With just days until Tuesday's midterm elections, candidates from both parties are making their final appeals to voters, and the economy remains the dominant issue on the minds of the electorate. President Trump, after initially canceling rallies in key battleground states, reversed course and announced he would travel to Kansas and Iowa on Sunday for last-minute events. The president's decision to scrap a Kansas rally and shift to a virtual event had raised questions about the GOP's closing strategy, but his camp now says he will appear in person.
Polls show tight Senate races in several states, including Iowa, Michigan, Alaska, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) and state Rep. Josh Turek (D) are vying for an open Senate seat and will appear on CNN's "Inside Politics Sunday." Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) will join NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday," while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) will appear on CBS News's "Face the Nation" to discuss his gubernatorial race.
According to Decision Desk HQ, a nonpartisan election handicapper, Democrats have an 83 percent chance of retaking the House and a 63 percent chance of winning the Senate. If those forecasts hold, it would mark a significant shift in power in Washington. The economy, including rising energy prices and inflation, has fueled voter anxiety, and Republican candidates in battleground races are grappling with how to address the administration's handling of economic matters amid the ongoing conflict with Iran and trade tensions with Canada.
On Friday, the Treasury Department reported that its economic pressure campaign against Tehran was "decimating" Iran's economy. Headline inflation in Iran reached 90 percent in September following the launch of "Operation Economic Outcast," which includes a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions on Iranian oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will join "Face the Nation" on Sunday to discuss the administration's approach.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will appear on "The Hill Sunday" to discuss his party's strategy for Election Day. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), chair of the Democratic Governors Association, will join MS NOW's "The Weekend." Beshear has been floated as a potential presidential candidate and recently told CNN that Democrats are poised to pick up several GOP-held governor's mansions this cycle, following victories in Virginia and New Jersey last year. However, Beshear has faced criticism from Latino lawmakers and leaders after declining to invest an additional $10 million in the Texas gubernatorial race, where state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
The Sunday shows will feature a full slate of political heavyweights. On NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday," viewers will hear from DNC Chair Ken Martin, former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. CBS's "Face the Nation" will host Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.). CNN's "State of the Union" will feature Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), while "Inside Politics Sunday" will have Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek. Fox News Sunday will host Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and NBC's "Meet the Press" will feature Gov. JD Pritzker (D-Ill.), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Steve Kornacki.
Also on Sunday, MS NOW's "The Weekend" will include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.). Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures" will feature Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), and Lara Trump. ABC's "This Week" will host former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, and former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D).
As the campaigns enter their final hours, both parties are urging supporters to turn out. With control of Congress at stake and the economy weighing heavily on voters' minds, the results on Tuesday will shape the political landscape for years to come.
