Bullerish · Blog · 2026 midterms tracker

Midterms brief ·

Midterms brief: DOJ poll monitors head to all 50 states

The 2026 midterms in 5 stories, written by Bullerish from published reporting. Every story links to the articles it comes from.

  1. 1. DOJ plans about 1,000 poll monitors in all 50 states on Tuesday

    DOJ says monitors will only observe and report possible federal violations. Officials told The Atlantic they worry about the use of criminal prosecutors as monitors; internal DOJ materials show monitors were trained not to interfere.

    Sources: The Atlantic via Election Law Blog · North Dakota Monitor (States Newsroom) · CBS News

  2. 2. Collins and Jackson make closing pitches in tied Maine Senate race

    Sen. Susan Collins (R) cites $1.5 billion she says she brought to Maine and calls Democratic attack ads false. Troy Jackson (D) ties her to Trump and opposes the Iran war. A Fox News poll has them tied at 49%.

    Sources: Maine Morning Star · Fox News

  3. 3. Beshear rallies for Sand as Trump backs Lahn in Iowa governor race

    Democrat Rob Sand campaigned in Des Moines with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, whose Democratic Governors Association has spent over $10 million on the race. In Dubuque, Trump called Republican Zach Lahn Iowa's only choice. Cook rates it Lean Democrat.

    Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch

  4. 4. Voters decide 145 statewide ballot measures on Tuesday

    State parties took opposite sides on 70 of this year's 164 measures, Ballotpedia counts, including voter ID amendments in five states and abortion measures in Idaho, Virginia and Missouri. Republicans backed 50 that Democrats opposed; Democrats backed 20.

    Sources: Ballotpedia News

  5. 5. Trump says he would pardon aides if a Democratic Congress prosecutes

    Trump told the New York Post he would issue preemptive pardons to people who worked in his administration if needed. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) has said a Democratic majority should pursue cases. Pardons cover only federal crimes.

    Sources: New York Post

Where it stands: every Senate race, House ratings, forecasts and live results

Reporting in this brief: The Atlantic via Election Law Blog, North Dakota Monitor (States Newsroom), CBS News, Maine Morning Star, Fox News, Iowa Capital Dispatch, Ballotpedia News, New York Post.