Affordability, war, corruption, healthcare and immigration shape US midterms on Nov 3

Right · 1The US midterm elections take place on Nov 3, with all 435 House seats and about a third of Senate seats up for election. 1 Right · 1Bloomberg reporting carried by The Straits Times says national polls show most Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the direction of the country, and that economic anxiety is at the forefront, with many saying they struggle to afford basic living expenses. 1 Left · 1NBC News similarly says voters' feelings about the economy could decide who controls Congress, and sent correspondent Hallie Jackson to several key states to ask voters how they feel about the economy. 2

Right · 1Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers and, with Donald Trump as president, control the federal government, so Bloomberg says the party is likely to bear the brunt of voter anger; polls suggest Democrats are favoured to win the House and have a meaningful chance in the Senate. 1 Right · 1Political advertising spending is projected to hit a record US$11.6 billion, above the 2024 presidential election, with Republicans outspending Democrats. 1 Right · 1On the economy, a Pew survey (Sept 28 to Oct 4) found 84% of registered voters call it very important to their vote, and a New York Times/Siena poll in mid-September had voters trusting Democrats over Republicans on the economy by 51% to 45%. 1

Right · 1Petrol averaged US$4.29 a gallon on Oct 24, up from about US$3.06 in 2025, and mortgage rates crossed 7% in September for the first time in almost two years; the article ties higher fuel costs to a war with Iran that has disrupted global oil supplies. 1 Right · 1Democratic candidates blame Trump's tariffs and the Iran war for rising prices and say they would end both, while Republican candidates promote Trump's 2025 tax-cut law, which gave breaks for tipped employees, overtime work and Social Security retirement income. 1 Right · 1Pew found 65% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of military action in Iran and 33% approve; the war has split Republicans, with Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton reportedly saying in leaked audio that the war and high prices hurt his campaign, and Michigan Representative Tom Barrett saying he has been a leading vote against continuing it. 1

Right · 1Distrust of government is a further theme: Gallup found a record 89% of US adults view government corruption as widespread, and candidates from both parties back proposals such as banning stock trading by members of Congress, term limits and lobbying limits. 1 Right · 1Democrats cite Trump's stock trading and crypto-related earnings, a now-abandoned US$1.8 billion Justice Department "anti-weaponisation" fund, and the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files as examples of alleged self-dealing or protection of the powerful; some Republicans also condemned the fund. 1 Right · 1Democratic leaders call Trump an existential threat to democracy, citing his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged and that mail voting is riddled with fraud, and noting his remark at an Oct 14 Arizona rally that leakers of government information "should be shot"; yet Democrats in the tightest races have downplayed a possible third impeachment and focused on lowering costs. 1

Right · 1On healthcare, a KFF poll released Oct 6 found about six in ten voters worried about costs and trust in Democrats over Republicans on the issue by 42% to 22%; progressives back a government-run universal system, centrist Democrats favour incremental changes to the Affordable Care Act, and Republicans focus on healthcare fraud and call universal government-run care a government takeover. 1 Right · 1On immigration, a federal crackdown with ramped-up deportations in Trump's second term has prompted a backlash and calls to abolish or scale back ICE, including in districts that backed Trump in 2024, where Hispanic voters who moved back toward Democrats can swing results; an NBC News/Telemundo poll found them disapproving of his handling of immigration 69% to 30%. 1 Right · 1The Bloomberg piece also lists data centres among voters' top concerns, as its headline on AI indicates. 1