Take Care LedgerA dated, sourced record of the second Trump administration

The 2026 Midterms

Updated2026-11-09 Covers2025-02-06 to 2026-11-09

Summary

The Nov 3, 2026 midterms were the first national election of Trump’s second term. In the primaries, challengers endorsed by Trump beat Republicans who had broken with him on certain votes. One of them was Rep. Thomas Massie, who had pushed to release the Epstein files.1 Before the general election, a Postal Service rule carrying out a Trump order tied mail-ballot delivery to a federal online portal.2 Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said immigration agents could make arrests at polling places.3 Federal money paid for ads that ended with “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”4 Courts blocked or turned down most of those measures. Voting went ahead without major reported incidents.5,6,7,8 Democrats won a House majority.9 They took the Senate 54–44,10 won a majority of governorships11 and flipped 12 state legislative chambers to Democratic control.12 Several races were still uncalled on Nov 8.13

Background

In the Nov 4, 2025 off-year elections, Democrats won the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey and for mayor of New York City.14 Trump had urged states led by Republicans to redraw their U.S. House maps in the middle of the decade (see Mid-Decade Redistricting). On Aug 18, 2025 he posted on Truth Social that he would lead a movement to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines.15 In January 2026 he told Reuters “we shouldn’t even have an election.”16 Press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said he was “speaking facetiously.” That means he was joking.61

The Constitution’s Elections Clause (Art. I, § 4, cl. 1)65 says the states, and Congress, set the “times, places and manner” of elections for Congress. The President has no assigned role.107 A federal law (18 U.S.C. § 592) makes it a crime for federal officers to bring troops or armed men to polling places.66 Another, Voting Rights Act (VRA) § 11(b), bars voter intimidation, meaning scaring or threatening voters.29,67 A rule in federal spending law bars agencies from spending on “publicity or propaganda.”4 The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’s auditing arm, applies that rule in its decisions.68

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) lost its quorum on May 1, 2025, meaning it no longer had enough members to vote. This followed Trump’s claimed removal of Commissioner Ellen Weintraub and other departures. For the rest of the election cycle, the FEC could not vote on enforcement, advisory opinions or rules.17 Staff who worked on election security were cut at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). At the FBI, Attorney General Pam Bondi broke up the Foreign Influence Task Force on Feb 5, 2025.18,89 On Jul 9, 2026 Trump removed the two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Republican member resigned. That left the EAC with no members.19

What happened

Primaries

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) had opposed the Iran strikes and pushed the petition to release the Epstein files.1,20 Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in 2021, finished third in Louisiana (May 16, 2026).23 On May 18 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth campaigned for Massie’s opponent, whom Trump had endorsed. He did so after a medal ceremony at Fort Campbell. Newsweek reported on questions about whether the appearance broke the Hatch Act, a law that limits political activity by federal employees on the job.21 On May 19 Massie lost to Ed Gallrein, 54.9–45.1.1 The New York Times (NYT) reported more than $32M in ads, the most for a House primary on record.22

Ken Paxton, endorsed by Trump, beat Sen. John Cornyn in Texas (May 26).24 In Indiana (May 5), Trump opposed seven Republican state senators who had voted against his redistricting plan. Five of the seven lost their primaries to challengers Trump backed, NBC News projected.25,90

Voting rules and election litigation

A Mar 31 executive order led to a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule. The rule tied mail-ballot delivery to a federal online portal.2 An executive order is a written order from the President to the agencies he runs; it is not a law passed by Congress. The Supreme Court held that federal law allows mail ballots that arrive late to be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day (Watson v. RNC, Jun 29).26,73 On Sept 14 the Court kept the USPS rule from taking effect. It said the “Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits,” meaning the government would probably lose the case.5 On Sept 25 it let the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) go back to using its SAVE citizenship database to check voter rolls.27

On Oct 9 Judge Sparkle Sooknanan (D.D.C.) cancelled a Justice Department (DOJ) policy. Under it, DOJ demanded state voter rolls and ran them through SAVE. She held that the policy went beyond what the law allows DOJ to do. She also held that it broke two laws. One is the Privacy Act, which limits how the government may share personal records it holds. The other is the Paperwork Reduction Act, which controls how agencies collect information from the public.64 On Nov 2 she refused to pause that ruling while DOJ appeals (see Federal Actions on Election Administration).116

On Oct 27 the Potter County (Texas) Republican Party and a voter sued in federal court. They asked the court to block certification, the official approval of results, until there was a hand count of paper ballots across the state. They claimed a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, the part of the Constitution that promises equal protection of the laws and due process.82 No ruling had been reported by Nov 5.81

On Nov 1 Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed a DOJ suit that sought to hold up certification of the Alaska Senate race. Trump said he had ordered the suit. DOJ appealed the same day.34 In the Ninth Circuit appeals court, the written arguments (briefing) run until several weeks after Alaska’s Nov 25 certification target. DOJ had not said by Nov 8 whether it would ask the court to speed up the appeal.87 On Nov 9 voters and civic groups who had joined the case asked the Ninth Circuit to uphold the dismissal without full briefing. They also asked the court to make DOJ’s lawyers explain why they should not be punished for an appeal with no real legal basis. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) represents them.119

On Nov 2 the Supreme Court refused to make California set aside about 20,000 ballots, and Judge Reggie Walton ordered DOJ monitors to be unarmed, with no power to arrest.7 The same day, Judge Tanya Chutkan barred DOJ and DHS from giving election officials information that identifies people as possible or confirmed noncitizen voters. Her order left individual SAVE checks and prosecutions in place. Chief Judge James Boasberg barred any more federal demands that California segregate, or set apart, ballots. But he denied the Democratic committees’ request for relief because they lacked standing, the right to bring the case.85,86

Law enforcement and federal officials

On Jul 16 Trump gave a primetime address on “rigged” elections. A White House fact sheet said more than 250,000 noncitizens were registered. NPR reported that Trump offered no new evidence. It also reported that the documents he released did not support the claims.28

On Sept 1 Mullin said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could make arrests at polling places. “If we’re serving a warrant we will be where we need to be,” he said.3 Civil-rights groups, Democratic committees and local governments went to court to keep armed agents away from the polls. A civil-rights group and the City of Denver sued on Sept 10. The NAACP and a coalition of civil-rights groups sued on Sept 18. On Sept 23 suits came from the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees, the Democratic Governors Association, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Arlington County, Virginia sued on Oct 20.29,91,92,93,94

On Oct 12 Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in Washington. That was 22 days before her election. DOJ said the search was part of “an ongoing federal criminal investigation” into alleged immigration fraud. The magistrate judge who signed the warrant limited access to her records because she is a sitting member of Congress. Trump said he had “nothing to do with it.”30

On Oct 22 DOJ unsealed, or made public, an indictment of L. Louise Lucas (D), the president pro tem of the Virginia Senate. An indictment is a formal criminal charge approved by a grand jury. She was charged with racketeering. Lucas was a key figure in pushing through the state’s new congressional map, which voters approved. The FBI had searched her office on May 6. Attorney General Todd Blanche said DOJ’s pre-election “blackout period” is a practice, not a law. That is a stretch before an election when DOJ avoids steps that could affect the vote. Lucas said, “I will not be intimidated.”78,79

Government-funded ads, spending and promises

Some ads ended with the line “Paid for by the U.S. Government,” and they were paid for through a $20M Customs and Border Protection contract. The White House described them as “public service announcements,” and they ran from Sept 23 until Oct 11. On that day Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), a short-term court order that stops something while a judge looks at the case. In a separate suit by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the court granted a TRO on Oct 28 and extended it by 14 days on Nov 3.4,6,80,95,96

Trump promised a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans held both chambers of Congress (Sept 9–10).31 On Oct 8 he said there would be no new Iran strikes before the vote.32 Elon Musk spent $224M in Texas, where his candidates lost.33 On Nov 2 Trump spoke on the Pod Force One podcast. He said he would pardon Musk and his aides ahead of time if Democrats investigated them. A pardon forgives a federal crime and erases the penalties. Trump said: “I would not even think about it. I’d do it… I did it for J6.”63

Broadcast ad rates

A Mar 30 notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau was about ad prices. It said two kinds of groups were entitled to broadcasters’ “lowest unit charge” (47 U.S.C. § 315(b)(1)(A)).74 That is the lowest price a station charges other advertisers for the same kind of ad time. The groups were party committees that coordinate with candidates, and joint fundraising committees with members who are not candidates. Before, that rate was limited to candidates in the 45 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election.108

Four Democratic candidates for the Senate and House, Sherrod Brown among them, asked the FCC to review the notice on Apr 29. While that request was still pending, they sued in the Fourth Circuit, a federal appeals court. A divided panel of judges there set the notice aside on Aug 25.109,110

On Sept 4, in NRCC v. Brown,75 the Supreme Court put that ruling on hold, which is called a stay. It found that the Fourth Circuit “likely lacked statutory jurisdiction” while the FCC request was pending. That means the law probably did not give the court power to hear the case yet. It also found that the party committees faced harm that could not be undone. The harm was to their interest, under the First Amendment77 (which protects free speech), in spending in coordination with candidates. Justice Jackson dissented.62

The panel then ordered the FCC to decide the request within 48 hours (Oct 7). On Oct 14, in FCC v. Brown,76 the Court put that order on hold as “inappropriate under the circumstances.” Justices Sotomayor and Jackson would have denied the stay.111,112 Neither order decided whether the notice was lawful. The lower rates stayed in effect through Nov 3. The party committees had told the Court they had budgeted “tens of millions of dollars” in ads at those rates.112

Results and ballot measures

DOJ sent about 1,000 monitors to all 50 states on Nov 3. No major incidents were reported.8 Turnout was about 49% of eligible voters (a preliminary figure). That was the second-highest for a midterm since 1914, behind 2018.35 The Associated Press (AP) count on Nov 7 was Democrats 254, Republicans 162, with 19 House seats uncalled.9 Estimates from NBC and CBS were higher, at 256–259.9 On Nov 5, with votes still being counted, NBC had Democrats ahead in the House popular vote, 55.3% to 43.3%. Exit polls put Trump’s approval at 38%.9

In the Senate, Democrats beat Paxton in Texas and Susan Collins in Maine. They also won North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa and Kansas.10 In South Carolina, Annie Andrews beat Sen. Darline Graham, 51.1–46.6. Darline Graham is Lindsey Graham’s sister. She was appointed Jul 13 after his death.36,105,106

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott lost to a Democrat. That was one of five governorships Democrats flipped.11 Democrats also flipped 12 legislative chambers, the Texas House among them. They won six new trifectas, meaning one party holds the governorship and both legislative chambers (Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin).12 Texas’s new map was drawn to create five seats that lean Republican. It produced one Republican pickup.37

Eight states passed measures on voter ID and on letting only citizens vote: Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada, West Virginia, South Dakota, Kansas, Alaska and Arkansas. Trump’s executive orders had also dealt with these subjects.38 The measures failed in Arizona (Prop 144), California (Prop 39) and Colorado (Amendment 84).38 Missouri voters rejected the Trump-backed map, 62–38,39 and Maryland voters approved Question 3, a Democratic redistricting amendment. It was written in an August special session, and the state supreme court put it on the ballot on Sept 3.83,99 Abortion-rights measures won in Nevada, Virginia and Missouri and lost in Idaho.40

Two Senate races were still uncalled on Nov 8.13,88 In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led Sen. Dan Sullivan by about 637 first-choice votes (48.2–47.9%) with about 75% counted. A second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan had about 3,600 votes, more than the margin.50,87 On Nov 5 Trump posted on Truth Social that the votes for the same-name candidate and for a fourth candidate should go to the senator. He wrote: “There is no other fair solution!”87 On Nov 7, with ballots still being counted, Trump posted: “The Alaska Race is OVER. Dan Sullivan WON, BY A LOT!” He added the votes of two other candidates to the senator’s total. He wrote that one of them, Gerald Heikes, “was also fraudulently put into the Race.” The Daily Beast reported that he gave no evidence for that.117 In Alaska’s ranked-choice system, voters rank the candidates in order. The law moves a ballot only according to the voter’s own next choice.87 The Peltola campaign sued the state for records of rejected absentee ballots.50,58 Mail ballots may arrive up to 15 days after Election Day. The ranked-choice count is set for Nov 18, and the state aims to certify by Nov 25.50,51

In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 1,100 votes on Nov 4–5. By the evening of Nov 6, with 97% counted, his lead had grown to 2,574 (467,930 to 465,356). Early batches of affidavit (provisional) ballots broke heavily for Colom. These are ballots cast when a voter’s eligibility has to be checked later.53,88

On Nov 5 Hyde-Smith’s legal team sent a letter to all 82 county election commissions and circuit clerks. It demanded that they “separate, secure and preserve” affidavit ballots. It said the candidate “is entitled to their preservation in an unaltered and identifiable state.”57,88 Colom’s campaign replied the same day. It said the demands were “unlawful and extraordinary.” It said that departing from counting procedures would undermine “the secrecy of a voter’s ballot.” Its lawyer said the demands had “no basis in Mississippi law” and called the letter a “desperate stunt.”57,53

State Republican chair Mike Hurst said about 20,000 ballots of all kinds remained. He said the party had about 50 volunteer lawyers and observers. He pledged to “fight like hell” but to accept a valid Colom win.53 The Colom campaign estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 affidavit ballots were still out. The NAACP and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) sent lawyers.88,53 Mississippi has no recount law, but candidates may sue to include or exclude ballots. Voters must cure, or fix problems with, affidavit ballots by Nov 10. Counties certify by Nov 13, and the state certifies by Dec 3.53,88

Reaction

Trump said he would accept the results. At first he made no fraud claims about the national result.41 He posted “I wasn’t on the Ballot,” blamed Abbott and posted an image of a “VETO” cap.41,42,33 Vice President JD Vance said the Iran war was the reason Republicans lost.43 The S&P 500 stock index fell 4.36% on Nov 5. After that, Trump wrote that “it wasn’t Republicans, it was Dumocrats.”44 On Nov 6 he replaced Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller.45 On Nov 9 Trump posted that the results were not “honest” and blamed voting “machines.” He offered no evidence. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar called the claims “completely false.”118

On Nov 7 Trump posted on Truth Social that he was “ordering the Department of Justice to look into” Democrats’ promises of impeachment and investigations. Impeachment is the House’s power to charge an official so the Senate can hold a trial. Trump called those promises “extortion at the highest level.” Reuters, CNBC and Al Jazeera reported that he offered no evidence.102 On Nov 8 Attorney General Todd Blanche said on CNN that an investigation “could be” opened. Rep. Robert Garcia, the incoming chair of the House Oversight Committee, had told administration officials to “lawyer up,” meaning to hire lawyers. Referring to that committee, Blanche said: “I would be very worried if I was a member on that committee.”103,104 On Nov 9 Blanche said DOJ is “not going to stop working with Congress” or stop it from doing oversight. He said nothing he had said “should suggest otherwise.”120 See Prosecutions and Investigations of Trump Critics.

Key dates

Why it matters

Elections Clause (Art. I, § 4, cl. 1). The Elections Clause assigns the “times, places and manner” of elections for Congress to the states, subject to rules Congress makes.107 Three disputes raised the same legal question: how far the President’s branch of government may act on those matters. They were the USPS rule, the California ballot-segregation suit and the Alaska certification suit. In emergency filings, the government argued that the USPS rule should take effect. It also argued that the California ballots had to be set apart before they were mixed with others. The Supreme Court found that the “Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits” on the USPS rule (Sept 14). It denied the California request (Nov 2).5,7 Judge Gleason dismissed the Alaska suit (Nov 1), and DOJ appealed.34 David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research said DOJ’s actions revealed “a broad, ongoing pattern of attempted election interference by federal officials.”46 See Federal Actions on Election Administration.

18 U.S.C. § 592 and VRA § 11(b). These laws cover armed federal officers at polling places and voter intimidation.29 Mullin’s Sept 1 statement that ICE could make arrests at polls while serving warrants led to lawsuits.3,29 DOJ said in court that no FBI or ICE employees would serve as monitors.8 On Nov 2 Judge Walton ordered that monitors be unarmed and have no power to arrest.7 On Election Day Mullin said no ICE agents were sent to polling places.8

Publicity-or-propaganda rider, Antideficiency Act and Purpose Statute. On Oct 7 the DNC and Common Cause filed separate suits under three laws. The first is the spending-law ban on “publicity or propaganda,” which is called a rider because it is attached to spending bills. The second is the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1341)69, which bars agencies from spending more than Congress has provided. The third is the Purpose Statute (31 U.S.C. § 1301(a)), which says money may be used only for the purposes Congress set.70,113 GAO has long held that agency spending on propaganda that is self-praising, partisan or covert (hidden) breaks the publicity-or-propaganda rider.4 The White House called the spots “public service announcements.”4 Judge Rochon found a “strong showing” that the challengers were likely to win. She issued a TRO on Oct 11, extended it past Election Day on Oct 14, and on Oct 30 ordered three ads removed from government websites.6,114,115 Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked DHS’s inspector general on Sept 30 to investigate the spending under the same laws. An inspector general is an independent watchdog inside an agency. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin filed a third suit on Oct 9.80,97,98

Hatch Act, Justice Manual 9-85.500 and 52 U.S.C. § 10307(c). The Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321–7326)71 limits partisan political activity by federal employees. The record does not include a finding by the Office of Special Counsel, which enforces that law. Nor does it include a Defense Department response on Hegseth’s May 18 appearance.21 DOJ’s election-year sensitivities policy bars timing investigative steps to affect an election.72 The Washington Post reported on how the Omar search departed from that policy. DOJ described the search as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. The magistrate judge limited access to Omar’s records.30 Blanche said of the Lucas indictment that the pre-election blackout is a practice, not a law.78 As for the $5,000 promise, a federal law, 52 U.S.C. § 10307(c), punishes paying or offering to pay someone for voting.67 The record has no claim or ruling applying it to a campaign promise.31

Federal Election Campaign Act and Help America Vote Act (commission votes). The FEC needs four votes to act, and the EAC needs three. The election ran with neither one able to take such actions, and that is still the case.17,19

Outcome

Where things stand

Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress on Jan 3, 2027.13 No result has been overturned. Neither Trump nor the Republican National Committee has sued.13 On Nov 9 Trump posted that the results were not “honest” and blamed voting “machines,” without offering evidence.118 Many of the governors and secretaries of state elected on Nov 3 will run the 2028 presidential election.11

In the Alaska Senate race, the second “Daniel J. Sullivan” has about 3,600 first-choice votes. FairVote ran a simulation from the Nov 4 cast-vote record. It showed Sen. Dan Sullivan winning 51–49 after votes were moved under ranked-choice rules. FairVote notes that its data do not match official totals, and late ballots have favored Democrats.50,52 The ranked-choice count is set for Nov 18 and certification for Nov 25.51,50 Trump posted on Nov 7 that Sullivan had won “BY A LOT” while ballots were still being counted.117 In Mississippi, Colom led Hyde-Smith by 2,574 votes on Nov 6. Affidavit ballots must be cured by Nov 10 and counties certify by Nov 13, and neither Senate race had been called by Nov 8.53,88 Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, resigned on Nov 5.60 Gaps: there is no updated national list of the 19 uncalled House seats.

Related: for the January 2026 remark about not holding an election, see Third-Term Statements and the No Kings Protests; for the primary contests’ background, see The Epstein Files and The 2026 Iran War; for the Omar search and the use of federal law enforcement, see Justice Department and FBI Personnel Changes and Prosecutions and Investigations of Trump Critics.

Status

Item Status Latest development (date) What would change it
House majority Concluded AP count 254–162 (Nov 7, 2026)9 —
Uncalled House seats (19) Pending (counts and recounts) Laubacher (D) leads Boebert by about 2,500 in CO-4; FL-27 recount; FL-7 and FL-9 within a point (Nov 8, 2026)13,47,48,49 Final counts; FL-27 recount48
Senate majority Concluded Democrats 54–44 (Nov 3, 2026)10 —
Alaska Senate race Pending (ranked-choice count) Peltola leads by 637 first-choice votes; Trump demanded that the namesake’s votes go to Sullivan (Nov 5) and posted that Sullivan had won (Nov 7); not yet called (Nov 8, 2026)50,87,117 Ranked-choice count Nov 18; certification target Nov 2550,51
Mississippi Senate race Pending Colom leads Hyde-Smith by 2,574 with 97% counted (Nov 6); not yet called (Nov 8, 2026)53,88 Deadline to fix affidavit ballots Nov 10; county certification Nov 13; state certification by Dec 353,88
Hyde-Smith affidavit-ballot demand Unresolved Demand to preserve ballots sent to all 82 counties (Nov 5, 2026); no suit filed57,88 A suit to include or exclude ballots (Mississippi has no recount law)88
Kansas and Alaska governor races Pending Democrats lead; Holscher 50.3–49.7 in Kansas (Nov 6, 2026)54 Final counts
Colorado Amendment 86; Alaska Measure 2 Pending Both trail and are not yet called. Amendment 86 has ~46.5% of a required 55%. It was put on the ballot Aug 31 as the only redistricting question, after the state supreme court threw out three initiatives backed by Democrats Jun 2955,56,84,100,101 Final counts
Potter County certification suit Pending (federal court) No ruling reported (Nov 5, 2026)81 A ruling81
DOJ Alaska certification suit Pending (Ninth Circuit) Dismissed and appealed (Nov 1, 2026); written arguments run past the Nov 25 certification target; voters and groups asked the court to uphold the dismissal without full briefing and to consider penalties for a frivolous appeal (Nov 9, 2026)34,87,119 Ninth Circuit ruling; any DOJ request to speed up the appeal34,87
Peltola ballot-records suit Pending Suit filed; no ruling reported58 A ruling58
Lucas prosecution Pending Indictment made public (Oct 22, 2026)78 Trial or another outcome
FCC party ad-rate notice In force In effect through Election Day under Supreme Court stays (Oct 14, 2026)112 FCC ruling on the candidates’ request (none in the record)62
USPS mail-ballot rule Blocked (Supreme Court order, Sept 14) Government’s request denied5 —
Government-funded ads Blocked (Rochon TRO, Oct 11) TRO extended in the DNC suit (Nov 3, 2026)6,80,96 —
California ballot segregation Concluded DOJ dropped its suit (Nov 6, 2026)59 —
FEC and EAC In force Neither can act by a vote of its members17,19 —

Who is affected

The federal measures reached mail voters through a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule. They reached California voters through a Justice Department (DOJ) suit to set apart ballots. They reached Alaska voters through a DOJ certification suit and through Trump’s demand that a namesake candidate’s votes go to Sen. Sullivan.5,7,34,87 In Mississippi, voters who cast affidavit ballots face a Nov 10 deadline to fix them. The Hyde-Smith campaign has demanded that counties “separate, secure and preserve” those ballots.57,88 Federal funds paid for ads ending “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”4 Party committees bought broadcast time at candidates’ rates.62,112 Candidates and committees went through the cycle without a Federal Election Commission (FEC) able to vote on enforcement, advisory opinions or rules.17 One state legislator faces a federal racketeering prosecution.78

Key players

Chronology

Sources

  1. AP: Massie loses to Gallrein · Timeline 2026-05-19 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  2. CNBC: Federal judge lifts final block on Trump mail-in voting order · Timeline 2026-08-24 to 26 → ledger ↩↩

  3. Democracy Docket: Mullin says ICE could make arrests at polling places · Timeline 2026-09-01 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  4. CBS News: Trump-focused ad campaign paid by taxpayers · WaPo: taxpayer-funded ad airing in LA, Chicago · Timeline 2026-09-23 to 10-14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  5. SCOTUSblog: Court denies request to implement USPS rule · Timeline 2026-09-14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  6. Ars Technica: Trump commercial kept airing after court blocked it · Timeline 2026-10-11 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  7. CNBC: Supreme Court rejects DOJ’s bid to block California from counting disputed ballots · CNN: Supreme Court rejects Trump’s attempt to segregate ballots in California · Timeline 2026-11-02 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  8. DOJ: Justice Department to monitor elections in all 50 states · U.S. News: A remarkably normal Election Day · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  9. CBS News: House results as Democrats capture majority · NBC News: Vote counts continue after Democratic sweep · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  10. NBC News: Senate live results · CBS News: Election Day 2026 midterms fallout · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  11. CNBC: Midterm results live · NBC News: Texas governor results · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩↩

  12. NCSL: 2026 State Legislative Elections: The Results and What They Mean · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩

  13. CBS News: House results (AP count Nov 7) · Alaska’s News Source: Alaska Senate race remains undecided · Timeline 2026-11-07 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  14. NPR: 5 takeaways from the 2025 elections · PBS/AP: Democrats cruise to victory · Timeline 2025-11-04 → ledger ↩

  15. NPR: Trump announces on Truth Social mail-in/voting machine ban · Timeline 2025-08-18 → ledger ↩

  16. TIME: Trump floats cancelling 2026 elections · Democracy Docket: “shouldn’t even have an election” · Timeline 2026-01-14 → ledger ↩

  17. NPR: Federal election commissioner says Trump is trying to improperly remove her · CBS News: Weeks before Election Day, the nation’s campaign finance regulator can’t enforce the law · Timeline 2025-02-06 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  18. CBS News: Trump zeroes in on election security after cutting thousands of election-focused workers · Timeline 2025-02 to 2026-07-09 → ledger ↩

  19. NPR: Trump cleans house at the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission · Guardian: Trump fires last members of election commission · Timeline 2026-07-09 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  20. Axios: Trump-Massie 2026 · Timeline 2025-06-22 onwards → ledger ↩

  21. Politico: Hegseth campaigns against Massie · Newsweek: Hegseth and the Hatch Act · Timeline 2026-05-18 → ledger ↩↩↩

  22. NYT: Record spending in Massie primary · Timeline 2026-05-19 → ledger ↩

  23. Guardian: Cassidy shouting match with Trump · Timeline 2026-05-16 → ledger ↩

  24. NBC News: Trump-backed Paxton defeats incumbent Cornyn in Texas runoff · Texas Tribune: Paxton defeats Cornyn in GOP Senate runoff · Timeline 2026-05-26 → ledger ↩↩

  25. NBC News: Trump exacts revenge in Indiana over redistricting vote, with five GOP legislators defeated · CNN: Trump primary revenge · Timeline 2025-12-11 → ledger ↩

  26. NBC: Court allows states to count late-arriving mail ballots · Timeline 2026-06-29 → ledger ↩

  27. NBC News: SCOTUS allows expanded database · CNN: states can use citizenship tool · Timeline 2026-09-25 → ledger ↩

  28. NPR: In primetime speech, Trump doesn’t provide evidence for illegal voting · Timeline 2026-07-16 → ledger ↩↩

  29. The Hill: Democrats sue over polling agents · Timeline 2026-09-01 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  30. NBC News: Omar’s home searched · CNN: judge limited DOJ access to Omar records · WaPo: how the search breaks DOJ norms · Timeline 2026-10-12 → ledger ↩↩

  31. BBC: $5,000 if Republicans win · NYT: Republicans balk at $5,000 dividend · Timeline 2026-09-09 to 10 → ledger ↩↩

  32. AP: Trump says no attack on Iran before midterms · Timeline 2026-10-08 → ledger ↩

  33. Forbes: Trump congratulates Democrats but posts ‘VETO’ hat image · Newsweek: Trump defiant after midterm wipeout · CNBC: Midterm results live · Timeline 2026-11-04 → ledger ↩↩↩

  34. CNBC: Judge dismisses Alaska Senate election lawsuit; DOJ vows appeal · The Hill: Judge rejects DOJ bid to investigate Alaska Senate ballots · Timeline 2026-11-01 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  35. Election Law Blog (Pildes, quoting WaPo): Historic voter turnout powered Democrats’ blue wave · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  36. Office of Gov. McMaster: Gov. McMaster appoints Darline Graham to the U.S. Senate · NBC News: South Carolina Senate results · Timeline 2026-07-11 to 13 → ledger ↩

  37. CBS News: House results · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  38. Arizona Capitol Times/Pluribus News: Voters in 8 states approve citizenship, ID measures · NBC News: Ballot measure takeaways · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩

  39. St. Louis Public Radio: Missourians reject Proposition A · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  40. Ballotpedia News: abortion measures results · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  41. Forbes: Trump congratulates Democrats but posts ‘VETO’ hat image · RTÉ: Trump deflects blame for election rout but accepts result · Timeline 2026-11-03 to 04 → ledger ↩↩↩

  42. Hollywood Reporter: Trump slams Fox News and Abbott · Timeline 2026-11-03 to 04 → ledger ↩

  43. CBS News: Election Day 2026 fallout · Timeline 2026-11-04 → ledger ↩

  44. CNN: Stock markets plunge as massive tech sell-off wipes $2.5 trillion · Fox Business: Trump blames Democrat midterm wins for stock market drop · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩

  45. CNN: Stephen Miller replacing Susie Wiles · Axios: Trump replaces chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller · Timeline 2026-11-06 → ledger ↩↩

  46. ABC7 San Francisco: California election live updates (Becker quote) · Politico: Federal judge orders DOJ to stop threatening election officials in Washington state · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩

  47. CBS Colorado: CO-4 undecided two days after Election Day · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  48. WLRN: Salazar leads Rodriguez, close enough to trigger a recount · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩

  49. NBC 6 South Florida/News Service of Florida: Florida Democrats hold ground in redrawn seats · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  50. Alaska’s News Source: Alaska Senate race remains undecided · Newsweek: Alaska Senate margin keeps Justice Department lawsuit alive · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  51. Alaska Public Media: Kreiss-Tomkins leads (RCV count Nov 18) · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  52. FairVote: Preliminary RCV results · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩

  53. Mississippi Today: Lawyers, advocates hover as officials count final votes · Democracy Docket: Mississippi Senate ballot fight heats up · Timeline 2026-11-05 to 07 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  54. WIBW: Still no winner declared in Kansas governor’s race · Alaska Public Media: Kreiss-Tomkins leads in Alaska governor’s race · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  55. Colorado Sun: Amendment 86 results · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  56. KTOO/Alaska Public: Early results show Alaskans narrowly rejecting repeal of RCV · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  57. WLOX: Colom campaign calls Hyde-Smith’s affidavit-ballot demand an ‘unlawful attack on voter privacy’ · Timeline 2026-11-05 to 07 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  58. The Hill: Peltola campaign sues Alaska for rejected ballot records · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩↩↩

  59. CBS News: DOJ moves to drop its lawsuit · Timeline 2026-11-06 → ledger ↩↩

  60. NPR: Head of Justice Department office on civil rights resigns · CNN: Harmeet Dhillon resigns · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩

  61. Yahoo News: Trump says US ‘shouldn’t even have an election’ (Reuters interview; Leavitt: “speaking facetiously”) · Timeline 2026-02-02 → ledger ↩

  62. Supreme Court: NRCC v. Brown, No. 26A274 (Sept 4, 2026) · Supreme Court: FCC v. Brown, No. 26A476 (Oct 14, 2026) · CBS News: Supreme Court sides with Republicans in fight over broadcast ad rates · Timeline 2026-09-04 to 10-14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  63. Common Dreams: “I would not even think about it. I’d do it”: Trump vows preemptive pardon for Elon Musk · Bloomberg: Trump says he would offer pardons to Musk, aides if Democrats target them · Timeline 2026-11-02 → ledger ↩

  64. New York Post/Reuters: US judge rules DOJ using state voter rolls unconstitutional · CREW: Judge denies another Trump administration attempt to meddle with voter data · Timeline 2026-10-09 → ledger ↩

  65. Cornell LII: U.S. Constitution, Article I (§ 4, cl. 1, Elections Clause) legal authority ↩

  66. Cornell LII: 18 U.S.C. § 592 (Troops at polls) legal authority ↩

  67. Cornell LII: 52 U.S.C. § 10307 (VRA § 11, Prohibited acts; intimidation at (b), vote-buying at (c)) legal authority ↩↩

  68. GAO: B-331262, Executive Agencies—Communications about the 2019 Fourth of July Events (Jun 17, 2020) legal authority ↩

  69. Cornell LII: 31 U.S.C. § 1341 (Antideficiency Act) legal authority ↩

  70. Cornell LII: 31 U.S.C. § 1301 (Purpose Statute, at (a)) legal authority ↩

  71. Cornell LII: 5 U.S.C. ch. 73, subch. III, §§ 7321–7326 (Hatch Act) legal authority ↩

  72. DOJ: Justice Manual 9-85.500, Actions that May Have an Impact on an Election legal authority ↩

  73. Supreme Court: Watson v. Republican National Committee, No. 24-1260 (Jun 29, 2026) legal authority ↩

  74. Cornell LII: 47 U.S.C. § 315 (Candidates for public office; lowest unit charge at (b)(1)(A)) legal authority ↩

  75. Supreme Court: NRCC v. Brown, No. 26A274 (Sept 4, 2026) (per curiam) legal authority ↩

  76. Supreme Court: FCC v. Brown, No. 26A476 (Oct 14, 2026) (per curiam) legal authority ↩

  77. Cornell LII: U.S. Constitution, First Amendment legal authority ↩

  78. Cardinal News: 10 things to know about the indictment of Louise Lucas · Protect Democracy: Retaliatory Actions Tracker · Timeline 2026-10-22 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  79. CBS News: FBI searches office of L. Louise Lucas · Timeline 2026-05-06 → ledger ↩↩

  80. CREW: taxpayer-funded propaganda ads · Democracy Docket: DNC ads challenge · Democracy Docket: Trump Accountability cases · Timeline 2026-09-23 to 10-14 → ledger ↩↩↩

  81. Democracy Docket: Texas election certification challenge · Timeline 2026-10-27 → ledger ↩↩↩

  82. Cornell LII: U.S. Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment legal authority ↩

  83. NBC News: Maryland voters approve Democratic-backed redistricting amendment · NCSL: Changing the Maps · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  84. Colorado Sun: Amendment 86 results · PolicyMap: Redistricting Tracker · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩

  85. Newsweek: Trump’s DOJ blocked from sending ‘noncitizen’ voter lists · Just Security: Litigation Tracker (LWV v. DHS; Trujillo v. DHS; DSCC v. Trump) · Timeline 2026-11-02 → ledger ↩

  86. Democracy Docket: Federal judge won’t bar Trump admin from threatening election officials · Timeline 2026-10-20 → ledger ↩

  87. Axios: Trump wants second Dan Sullivan’s votes given to the senator · NBC News: Vote counts continue · Yahoo News/Reason: Mary Peltola appears likely to defeat both Dan Sullivans (Nov 6, 2026) · Newsweek: Alaska Senate margin keeps Justice Department lawsuit alive · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  88. Democracy Docket: Mississippi’s tight Senate race could hinge on affidavit ballots · Yahoo News: How the Mississippi Senate race got so close — and what happens next (Nov 6, 2026) · The Hill: Colom adds to lead · Timeline 2026-11-05 to 07 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  89. NPR: new AG moves to align DOJ with Trump’s priorities · CBS News: Trump zeroes in on election security after cutting thousands of election-focused workers · Timeline 2025-02-05 → ledger ↩

  90. NBC News: Trump exacts revenge in Indiana over redistricting vote, with five GOP legislators defeated · CNN: Trump primary revenge · Timeline 2026-05-05 → ledger ↩

  91. Democracy Docket: Denver asks court to block armed agents · Timeline 2026-09-10 → ledger ↩

  92. UPI: NAACP sues Trump administration to bar agents from polling places · Timeline 2026-09-18 → ledger ↩

  93. Democracy Docket: Democrats sue to keep armed agents from polls · The Hill: Democrats sue over polling agents · Timeline 2026-09-23 → ledger ↩

  94. Democracy Docket: Arlington sues · Timeline 2026-10-20 → ledger ↩

  95. Democracy Docket: DNC ads challenge · Timeline 2026-10-28 → ledger ↩

  96. Democracy Docket: DNC ads challenge · Politico (via Yahoo): Judge extends pause on taxpayer-funded Trump ads · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩

  97. CREW: taxpayer-funded propaganda ads · Timeline 2026-09-30 → ledger ↩

  98. Democracy Docket: Trump Accountability cases · Timeline 2026-10-09 → ledger ↩

  99. NCSL: Changing the Maps · Timeline 2026-09-03 → ledger ↩

  100. Colorado Sun: Colorado Supreme Court rejects Democratic redistricting initiatives (Jun 29, 2026) · Timeline 2026-06-29 → ledger ↩

  101. Colorado Sun: Conservative-backed redistricting measure makes Colorado ballot (Aug 31, 2026) · Colorado Sun: Amendment 86 results · Timeline 2026-08-31 → ledger ↩

  102. CNBC: Trump targets Slotkin in call for DOJ probe · Reuters via Yahoo: Trump orders DOJ to look into Democrats · Al Jazeera: Trump orders DOJ to investigate Democrats for ‘threatening’ people · Timeline 2026-11-07 → ledger ↩

  103. NOTUS (Washington Sun): Blanche says DOJ could investigate Democrats over oversight threats · Newsweek: Blanche responds to Trump’s call to investigate Democrats · Timeline 2026-11-08 → ledger ↩

  104. CBS News: House results (Oversight plans) · Timeline 2026-11-04 to 05 → ledger ↩

  105. Office of Gov. McMaster: Gov. McMaster appoints Darline Graham to the U.S. Senate · CBS News: Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, appointed to serve out his Senate term · NBC News: South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham’s sister · The Conversation: Darline Graham’s inherited Senate seat · Timeline 2026-07-13 → ledger ↩↩

  106. NBC News: South Carolina Senate results · Timeline 2026-11-03 → ledger ↩↩

  107. Guardian live: Democratic states sue to block postal service from carrying out Trump’s mail-in voting order · CNBC: Federal judge lifts final block on Trump mail-in voting order · Timeline 2026-08-26 → ledger ↩↩

  108. Supreme Court: NRCC v. Brown, No. 26A274 (Sept 4, 2026) · Timeline 2026-03-30 → ledger ↩

  109. Supreme Court: NRCC v. Brown, No. 26A274 (Sept 4, 2026) · Timeline 2026-04-29 → ledger ↩

  110. Supreme Court: NRCC v. Brown, No. 26A274 (Sept 4, 2026) · Timeline 2026-08-25 → ledger ↩

  111. Supreme Court: FCC v. Brown, No. 26A476 (Oct 14, 2026) · Timeline 2026-10-07 → ledger ↩

  112. Supreme Court: FCC v. Brown, No. 26A476 (Oct 14, 2026) · CBS News: Supreme Court sides with Republicans in fight over broadcast ad rates · Timeline 2026-10-14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  113. NBC News: DNC sues over taxpayer-funded ads · Democracy Docket: DNC ads challenge · Timeline 2026-10-07 → ledger ↩

  114. Politico (via Yahoo): Judge extends pause on taxpayer-funded Trump ads · Timeline 2026-10-14 → ledger ↩

  115. Fox 32/AP: 3 taxpayer-funded Trump administration ads must be taken down · Timeline 2026-10-30 → ledger ↩↩

  116. CREW: Judge denies another Trump administration attempt to meddle with voter data · Timeline 2026-11-02 → ledger ↩

  117. Mediaite via Yahoo: Trump claims ‘The Alaska Race is OVER’ · Daily Beast: Trump makes wild election claim as Stephen Miller takes the reins · Timeline 2026-11-07 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  118. CNBC: Trump questions midterm election results, revives voting-machine conspiracy · NBC News: Trump casts doubt on election results after saying he was ‘absolutely willing’ to accept them · Timeline 2026-11-09 → ledger ↩↩

  119. 9th Cir. No. 26-7304: Motion for Summary Affirmance (Nov 9, 2026) · Democracy Docket: Trump’s Alaska appeal should be dismissed ASAP, voting advocates say · Timeline 2026-11-09 → ledger ↩↩

  120. NBC News live blog (Nov 9): Blanche says DOJ won’t ‘stop working with Congress’ · Timeline 2026-11-09 → ledger ↩