Election Day: Polls open as inflation and Senate races shape voter choices

The 2026 midterm elections reach their final stage on Tuesday, with approximately one-third of eligible voters having already cast ballots. This leaves two-thirds of the electorate to vote on Election Day, a group facing a ballot heavy with economic concerns and foreign policy questions. The University of Florida Election Lab reports that more than 42 million people have voted early in person or by mail, a figure that has doubled in the past seven days.

The timeline for determining the winner of the U.S. Congress extends beyond the closing of polls. Nearly one-third of voters cast ballots by mail, and most states will accept these envelopes for another week provided they are postmarked by Election Day. Analysts expect final outcomes may take several days or up to a week to finalize due to the volume of mail-in returns. In Ohio, only two-thirds of requested mail ballots have been returned so far, creating a data gap in a key battleground state.

Economic pressures drive much of the voter attention this cycle. Inflation has reached 3.7 percent, prompting higher costs for basic goods. The average price of a gallon of gasoline rose from $3.05 a year ago to $4.26 this week. Diesel fuel, which impacts shipping and grocery prices, jumped from $3.62 to $6.35 per gallon. Home mortgage rates have climbed above 7 percent, increasing monthly payments for homeowners with adjustable rates.

The U.S. Senate race in Alaska has become a focal point for both parties. Governor Mike Dunleavy launched a state investigation while President Donald Trump ordered a federal probe into the election. The controversy centers on a primary challenge where two candidates named Daniel Sullivan appeared on the ballot. Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee, denies her campaign sought to confuse voters. She stated, "I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters." FBI agents have interviewed Daniel J. Sullivan, the political novice, in connection with the matter.

Foreign policy issues also feature prominently in the final days of the campaign. Two U.S. diplomats told the Associated Press that President Trump is considering renewed military strikes on Iran following the midterm elections. They said U.S. allies have been notified to expect strikes and potential Iranian retaliation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that Tehran continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed. The White House has not yet commented on the reports.

In Florida, President Trump discussed a possible military presence near Cuba during a rally for congressional candidates. He described a scenario where U.S. ships would stop 50 yards off the Cuban coast, allowing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to negotiate a deal. This comment comes as Cuba faces an energy and economic crisis following the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil. Rubio, a Cuban-American, is viewed by some as a potential mediator for the long-standing conflict between the two nations.

Legal developments involving former Trump aides and officials concluded this week. A federal judge ruled that Maurene Comey was illegally fired by the Justice Department. District Judge Jesse Furman noted she was dismissed despite receiving the highest accolades from supervisors and peers. Her lawyers stated the decision reaffirms the system of checks and balances. Separately, a federal grand jury declined to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, a former assistant to Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who testified about events on January 6, 2021. Grand jurors did not agree with Republican lawmakers who had accused Hutchinson of lying during her congressional hearing.

The Justice Department has taken steps to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for the third time. Federal prosecutors submitted a formal information alleging Comey leaked classified information from a decade ago. Formal charges have not yet been filed, but the submission is often the first step in a prosecution. Comey responded via video, stating, "Well, they’re back, again. It would almost be funny if it weren’t such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice, one that we cannot become numb to. Nothing’s changed with me; I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid of these people, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary."