Trump fights on home turf as Democratic midterm hopes rise

Four weeks before the midterms, Republicans are fighting to hold ground they once considered safe, and President Donald Trump is urging supporters not to abandon his party. His approval ratings sit in the 30s. He rallied in Alabama and then in Ohio, a state he carried by 11 points in 2024 but where a pivotal Senate contest is now too close to call. The White House announced a $90 payment to about 20 million seniors on Medicare Part B, following his earlier pledge of $5,000 for every American adult if Republicans win, according to CNN.

Weekend polling showed Democrats ahead or competitive in states Trump won easily, with Latino voters appearing to drift away. A CBS News survey found 70% of voters think his policies are raising prices. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNN's Jake Tapper that claims of voter distress come from partisan pollsters, and called September's job gain of 29,000 an outlier. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly said people cannot afford their lives. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican, said cost of living is the top concern.

Democrats are 5 seats behind in the House, 214 to 219, and need a net gain of four in the Senate.

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