The Guardian view on the US midterms: the cost of living is on the ballot, but this is about democracy too

With under a month until the midterm elections, Democrats hold an advantage driven by President Donald Trump's low approval and voters' frustration over prices, which The Guardian's editorial board links in part to his war on Iran. The party leads by roughly nine points when voters are asked which party they prefer, and attention has shifted from winning the House, where a clear majority is forecast, to the possibility of taking the Senate. That would mean flipping four seats among the 35 being contested. Democrats are competitive in conservative states, including Kansas, where the race is tight even though Trump won there by 16 points.

The Guardian urges caution. Democrats remain unpopular themselves, so gains reflect disaffection with Republicans more than enthusiasm for the opposition. Results vary widely: James Talarico leads Ken Paxton in Texas, partly because a third of Republicans view Paxton unfavorably, while Democrats are faring poorly in Maine. Republicans have booked $700m in advertising since early September.

Trump is returning to the campaign trail, though some candidates are keeping their distance.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →