US Political Parties Make Final Push Ahead of Midterm Elections

Political parties are making their final appeals to voters across the United States with just four days remaining before the November 3 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. President Donald Trump addressed a campaign rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday night to support local Republican candidates. He also reversed an earlier decision and announced plans to hold rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Sunday, November 1, after local Republicans urged him to visit in person rather than hold phone rallies. Meanwhile, legal battles over the voting process continue in the courts. A federal appeals court on Friday declined to order California to set aside more than 20,000 mail-in ballots, while the Justice Department has expanded subpoenas in California and Alaska. Polling data from CBS News shows Democrats leading in the House of Representatives, while the balance of power in the Senate rests on closely contested races.

Campaign Figures

Both major parties have deployed high-profile figures to campaign in key states. Former President Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear in Tupelo, Mississippi, on Friday to support Senate candidate Scott Colom. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was set to speak at a fundraising dinner in Fulton County, Georgia. Economic concerns, particularly the cost of living, remain a central issue as many voters feel the administration has not done enough to lower prices.

Context

Midterm elections in the United States take place midway through a president's four-year term and serve as a crucial test of voter sentiment toward the ruling party. These elections decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the seats in the Senate.