President Donald Trump and surrogates traveled to battleground states on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, to campaign for Senate candidates as new polling indicates close races in several historically Republican-leaning states. Democrats seek a net gain of four seats to secure a majority in the U.S. Senate, with less than one week remaining before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The campaigning followed a Tuesday night showdown in Lubbock, Texas, where President Trump and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held rallies just miles apart. During his event, the president used a nickname to criticize Talarico, while Talarico cited the attendance of 4,000 people at his own rally. Talarico's opponent, State Attorney General Ken Paxton, also criticized Talarico at the Republican event. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than three decades.
In South Carolina, a New York Times/Siena University poll shows a tied race between Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic challenger Annie Andrews. Graham was appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham. In North Carolina, the same poll shows former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper leading Republican Michael Whatley by double digits. Cooper has focused on opposing tariffs, while Vice President J.D. Vance campaigned in the state on Wednesday.
In Pennsylvania, voters expressed diverging views on the economy and whether the Republican-led Congress has maintained sufficient independence from the executive branch. The outcome of these races will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. In North Carolina, a victory for Roy Cooper would end a nearly 20-year period in which no Democrat has been elected to the Senate from that state. Final arguments from candidates will continue through the weekend, with the election scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.