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Early Voting Surges as Democrats Lead in Polls
Confirmed
In Short: The Emerson College poll suggests that in a competitive Senate race, Hamilton is leading with 49 percent support, while Marshall has 45 percent.
More than 43 million Americans have already cast their ballots early, marking a significant increase from the same period before the 2022 midterms, according to Al Jazeera.
In Texas, early voting has seen a 50% increase, with over 6.3 million people voting early compared to 4.2 million in 2022.
Democratic support has climbed eight points over the past fifteen months, from 44% to 52%, with undecided and swing voters shifting in favor of the Democrats, according to Emerson College Polling.
The Emerson College poll also shows that President Trump's approval rating has dipped, with a net 20-point disapproval, 37% to 57%, compared to a split approval rating of 46% to 47% at an earlier time.
In Georgia, more than 2.5 million ballots had been cast by Friday morning, surpassing the 2.3 million recorded during the early voting period in 2022.
Trump has been pushing state Republicans to redraw voting lines to flip a seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, and he announced that he would spend up to $400 million in funds on the midterms by the end of the cycle.
The Emerson College poll suggests that in a competitive Senate race, Hamilton is leading with 49 percent support, while Marshall has 45 percent.
What this adds
The surge in early voting indicates a high level of voter engagement, potentially influencing the outcome of the midterms.
The Emerson College Polling data reflects a consistent trend over the past 15 months, with Republicans maintaining a steady 42% support.
What's confirmed
- More than 43 million Americans have already cast their ballots early, marking a significant increase from the same period before the 2022 midterms, according to Al Jazeera.
- In Texas, early voting has seen a 50% increase, with over 6.3 million people voting early compared to 4.2 million in 2022.
- Democratic support has climbed eight points over the past fifteen months, from 44% to 52%, with undecided and swing voters shifting in favor of the Democrats, according to Emerson College Polling.
- The Emerson College poll also shows that President Trump's approval rating has dipped, with a net 20-point disapproval, 37% to 57%, compared to a split approval rating of 46% to 47% at an earlier time.
- In Georgia, more than 2.5 million ballots had been cast by Friday morning, surpassing the 2.3 million recorded during the early voting period in 2022.
- Trump has been pushing state Republicans to redraw voting lines to flip a seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, and he announced that he would spend up to $400 million in funds on the midterms by the end of the cycle.
- The Emerson College poll suggests that in a competitive Senate race, Hamilton is leading with 49 percent support, while Marshall has 45 percent.
What's still developing
- “The 2026 Midterm season wraps with the Republicans at 42%, exactly where they started when tracking began 15 months ago,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said.
- “Reported daily AI usage is highest among voters under 30 at 43%, but majorities of all groups under 50 report using it daily or weekly,” Kimball noted.
- With less than a week to go until the US midterm elections - which will determine which party controls Congress for the next two years - more than 43 million Americans have already voted.
- "And we are mirroring almost exactly what we did for in-person early voting in 2018. When we look at where we were through early voting through Thursday, the second Thursday of early voting, in 2018, we were at about 41.2% turnout, and we're at a 41.3% turnout so far through the same time through early vote. So we are very, very much on track to pull off what we did back in 2018," said Collin County Elections Administrator Kaleb Breaux.
- Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties also reported strong early in-person participation.
- Voting intentions for Democrats vs. Republicans in the house elections 2026 ** The second chart shows voting intentions of respondents in the House of Representative elections classified by sex, ethnicity, age and education.
- As of Tuesday afternoon, nearly 33 million people have voted since early voting windows opened in some states over a month ago, according to tracking by the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
- "He's paved over the Rose Garden. Put a helicopter pad on the South Lawn, and there's gold everywhere. What's up with the gold. Everything, more gold, he's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," Obama said.
- This item was delivered with an ultimatum: use the list within the next two days to review the names and prepare to separate their mail-in ballots when returned—or get sued.
- Trump rallies in South Carolina with 13 days until midterms 3.
- He waited until after the midterms, in which the Republicans lost control of the United States Congress, to fire Donald Rumsfeld as his secretary of defence, who had led the increasingly unpopular war against Iraq.
- When he talked to reporters after voting, Trump was sporting an “I Voted” sticker.