices, and the issue has become especially salient in states like Ohio, where communities contest the electricity, water and construction demands of new data facilities.
What other cultural fault lines persist?
While not dominating the national narrative, topics such as transgender rights in women’s sports and health‑care costs continue to mobilise voters on both sides of the aisle. These issues, though secondary to affordability, the Iran war and immigration, remain potent rallying points for various party coalitions.