This editorial from The Guardian discusses the upcoming US midterms, focusing on how economic issues are influencing voter sentiment. Democrats are projected to gain significant ground due to President Trump's unpopularity and his impact on inflation and other costs of living, especially in traditionally Republican states like Texas and Alaska. However, the article cautions that despite a nine-point lead in national polls, Democrats face challenges such as high Republican spending on advertising ($700 million since September) and voter skepticism about Democratic candidates' appeal beyond opposition to Republicans. The editorial also highlights concerns over Trump's interference in the election process and his potential disregard for its results.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In the lead-up to the US midterms, Democrats have seen an unexpected surge in support, partly due to President Trump's declining popularity and his controversial stance on Iran, which has impacted the cost of living. With less than a month until voting day, Democrats currently hold a nine-point lead according to surveys measuring party preference rather than specific candidates. They are now aiming not just for control of the House but also challenging Republican dominance in the Senate by flipping four seats out of 35 up for grabs. Notably, Democrats have gained traction even in traditionally red states like Texas and Kansas, where James Talarico's economic populism is resonating with voters despite facing historically unpopular incumbent Ken Paxton. However, caution remains as past polling inaccuracies cast doubt on current predictions.
Written for “US Midterm Elections Cost Of Living” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
For once, Democrats and Donald Trump might be in agreement: “Pretend I’m on the ticket,” the historically unpopular president has instructed supporters.
uncertain
president → pretend → supporters
Midterms are in large part a referendum on the incumbent, and Trump’s war on Iran and its impact on the cost of living have boosted support for Democrats.
asserted
war → boost → Democrats
With less than a month to go, they have reason to be upbeat.
asserted
they → go → reason
The party has a mountain to climb after the devastating defeats of 2024, and the gerrymandering of Republicans, but surveys give it a lead of about nine points on the generic ballot, which measures preference for parties rather than specific candidates.
asserted
which → have → candidates
Attention has turned from the prospects of seizing the House, where Democrats are forecast a clear majority, to what once seemed like the highly optimistic possibility of taking the Senate too.
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what → turn → Senate
That would require flipping four seats, with 35 in play.
asserted
That → require → play
Remarkably, Democrats are prospering in red states from Texas to Alaska.
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Democrats → prosper → Alaska
In Kansas – which Mr Trump carried by 16 points, and which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932 – the race is neck and neck.
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race → carry → 1932
The first and most glaring is that the Democrats remain unpopular.
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Democrats → remain → ?
Voters are being turned off the Republicans rather than drawn towards their rivals; pundits talk of a red undertow rather than a blue wave.
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pundits → turn → undertow
Democrats’ striking progress in key races where few had favoured them is tied to standout candidates and especially unpopular opponents – notably in Texas, where the Christian pastor and economic populist James Talarico is leading Ken Paxton, viewed unfavourably by a third of his own party’s supporters.
asserted
pastor → strike → supporters
Yet Democrats are struggling in some places where they initially had good reason for optimism, such as Maine.
asserted
they → struggle → Maine
Third, the huge Republican spending advantage is now materialising – with $700m of advertising booked since the start of September.
asserted
advantage → materialise → September
Mr Trump, who has fared better than his party in elections, is hitting the campaign trail.
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who → fare → trail
He may make sure his base turns out.
uncertain
base → make → ?
But candidates – including those who benefited from his endorsement – are increasingly distancing themselves from the president because he alienates others.
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he → include → others
He is visibly more energised by his construction projects than how his voters can pay their bills.
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voters → pay → bills
His war on Iran looks not only reckless and ineffectual, but is pushing up prices.
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war → look → prices
Strikingly, voters are now more likely to identify Republicans than Democrats as “elitist”.
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voters → identify → Democrats
Latino voters who swung to him are changing their minds, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement excesses contributing.
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excesses → swing → minds
Outrageously, Mr Trump has used taxpayer-funded adverts to laud his presidency.
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Trump → use → presidency
It goes without saying that he cannot be expected to respect the midterm results.
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he → go → results
The supreme court rejected his efforts to restrict mail-in voting – used by almost a third of the electorate – but he continues to smear it.
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he → reject → it
Just as he disrupts the electoral process, in office he rejects the norms and restraints that his predecessors recognised, and relies more and more on executive orders – seeking to avoid checks on issues ranging from war to vaccines.
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predecessors → disrupt → vaccines
But should Democrats manage to take both House and Senate, they would regain both legislative control and investigative powers.
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they → manage → control
In these elections, most votes will be driven by economic stress rather than democratic peril.
asserted
votes → drive → stress
But their outcome will be critical to the defence of American democracy – or its continued erosion.
asserted
outcome → continue → democracy
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