Countdown to Midterm Elections: A Look at What’s at Stake

Recent polling appears to give Democrats an edge in the contest for control of Congress, according to NBC News, as the midterm elections draw close. The assessment came in a video segment published October 6, 2026, in which Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker appeared on TODAY to discuss where the race stands.

Welker's analysis centered on the sagging approval numbers for President Donald Trump and the effect they are having on the contest. His low standing comes as he mounts a campaign blitz on behalf of Republicans. NBC News coverage published alongside the segment says Trump is visiting four states in five days in a final push before the November midterms, and a separate NBC video features NBC's Steve Kornacki going through the current midterm numbers.

The poll results favoring Democrats are the central point of the discussion, while Trump's approval ratings are presented as an important influence on the political environment as voters head toward the November elections.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →