President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance launched the final day of campaigning for the US midterm elections on Monday, November 3, as Republican and Democratic candidates made their last appeals to voters across the United States. With polls indicating a highly competitive landscape for control of Congress, both parties are intensifying their efforts in key swing states.
Trump’s Final Rally in Washington
Trump is scheduled to deliver his closing campaign message at 2 p.m. ET at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. This venue choice marks a shift from his recent strategy of holding rallies in conservative strongholds, where he has hosted more than 25 events over the past month. The president had previously indicated that his rally in Kansas on Sunday would be the final stop of his 2026 midterm tour.
The selection of the Reflecting Pool introduces political complications. Trump’s renovation of the landmark was completed nearly three months behind schedule and cost more than ten times the initial budget. According to the Associated Press, the “American-flag blue” liner installed during the renovation began peeling shortly after the work was declared complete.
In a separate appearance on the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast, Trump outlined his approach if Republicans lose control of Congress. He stated that he would become “Mr. Veto,” suggesting that a divided government would allow him to block Democratic legislation until negotiations force a compromise.
Tight Races in New York, Michigan, and Texas
Vice President Vance began his final day in Rome, New York, at 9:15 a.m. ET, supporting Republican candidates Anthony Constantino and Kailee Buller in their House races. Constantino is seeking to replace Elise Stefanik, who is not running for re-election. A Siena Research Institute poll indicates the race is close, despite Republicans holding an 80,000-voter registration advantage in the district. North Country Public Radio reported that while voters in the area generally favor the Republican party, that support does not clearly extend to Constantino.
In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is conducting a “Get-Out-The-Vote” canvass rally at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. He is scheduled to hold final events in Flint, Royal Oak, and Detroit later in the day.
Down in Texas, Democrats James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa are making final pushes for Senate and governor, respectively. They are set to hold a joint rally in Austin at 6:30 p.m. CT. Talarico holds a narrow lead over Republican Ken Paxton in Senate polls, while the race for governor between Greg Abbott and Hinojosa has also tightened.
Legal Challenges and Final Days in Other States
Legal issues are also shaping the final hours of the campaign. A federal judge in Washington is hearing a lawsuit regarding the presence of immigration agents at polling places. Organizations including Common Cause, UnidosUS, and the League of United Latin American Citizens are challenging the administration’s stance that ICE agents could enter polling sites to respond to threats or serve warrants. Plaintiffs argue this violates federal restrictions on armed personnel at voting locations and could intimidate voters. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that ICE is not planning operations targeting polling places.
Campaign activity continues in other critical states. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson is making stops in Yarmouth, Scarborough, South Portland, and Portland. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek is touring Harlan, Onawa, Le Mars, and Sioux City. Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton is scheduled to speak in Wichita, Topeka, and Lawrence, with his final event of the day yet to be announced.
Source: Al Jazeera
