US midterm elections 2026: turnout surges in vote that will define final years of Trump presidency – live

Control of Congress at stake as key states including Florida, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina see record turnout Track live results from all 50 statesThe key races to watchWhat time do the polls close?It has just gone past 06:30 in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia where polls have now opened.Here are some of the key voter issues shaping the US midterm elections:The economy: Despite Trump’s 2024 campaign pledge to tackle affordability issues, the economy consistently ranks as voters’ top concern.Iran: Trump’s decision to go to war with the Tehran regime has exacerbated economic worries. Iran’s retaliatory decision to close the strait of Hormuz has driven up gasoline prices for US motorists. It also represents a breach of his pledge to end the US’s supposed addiction to “forever wars”.Immigration: Enforcement and closing the border remains a signature issue for Trump. He repeatedly boasts of the impact of his closure of the southern border as one of his biggest achievements, making comparisons with the performance of Joe Biden.AI and datacenters: AI has emerged as a key campaign issue, with surveys showing a majority of voters holding negative views on it, even as Trump champions its development and attempts to rename it “super intelligence”. Continue reading...