Trump bids farewell to midterms

President Trump delivered his final scheduled remarks of the 2026 midterm cycle at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. Standing with the water feature behind him, he addressed the nation one last time before the polls open on Election Day.

The University of Florida Voting Lab reports that more than 57 million Americans have already cast their ballots. This figure includes nearly 32 million who voted in person and more than 25 million who mailed in their votes. The turnout easily surpasses the approximately 46 million early votes recorded during the 2022 midterm elections.

Trump claimed that Democrats seek to empower people living in the country illegally to cast ballots. He warned that the upcoming vote will determine whether those "extremists" gain power or lose it. The president described the current era as the "golden age of America," asserting that the country has never experienced such growth.

He acknowledged the historical trend where a sitting president's party loses control of Congress during midterm years. "For some reason, the sitting president doesn't win the midterms," Trump said. "But we gave this a very strong shot." He added that the records he has set will be meaningless if the party lets opponents who hate the country win.

The president touted the renovation of the Reflecting Pool, which he said was completed after previous attempts by predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama failed. He described the work as a "complete job," noting that the team fixed leaks and resurfaced the bottom in a dark blue color he referred to as "American flag blue."

Vice President JD Vance joined the closing push with stops in New York and Ohio. He told reporters on Tuesday that he feels good about the outcome, though he noted the decision rests with the voters. Vance also reacted to news that Michigan Democratic Representative Haley Stevens is supporting Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. "I certainly think it helps," Vance said, suggesting the move gives some voters permission to support the Republican ticket.

In Texas, Republican Senator Ted Cruz warned supporters at an event in Conroe that Democrats could win every statewide position if the election were over today. He urged Republican voters to ignore internal party divisions and show up tomorrow. His candidate, Ken Paxton, attacked his Democratic opponent James Talarico, calling a vote for him a vote for Chuck Schumer to run the U.S. Senate.

In the Texas 15th congressional district, both candidates expressed concern over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Democratic candidate Bobby Pulido pointed to aggressive enforcement in the streets, while incumbent Republican Monica De La Cruz stated that enforcement should target cartels and criminals rather than hardworking immigrant families.