Democrats Lead 2026 Midterms
Late polls and spending show Democrats advantaged as Republicans scramble to protect seats.
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A free recap of the day’s biggest stories and how each side covered them.
What happened
Republicans expanded their congressional ad campaign as Democratic strength put GOP-held seats in red states such as Texas, Kansas and Iowa in play. Since September, Republicans booked more than $700 million in new congressional ads, compared with more than $430 million by Democrats. Democrats enter the midterms with a national edge as President Donald Trump’s approval sits around 37%, while living costs remain a central voter concern. Senate Republican leader John Thune said he and Trump have discussed funding competitive races, including possible pickup chances in Minnesota, Michigan and New Hampshire. Control of Congress remains at stake in November, with the House favoring Democrats and the Senate now competitive.
How each side covered it
From the left
Left-leaning outlets framed the spending surge as a sign Republican money was struggling against a worsening midterm map, unpopular policies, and Trump's shaky economic pitch. CNN emphasized GOP anxiety, saying fears were “spilling over into panic” as Trump weakened and some voters crossed party lines. Washington Monthly argued the party's financial edge was less effective because Republicans were “selling a bad product”. New Republic cast Trump's jobs-and-cash pitch as a bid to win midterm votes with fictitious gains and hollow promises.
From the right
Right-leaning outlets framed the Democratic advantage as real but unsettled, emphasizing Republican paths through spending, scrutiny, turnout and media incentives. FOX News warned that blue-wave predictions could be premature as voters examine Democratic candidates, and also said liberal media were playing up worst-case Republican scenarios to discourage turnout and donations. The Daily Wire described a bleak GOP picture, with hopes tied to campaign spending or escaping unfavorable polling.
Headlines
Left5
Trump plan to buy the election crashes as Republicans set money ablaze
The Republican Plan to Buy the Election Got Too Expensive
Trump Is Pretending to Create Jobs in Key Midterm StatesCenter6
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Capitol agenda: Thune and Trump plot GOP money wave
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