President Donald Trump is scheduled to conduct a multi-state campaign tour in October to support Republican candidates ahead of the November midterm elections. The tour includes stops in Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio, Texas, and Nebraska, states he won during the 2024 presidential election. The campaign push comes as the Republican party seeks to maintain its congressional majority amid reported declines in the president's approval ratings and voter concerns regarding the economy and the ongoing war with Iran.
Internal party polling and independent assessments indicate shifts in the electoral landscape. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently moved Senate races in Kansas and South Carolina toward Democrats, while 10 Republican-held House seats are now categorized as more likely to flip. Vice President JD Vance is also scheduled to campaign in Alaska to support the Republican candidate in a competitive Senate race. According to a July AP-NORC poll, approximately one-third of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance, down from 42% at the start of his term.
The ongoing conflict with Iran has emerged as a central issue, with 60% of Americans in a May Politico/Public First poll stating the war has increased their cost of living. Gas, food, and medicine costs have risen, leading some Republicans to distance themselves from the administration's stance. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) stated that constituents should not have to pay higher prices due to the conflict. While Trump has suggested the war could end after the midterms, he also acknowledged to reporters in Oklahoma that the conflict might negatively impact Republican election prospects.
The outcome of these races will influence the direction of federal policy on immigration, trade, and technology. The Trump administration recently moved to expand immigration powers, seeking to allow the mandatory detention of individuals without bond, a policy currently facing legal challenges. Furthermore, the administration's new focus on "superintelligence" or artificial intelligence—marked by a recent executive order and the launch of America.gov—will be subject to congressional oversight depending on which party holds the majority.
Looking ahead, the U.S. Supreme Court begins a new term on Monday, October 5, 2026, with a docket featuring cases on immigration, gun rights, and voting. In the legislative branch, a bipartisan effort to regulate cryptocurrency is expected to advance in the Senate as early as next week, though Democrats are seeking stricter ethics provisions. The midterm elections are scheduled for November, with voters in all 435 House districts and approximately one-third of Senate seats casting ballots to determine the balance of power in Washington.