Midterm polls – live: Biden denounces violence and voter intimidation in appeal to voters

Joe Biden urged Americans to protect democracy at the ballot box in the midterm elections as he called for an end to political violence in a speech on Wednesday.

The president compared the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband to the attack by a pro-Trump mob on the US Capitol on January 6.

And he slammed the one-term president for refusing to accept the results of the 2020 election and putting “loyalty to himself ahead of loyalty to the Constitution.”

Earlier, as former President Barack Obama continues his late-in-the-game tour of states crucial to this year’s midterm elections, beleagured GOP Georgia Senate nominee Herschel Walker has said he would put his resume up against Mr Obama’s “any time of the day” – this despite numerous examples of Mr Walker lying about his professional and educational history/

Mr Obama gave a speech in Georgia earlier this week, and will be campaigning together with Joe Biden this weekend.

Meanwhile, a new poll in Pennsylvania has struck fear into Democratic hearts with the news that Senate nominee John Fetterman apparently holds only a one-point lead over Republican Mehmet Oz – this as the party’s leads in other states variously shrink or stubbornly fail to grow.

With the chances of Democrats holding the House still looking slim, control of the US Senate hangs in the balance. Among the states where the parties remain effectively tied are the race for a GOP-held seat Ohio and a Democratic defence in Nevada, though incumbent senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Raphael Warnock appear to be maintaining slight leads.

Key points

• Polling shows tight races in key states

• Opinion: The five Senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms

• Obama floods the campaign trail to help Democrats as midterms loom

• Biden warns voters Florida voters of GOP threat to social security and medicare

• Herschel Walker puts himself toe-to-toe with Barack Obama

Biden urges defence of democracy in DC speech

23:37 , Graeme Massie

Biden warns of ‘chaos’ of MAGA candidates refusing to accept results

23:22 , Graeme Massie

The president said that Republicans not accepting the results of the midterms was “unlawful.”

“I wish I could say the assault on our democracy ended that day (January 6). But I cannot. As I stand here today, there are candidates running for every level of office in America ... who won’t commit to accepting the results of the election they’re running in,” he said.

“In our bones, we know that democracy is at risk” said Mr Biden as he said he “knows” Americans will defend the country at the ballot box.

Biden slams Trump over election lies

23:11 , Graeme Massie

“The defeated former president of the United States refuses to accept the results of the 2020 election, he refuses to accept the will of the people or accept that fact he lost. He has abused his power and put loyalty to himself before loyalty to the constitution,” said the president.

“The big lie has been proven to be just that,” he said.

‘Democracy is on the ballot this year’ says president

23:10 , Graeme Massie

Mr Biden called it a moment of “national and generational importance” as he urged Americans to vote “knowing who we have been and what we are at risk of becoming.”

“We the people must decide if we will have fair and free election where every vote counts,” he added, warning of “dark forces who thirst for power.”

‘No place for political violence or voter intimidation in America’ says Biden.

23:06 , Graeme Massie

“There is no place for political violence or voter intimidation in America. No place period, no place ever,” said Mr Biden

23:05 , Graeme Massie

Biden says describing the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi “Is hard to even say” as he compares the attack to that of January 6.

Joe Biden starts speech on protecting democracy

23:03 , Graeme Massie

The president is giving a speech on the state of American democracy.

Trump 2024 campaign preparing for post-midterms launch

22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As he played to a crowd of supporters in Robstown, Texas, former President Donald Trump drew cheers as he talked up his first two runs for the White House — and teased a third.

“In order to make our country successful, safe and glorious again, I will probably have to do it again,” he said last month.

That carefully placed “probably” may soon be gone from Trump’s stump speech. Aides to the former president are making quiet preparations for a 2024 presidential campaign that could be launched soon after next week’s midterm elections as Trump tries to capitalize on expected Republican wins to propel himself toward becoming the front-runner for his party’s nomination.

Read more:

Trump 2024 campaign prepares for post-midterms launch

Elon Musk: Trump and other banned users won’t be back on Twitter before midterms

21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Banned users won’t be back on Twitter “for weeks,” Elon Musk has said, meaning that former President Donald Trump and other users blocked from the platform won’t be back before the midterm elections on 8 November.

The Tesla CEO finished his $44bn purchase of the social media platform last week after failing to back out of the deal.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Banned users won’t be back on Twitter before midterms, Elon Musk says

Kari Lake calls former Trump adviser Steve Bannon a ‘modern day George Washington’

21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Arizona Republican Kari Lake lauded Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon as a “modern-day George Washington” as he made a surprise appearance to campaign for her in the state.

The right-wing former TV anchor is involved in a competitive race with Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, to be the state’s governor.

Graeme Massie reports.

Kari Lake calls Steve Bannon a ‘modern day George Washington’ at Arizona rally

‘My resume against his resume, I’ll put it up any time of the day’

20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Senate hopeful Herschel Walker dared Barack Obama to compare resumes after the former president questioned Mr Walker’s credentials for leadership, calling him more of a “celebrity” than a politician.

Mr Obama campaigned for Mr Walker’s opponent, incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock, on Friday night in Georgia.

During the speech, he called Mr Walker “a celebrity that wants to be a politician,” and noted that being a good football player does not qualify someone to help run the nation.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Herschel Walker says he has more impressive resume than Obama

Pelosi cameras not actively monitored on night of attack on Speaker’s husband

20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

A statement from the US Capitol Police notes that the cameras at Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home were not actively being monitored during last Friday’s attack, as she was in Washington, DC. However, Command Center personnel noticed police activity on the screen and “used the feeds to monitor response and assist investigators.

Full statement here.

Axelrod doubts Democrats in marginal races eager for Biden to speak tonight

20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

With President Joe Biden preparing to give a primetime speech this evening concerning democracy at a Democratic National Committee event in Washington, DC, political commentator and former Obama adviser David Axelrod does believe Democrats in marginal races will be eager for the president to be on TV this evening.

Biden administration spending $4.5bn to help lower home heating costs

19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Biden administration said on Wednesday it is making $4.5bn available through a low-income home energy assistance program to help with heating costs heading into what is expected to be a brutal winter.

Spending for the program is significantly higher than the typical annual funding of about $3.5bn, but it is far below the $8bn that the administration and congressional Democrats delivered last winter as part of President Joe Biden’s economic rescue plan to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden spending $4.5 billion to help lower home heating costs

GOP congresswoman forced to delete ‘remarkably cruel’ tweet mocking Pelosi attack

19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A GOP congresswoman has been forced to delete a tweet mocking the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Claudia Tenney, a Republican from the 24th District of New York, retweeted a photoshopped image of a group of men holding hammers in front of what some claim is the home of Pelosi-attacker David DePape.

“LOL,” Ms Tenney wrote on 28 October.

Gustaf Kilander reports on yet another tasteless “joke” at the expense of the Pelosi family.

GOP congresswoman forced to delete tweet mocking Paul Pelosi attack

Latest Wisconsin poll has Senate and Governor races as tossups

19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A new Marquette Law School Poll survey of Wisconsin voters finds the races for both US Senate and governor are tossups one week before election day.

Among likely voters in the election for the Senate, Senator Ron Johnson is supported by 50 per cent and Mandela Barnes by 48 per cent. In the Marquette Law Poll’s previous survey, on 3-9 October among likely voters, Johnson received 52 per cent and Barnes 46 per cent.

Among registered voters in the current poll, 48 per cent support Johnson and 45 per cent support Barnes. “Likely voters” are those who say they are certain to vote or who say they have already voted. “Registered voters” include those already registered and those who say they will register by election day. All vote results include undecided voters who lean to a candidate.

The governor’s race remains a tossup: Among likely voters, 48 per cent support Democratic incumbent Governor Tony Evers, while 48 per cent favour Republican Tim Michels. The independent candidate, Joan Beglinger, is chosen by 2 per cent, while 1 per cent don’t know.

Beglinger ended her campaign on 6 September but will remain on the November ballot. In the October poll, among likely voters, Evers received 47 per cent, Michels 46 per cent and Beglinger 4 per cent. In the new poll, among registered voters, 44 per cent support Evers, 45 per cent support Michels, and 5 per cent support Beglinger.

The survey was conducted from 24 October to 1 November, interviewing 802 Wisconsin registered voters, with a margin of error of +/-4.6 percentage points. The margin of error among 679 likely voters is +/-4.8 percentage points.

Vance on trail in Defiance, Ohio

19:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Obama sounds warning about threat of political violence

19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Barack Obama has warned about the dire state of politics in America.

Ahead of an expectedly heated Election Day on 8 November and days after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband was attacked in their San Francisco home, Mr Obama warned that “more people are going to get hurt” while on the campaign trail in Las Vegas, Nevada, Reuters reported.

Andrea Blanco reports on the former president’s remarks.

Obama sounds warning about threat of political violence ahead of midterms

Fed announces fourth straight interest rate hike to combat inflation

18:43 , Oliver O'Connell

The Federal Reserve announced its fourth consecutive interest rate increase on Wednesday as it seeks to combat inflation in the US economy.

Federal Reserve announces fourth straight interest rate hike to combat inflation

Cheney would vote for Ryan over Trump-backed Vance if she were in Ohio

18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Liz Cheney has said she would rather vote for Democrat candidate Tim Ryan instead of Donald Trump-backed Republican JD Vance in Ohio’s Senate race.

The Ohio Senate race has become a neck-and-neck battle between Congressman Tim Ryan, a centrist Democratic member of the House, and author JD Vance.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

Liz Cheney says she will vote for Democrat over Trump-backed Republican JD Vance

Obama likens Nevada GOP Senate candidate to ‘crazy uncle’

18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Barack Obama likened Nevada Republican Senate candidate Adam Laxalt to a family’s “crazy uncle” during a campaign speech boosting incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto ahead of the 2022 midterms.

Mr Obama was on the campaign trail ahead of the midterm elections to rally support for the Democrat when he noted that more than a dozen of Mr Laxalt’s family members publicly stated they would back his opponent.

Graig Graziosi reports on the former president’s remarks.

Obama likens Nevada GOP Senate candidate Adam Laxalt to ‘crazy uncle’

Protesters interrupt Supreme Court to defend abortion rights

18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Three abortion rights protesters interrupted oral arguments at the US Supreme Court to urge voters to protect abortion access and denounce the high court’s decision to strip a constitutional right to care.

The demonstration on 2 November marked the first protest within the courtroom in nearly seven years, and nearly five months after the court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey, landmark cases that affirmed a constitutional right to abortion.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Protesters interrupt Supreme Court hearing to defend abortion rights

Biden treading difficult line as term-defining election nears

17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The president remains optimistic despite all the challenges facing the US, insisting on campaign stops that the nation’s best days lie ahead.

Biden, the optimist, wrestles with election, other worries

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers portrays GOP rival as ‘radical’ and ‘dangerous'

17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers learned long ago to lean into his lack of charisma, and he was at it again in an appearance before the Milwaukee Rotary in the final weeks of the race. “I’m not the flashiest guy in the room,” Evers said, pivoting quickly to portray Republican Tim Michels as the opposite — a “radical” and “dangerous” force who could be a threat to democracy.

In final days, Evers asks Wis. voters to worry about Michels

What has John Fetterman said about his stroke and recovery?

16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The health of Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman has garnered a lot of attention following his stroke earlier this year, with his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz claiming that he’s not fit for the job.

Here’s what Mr Fetterman has made public:

What has John Fetterman said about his stroke and recovery?

Harris to campaign for Hochul

16:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris is heading to New York City on Thursday to attend a Get Out The Vote event with Governor Kathy Hochul. Hillary Clinton is also expected to attend.

Governor Hochul, the Democrat incumbent, is fending off a stronger-than-expected challenge from Republican Lee Zeldin.

Democrats to boost Hochul in tight New York governor's race

What happens if there is disruption on Election Day?

16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s Election Day, and you’ve decided you’re going to vote in person. You get there and — choose your own adventure — maybe the power is out at the building or there aren’t enough paper ballots or poll workers, or poll watchers somehow interfere with ballot casting.

There are only so many options voters have. Wait; or leave and come back later if your schedule allows for it. Planning for the unforeseen could be helpful.

Many voters will see no trouble at all casting a ballot. For others, new voting procedures in some states and the effects of persistent falsehoods about former President Donald’s claims about losing in 2020 are already having an effect.

Read more:

EXPLAINER: What happens if Election Day gets disrupted?

Poll shows Fetterman v Oz debate had little impact on voters

15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Polling by Monmouth University shows that the debate between Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman and Dr Mehmet Oz had little impact on the electorate’s choice of who would get their vote.

Just 3 per cent said they reconsidered their vote; 22 per cent said they had concerns but didn’t change their vote; 46 per cent said it didn’t give them serious concern; and 27 per cent didn’t see or hear the debate.

The same poll had Fetterman ahead with 48 per cent definitely or probably voting for him over Oz’s 44 per cent.

The poll of 608 registered Pennsylvania voters was conducted between 27-31 October — 42 per cent Republican, 44 per cent Democrat, and 14 per cent other or no affiliation.

Ted Cruz says Mark Kelly a ‘very effective candidate'

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ted Cruz has acknowledged that Arizona Senator Mark Kelly is a “very effective candidate” as a Navy veteran and astronaut, but also criticised him for running supposed conservative-sounding ads about border security while allegedly voting for “open borders”.

Watch:

Man who posted photo of ballot on social media could be charged with felony

15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A man in Wisconsin has been charged with voter fraud for posting his marked election ballot on Facebook.

Ozaukee County prosecutors said that the investigation against 52-year-old Paul Buzzell, of Mequon, was a “test case.” Mr Buzzell, a Mequon-Thiensville School Board member, had his first hearing on Monday and was released on a $500 bond, the Associated Press reported.

Andrea Blanco has the story.

Man who shared ballot photo on Facebook could be charged with a felony

Herschel Walker puts himself toe-to-toe with Barack Obama

14:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Despite all the scandals and embarrassments he’s embroiled himself in, Herschel Walker’s self-esteem apparently remains as high as ever – so high in fact that he feels confident comparing himself to a former president:

CNN poll: Dems slip behind GOP in generic ballot

14:10 , Andrew Naughtie

A new poll from CNN is the latest survey to indicate that Democrats are losing ground on a nationwide basis, showing them falling behind the GOP on the so-called “generic ballot” just as the midterms enter their final stage. There’s also an enthusiasm gap that will leave many in the party deeply concerned.

However, there are serious caveats to the generic ballot figure. For a start, millions of voters have already cast their ballots, meaning the importance of changes this late in the cycle are hard to gauge. And secondly, widespread gerrymandering and the huge variation in locally important issues makes the balance of the nationwide vote less important than it might seem on the surface.

Extremism watch: Bannon on the trail in Arizona

13:40 , Andrew Naughtie

At a rally yesterday, far-right Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake introduced a surprise guest: extremist Trump associate Steve Bannon, who recently received a jail sentence for criminal contempt of Congress after refusing to co-operate with a subpoena from the January 6 committee.

Ms Lake is one of the most hardcore Trump-backed candidates at the top of the ballot this cycle, and has made a name for herself by obsessively fixating on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. She has strongly implied that if she loses her own race (in which the polling remains very close) she will not accept defeat as legitimate.

Here’s a profile of Ms Lake from Andrew Buncombe.

The seemingly unstoppable rise of election denier Kari Lake

Do early voting numbers offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats?

13:10 , Andrew Naughtie

Democrats are currently outpacing Republicans in early voting in the states that could decide control of the Senate, early voting expert Michael McDonald tells The Independent’s Richard Hall.

Early voting numbers offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats in midterms

Op-ed: The five Senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms

12:40 , Andrew Naughtie

Eric Garcia, The Independent’s Washington bureau chief, writes:

We are officially seven days from Election Day! Celebrate or panic as you wish.

Much has changed since our previous ranking of Senate seats most likely to flip, with some candidates pulling ahead while other races tightened up. One contest no longer on the list is North Carolina, largely thanks to an onslaught of ads from Republican groups that has helped Representative Ted Budd to pull ahead of Cheri Beasley, and to which Democrats have failed to respond in kind.

Meanwhile, things are heating up in Arizona, which returns to our ranking. And while Representative Tim Ryan put up an impressive fight against Republican JD Vance during their debates, it appears Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s onslaught of money has given the troubled Republican nominee the steam he needed to pull away.

With that, here’s your final ranking of the top five Senate seats most likely to flip. Yell at us accordingly.

Read on:

The five Senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms

How to vote in the midterm elections

12:10 , Andrew Naughtie

The 2022 midterm elections are just days away on 8 November with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and 39 state and territorial gubernatorial candidates on the ballot.

In addition to federal races, there are also numerous other state and local elections being contested as Americans head to the polls, including state legislature seats, attorneys general, state treasurers, mayors, county positions and tribal executive positions.

To participate and have your say in the races where you live, here is what you need to know about how you go about voting, whether in-person or by absentee or mail-in ballot.

How to vote in the midterm elections

New poll: Fetterman and Oz one point apart

11:40 , Andrew Naughtie

A late-in-the-day poll from Muhlenberg College and Morning Call has ominous news for Democrats: having enjoyed a surprisingly chunky lead this summer, Pennsylvania Senate nominee John Fetterman is effectively tied with his opponent Mehmet Oz, leading him by only a single point. And concerningly, of the 3 per cent of respondents who said they weren’t sure who to vote for, 22 per cent leaned toward Dr Oz while only 7 per cent are leaning towards Mr Fetterman.

Elon Musk unblocks Twitter of far-right GOP candidate after complaint from former Trump lawyer

11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Mark Finchem, a conspiracy theorist and election denier running on the Republican ticket for Arizona secretary of state, has credited his return to Twitter to Elon Musk.

“WHOA. Arizona Secretary of State candidate @RealMarkFinchem was suspended on Twitter. @elonmusk this shouldn’t happen a week before the election!” former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis tweeted on Monday night.

Mr Musk responded that he was “looking into it”.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Elon Musk unblocks Twitter of GOP candidate after former Trump lawyer complained

Why Marcus Flowers insists he can defeat Marjorie Taylor Greene

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The military veteran tells The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe why he could be the first Democrat to represent Georgia’s 14th congressional district in 30 years.

Why Marcus Flowers insists he can defeat Marjorie Taylor Greene

The future of abortion care is on the ballot in five states

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Americans will vote in a historic sweep of reproductive healthcare referendums after the Supreme Court revoked the constitutional right to care, Alex Woodward reports.

The future of abortion care is on the ballot in these five states

Second woman to claim Herschel Walker paid for her abortion speaks out

09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The second woman who alleged that Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker paid for her abortion told Good Morning America that the former football star pressured her to have the procedure because she would not be safe, nor would the child.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Woman who says Herschel Walker paid for abortion says he said she wouldn’t be ‘safe’

Kari Lake draws disturbing laugh with joke about Paul Pelosi attack

07:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Arizona Republican candidate for governor Kari Lake seemingly joked about the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband as she campaigned in the state.

Ms Lake, a pro-Trump former TV anchor, was at an event in Scottsdale when she was asked about increasing school security.

“It is not impossible to protect our kids at school, they act like it is. Nancy Pelosi, well, she’s got protection when she’s in DC, apparently, her house doesn’t have a lot of protection,” she said.

Graeme Massie reports.

GOP candidate Kari Lake draws disturbing laugh with joke about Paul Pelosi attack

Trump endorses Senate candidate who claims schoolchildren use litter boxes

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has officially endorsed the New Hampshire GOP senate candidate who recently spread a widely debunked hoax about children being encouraged to relieve themselves in litter boxes at school.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump endorses senate candidate who says children are using litter boxes at school

Ohio Senate race: What you need to know

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Tim Ryan facing off against JD Vance could determine the balance of the Senate.

Ohio Senate race: Tim Ryan faces JD Vance in crucial election

Obama’s blistering takedown of Ron Johnson goes viral

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A fired-up Barack Obama gave a blistering takedown of Senator Ron Johnson during a midterm election campaign event in Wisconsin.

Video of the former president’s remarks at a rally in Milwaukee on Saturday night went viral, garnering almost 14 million views by Monday morning.

Barack Obama’s fiery takedown of Ron Johnson on social security gets 14 million views

Walker v Warnock: What you need to know about the Georgia Senate race

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Raphael Warnock is now seeking a full six-year term against Herschel Walker, one of the most legendary University of Georgia football players of all time.

A preacher versus the running back will decide the future of Georgia

The most important midterm elections to watch ahead of Election Day

00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Nevada’s Senate race could go either way. Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are likely to cruise to re-election. And John Fetterman still leads in Pennsylvania, Eric Garcia writes.

The most important midterm elections to watch ahead of Election Day

What you need to know about the Pennsylvania Senate race

Tuesday 1 November 2022 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Pennsylvania’s Senate race has been perhaps the most bizarre one in a crowd of absurd campaigns. What should have been a relatively sleepy race where Republicans attempt to hold a Senate seat has instead turned into an intensely personal race with two outsized personalities.

Pennsylvania’s Senate race: Republicans try to protect a seat Democrats hope to flip

Dr Oz asks surgeon to downplay his role in research that allegedly killed puppies

Tuesday 1 November 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A cardiothoracic surgeon who helped propel Dr Mehmet Oz, who is currently running for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat, to stardom said he refused to say publicly that his former colleague had no hand in experiments that allegedly killed more than 300 dogs, claiming he viewed it as the candidate asking for a political favour.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Dr Oz asks for his role in research that allegedly killed puppies to be downplayed

Tuesday 1 November 2022 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrat Senate candidate for Pennsylvania and current Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman has written a Fox News op-ed hitting out at this Republican opponent Dr Mehmet oz on inflations.

“On inflation, crime, and any number of other issues, he just doesn’t get it. This is a guy who has spent the better part of his life jumping between his ten mansions on his private jet,” he writes.

Read the full op-ed at FoxNews.com.

Tuesday 1 November 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Fetterman says it was important he showed up at debate

Tuesday 1 November 2022 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

John Fetterman spoke to CNN about his ongoing recovery from a stroke, his decision to debate Dr Oz despite recent struggles with his speech, and why he believes he’s fit to serve the state of Pennsylvania in the Senate next year.

Watch:

Obama ‘the best closer’ Democrats have as midterms loom

Tuesday 1 November 2022 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes that more than five years after he left the White House, the former president is taking on the role of elder statesman stumping for Democrats across the country.

‘The best closer we have’: Obama floods campaign trail to help Democrats

Voices: The five Senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms

Tuesday 1 November 2022 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Washington bureau chief Eric Garcia writes:

We are officially seven days from Election Day! Celebrate or panic as you wish.

Much has changed since our previous ranking of Senate seats most likely to flip, with some candidates pulling ahead while other races tightened up. One contest no longer on the list is North Carolina, largely thanks to an onslaught of ads from Republican groups that has helped Representative Ted Budd to pull ahead of Cheri Beasley, and to which Democrats have failed to respond in kind.

Meanwhile, things are heating up in Arizona, which returns to our ranking. And while Representative Tim Ryan put up an impressive fight against Republican JD Vance during their debates, it appears Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s onslaught of money has given the troubled Republican nominee the steam he needed to pull away.

With that, here’s your final ranking of the top five Senate seats most likely to flip. Yell at us accordingly.

The five Senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms

Profile: Lauren Boebert

Tuesday 1 November 2022 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Graig Graziosi reports on the Colorado representative’s path to power and her battle to defend her place in Colorado.

Everything to know about Lauren Boebert

Dr Oz wants to ensure ‘Atlantic coast’ Pennsylvania has a GOP senator

Tuesday 1 November 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The only coastline Pennsylvania has is on Lake Erie.

Elon Musk unblocks Twitter of far-right GOP candidate after former Trump lawyer complained

Tuesday 1 November 2022 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Mark Finchem, a conspiracy theorist and election denier running on the Republican ticket for Arizona secretary of state, has credited his return to Twitter to Elon Musk.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Elon Musk unblocks Twitter of GOP candidate after former Trump lawyer complained

Biden to campaign in California

Tuesday 1 November 2022 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden will campaign on behalf of Democratic congressional candidate Mike Levin in San Diego at a political event on Thursday, the White House has announced.

On Friday the president will deliver remarks at an official event.

Capitol Police chief says ‘political climate’ requires more security for lawmakers

Tuesday 1 November 2022 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The chief of the US Capitol Police says his agency requires added resources to step up protection for lawmakers after last week’s brutal attack on the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In a statement, Capitol Police chief Thomas Manger said his department had “engaged in a review” of the attack on Paul Pelosi by a hammer-wielding assailant who had allegedly sought to kidnap and assault Ms Pelosi, the longtime leader of House Democrats who is also second in the presidential line of succession.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Capitol Police chief says ‘political climate’ requires more security for lawmakers

Biden closes out remarks by asking God to enlighten Republicans

Tuesday 1 November 2022 19:38 , Oliver O'Connell

“God bless you all, God protect our troops, and God give some of our Republican friends some enlightenment.”

Biden warns voters Florida voters of GOP threat to social security and medicare

Tuesday 1 November 2022 19:33 , Oliver O'Connell

In remarks to voters in Hallandale Beach, Florida, President Joe Biden warned of the Republican Party’s plans to take on Social Security and Medicare that many older voters rely on.

“You’ve been paying into Social Security your whole life. You earned it. Now these guys want to take it away. Who in the hell do they think they are? Excuse my language.”

“If Republicans in Congress have their way, the power we just gave Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices goes away,” Mr Biden said.

“The $2,000 cap on prescription drugs goes away. The $35-a-month cap on insulin for Medicare — gone. The savings on health care premiums of $800 a year for millions of Americans under the Affordable Care Act — gone.”

“And folks it gets even worse. They’re coming after Social Security and Medicare in a big way,” the president said.

“Folks here in Florida, you need to know this… Because your own Senator, Senator Rick Scott…He has laid out a clear plan. He said every five years that Social Security and Medicare would have to be reauthorised.”

Cheney: ‘I would not vote for JD Vance'

Tuesday 1 November 2022 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Rep Liz Cheney told an audience that were she a voter in Ohio, she would not be voting for her party’s Senate candidate, author JD Vance.

The Wyoming representative said she would chose Democrat Tim Ryan if she were casting a ballot in the Buckeye state.

Watch:

Schwarzenegger offers pep talk to poll workers

Tuesday 1 November 2022 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Poll workers in North Carolina yesterday received a pep talk from none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former California governor who has increasingly spoken out in defence of democracy since the January 6 riot.

At one point in his talk, he was interrupted by a pet.

Why Marcus Flowers insists he can defeat Marjorie Taylor Greene

Tuesday 1 November 2022 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The military veteran tells The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe why he could be the first Democrat to represent Georgia’s 14th congressional district in 30 years.

Why Marcus Flowers insists he can defeat Marjorie Taylor Greene

Liz Cheney hints at endorsements to come

Tuesday 1 November 2022 17:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Outgoing Congresswoman Liz Cheney, one of only two Republicans on the January 6 committee, has hitned in an interview today that she may yet endorse more Democratic candidates between now and the last day of voting on Tuesday.

Her first endorsement of the cycle went to Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, who is fighting to keep her redistricted seat against a Republican rival who has propagated false claims about the outcome of the 2020 election.

Everything to know about Herschel Walker

Tuesday 1 November 2022 17:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Of all the Trump-backed candidates to have caused trouble for the Republicans this year, none have made so lurid a spectacle as Herschel Walker, the struggling Georgia Senate nominee whose problems are too numerous to list in full.

From allegations of domestic violence to allegations of paying for abortions to his repeated false claims about his career, educational history and non-existent stint in law enforcement, Mr Walker’s story has only grown more bizarre as the campaign wears on.

Here’s Graig Graziosi with a profile.

What to know about Herschel Walker and his Senate challenge marred by controversies

Analysis: The five Senate seats most likely to flip

Tuesday 1 November 2022 16:45 , Andrew Naughtie

In today’s Inside Washington dispatch, Eric Garcia takes stock of the Senate map and ranks the five seats most likely to flip. If all five of his choices changed hands and the rest of this year’s races resulted in holds, the effect would be a net loss of one seat for the Democrats, handing Republicans the Senate majority.

Find out which states he’s picked and why below.

The five Senate seats most likely to flip in the midterms

Biden to Florida

Tuesday 1 November 2022 16:22 , Andrew Naughtie

Joe Biden is jetting down to Florida to appear alongside gubernatorial candidate (and former governor) Charlie Crist, whom is almost universally expected to lose his race to incumbent GOP Governor Ron DeSantis.

According to the White House, the trip is a golden opportunity for Mr Biden to draw sharp distinctions between the two parties.

Pennsylvania: Mehmet Oz ridiculed for basic geography blunder

Tuesday 1 November 2022 16:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Mehmet Oz, the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, appeared to mistakenly say the state is on the Atlantic Coast during an appearance on the Fox News show hosted by Sean Hannity.

While Pennsylvania borders the Delaware River, which leads to Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, it isn’t actually a coastal state.

Gustaf Kilander writes:

Dr Oz mocked as he botches map of Pennsylvania: ‘Maybe he’s just confused’

Catch up: how to vote in the midterm elections

Tuesday 1 November 2022 15:30 , Andrew Naughtie

The 2022 midterm elections are just days away on 8 November with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and 39 state and territorial gubernatorial candidates on the ballot.

In addition to federal races, there are also numerous other state and local elections being contested as Americans head to the polls, including state legislature seats, attorneys general, state treasurers, mayors, county positions and tribal executive positions.

Courtesy of Oliver O’Connell, here’s what you need to know about how you go about voting, whether in-person or by absentee or mail-in ballot.

How to vote in the midterm elections

FiveThirtyEight: Senate on a knife-edge

Tuesday 1 November 2022 15:00 , Andrew Naughtie

FiveThirtyEight, which remains one of the US political class’s go-to sources of polling analysis, has adjusted its predictions for the makeup of the Senate in the next Congress – and concludes that the contest is currently neck-and-neck:

Obama to campaign with John Fetterman for Pennsylvania Senate race

Tuesday 1 November 2022 14:42 , Eric Garcia

Former president Barack Obama will campaign for Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman in Pittsburgh on Saturday as the midterm season comes to a close.

The Democratic lieutenant governor’s spokesman Joe Calvello tweeted out the announcement on Tuesday morning.

The news comes in the final days before the midterm election as Mr Fetterman faces former television physician Mehmet Oz. That same day, former president Donald Trump, who endorsed Dr Oz, will campaign with the Republican nominee in nearby Latrobe.

The two candidates held their sole debate last week, which left some Democrats nervous as Mr Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May, at times had difficulty answering questions and used closed captioning because of his difficulty with auditory processing.

Polling has shown Dr Oz has picked up steam even before the debate. The non-partisan Cook Political Report rates Pennsylvania’s Senate race as a toss-up.

Arizona: Libertarian drops out to endorse Blake Masters

Tuesday 1 November 2022 14:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Blake Masters’ campaign to unseat Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly has fallen somewhat short of Republican expectations, partly owing to Mr Masters’ history of extreme and sometimes racist statements. But with his polling still not looking great, Mr Masters has had a lucky break: the race’s libertarian candidate, Marc Victor, has dropped out to endorse him, theoretically freeing up a crucial few points’ worth of votes to move into the Masters column.

However, it is unclear whether Mr Victor’s exit will make much difference given how many people in Arizona have voted early. He also never became a major polling factor; his most notable moment in the race was a debate appearance where he suggested that the age of consent be put to a public vote.

Second Herschel Walker abortion accuser describes thinly veiled threat

Tuesday 1 November 2022 14:00 , Andrew Naughtie

The second woman who alleged that Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker paid for her abortion told Good Morning America saying that the former football star told that her pressured her to have the procedure because she would not be safe, nor would the child.

The woman identified solely as Jane Doe spoke at a press conference last week in response to Mr Walker denying allegations that he paid for a separate woman’s abortion.

Eric Garcia reports:

Woman who says Herschel Walker paid for abortion says he said she wouldn’t be ‘safe’

Democratic senator predicts “apocalyptic” scenes if GOP retake Congress

Tuesday 1 November 2022 13:30 , Andrew Naughtie

There are still (reasonably) high hopes among Democrats that they might be able to hold the Senate, but somehow keeping the House feels like a tall order to say the least – and as reported by Politico’s morning Playbook, one Democratic Senator takes a grim view of what will happen if the lower chamber changes hands in January.

“Debt default, shutdown, constant impeachments,” he told reporters. “There will be no governing in the House if Republicans take over. I'm pretty apocalyptic about what the House will look like if Marjorie Taylor Greene is in charge.

“It's an absolute nightmare if Republicans win. It will be potentially cataclysmic.”

Current surveys generally put the Democrats and Republicans almost even on the generic ballot, but those polls cannot take account of early voting or district-by-district differences, making the overall outcome hard to predict.

Poll: GOP way ahead on economic issues as abortion recedes

Tuesday 1 November 2022 13:00 , Andrew Naughtie

A newly released poll from the right-leaning Wall Street Journal has bad news for Democrats: Republicans are slightly favoured by voters – and that there’s a markedly lopsided partisan gap on economic issues in particular.

“Some 48% of voters said they thought congressional Republicans were best able to get inflation under control,” the paper reports, “the largest share in Journal polling this year. By comparison, 27% said congressional Democrats were best able to rein in inflation. Democrats were viewed as the party best able to handle abortion policy, lower prescription drug prices and improve education.

However, the poll was also conducted more than a week ago – and also found Republicans beating Democrats on a generic ballot question by only two points, within the margin of error.

What if the Democrats pull off a win in the midterms?

Tuesday 1 November 2022 12:30 , Andrew Naughtie

It may seem like an impossibility, but what happens if Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer pull off a victory in a week’s time?

John Bowden reports.

Inside the new Democratic Congress if the party pulls off a major midterm win

What you need to know about the Ohio Senate race

Tuesday 1 November 2022 12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Ohio’s race for a US Senate seat is one of the most important — and expensive — in the nation.

The campaign has come down to a neck-and-neck battle between two candidates with national prominence and a test for the political aptitude of a former president eager to make his mark on the midterm cycle.

John Bowden reports.

Ohio Senate race: Tim Ryan faces JD Vance in crucial election

When are the midterm elections 2022?

Tuesday 1 November 2022 11:30 , Andrew Naughtie

The 2022 midterm elections are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 8 November.

All of the 435 seats in the US House of Representatives will be up for reelection, along with 34 out of 100 seats in the US Senate.

In the states and territories, 39 governors’ races will be decided, in addition to a number of various state and local elections.

Here’s what you need to know:

When are the midterm elections?

Obama’s blistering takedown of Ron Johnson on social security

Tuesday 1 November 2022 11:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A fired-up Barack Obama gave a blistering takedown of Senator Ron Johnson during a midterm election campaign event in Wisconsin.

Video of the former president’s remarks at a rally in Milwaukee on Saturday night went viral, garnering almost 14 million views by Monday morning.

Barack Obama’s fiery takedown of Ron Johnson on social security gets 14 million views

Pennsylvania: Dr Oz hopes to preserve GOP seat in battle against John Fetterman

Tuesday 1 November 2022 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Pennsylvania’s Senate race has been perhaps the most bizarre one in a crowd of absurd campaigns. What should have been a relatively sleepy race where Republicans attempt to hold a Senate seat has instead turned into an intensely personal race with two outsized personalities.

Eric Garcia takes a look at the race so far.

Pennsylvania’s Senate race: Republicans try to protect a seat Democrats hope to flip

Opinion: Why Trump is holding a series of rallies in strange places during the midterm elections

Tuesday 1 November 2022 08:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president is going on a vanity tour — and one where he isn’t always going to be greeted with open arms. Eric Garcia explains why.

Trump is holding rallies in some strange places during the midterms. Here’s why

Gosar caught on video seeming to approve of man who said he’d shot at immigrants

Tuesday 1 November 2022 06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Paul Gosar, a far-right Arizona congressman who has been stumping for the state’s Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate, appeared to approve of a constituent who claimed he’d shot an immigrant on his property, in a recently released video.

In the video, the Republican congressman can be seen at an event where two apparent constituents and supporters of the Arizona lawmaker approach the man to begin discussing issues at the US southern border.

Johanna Chisholm has the story.

Paul Gosar seen on video seeming to approve of man claiming he shot at immigrants

All the ways the GOP could upend America if they win the House

Tuesday 1 November 2022 05:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Republicans tell Andrew Feinberg about the myriad ways a GOP-majority House could upend the country out of spite.

All the ways the GOP could upend America if they win the House

Trump-appointed judge won’t shut down ‘voter intimidation’ in Arizona

Tuesday 1 November 2022 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit against a far-right activist group accused of intimidating Arizona voters with the “express purpose” of blocking them from casting their ballots in drop boxes in the state.

US District Judge Michail T Liburdi, who was appointed by Donald Trump, declined a request for a restraining order against Clean Elections USA and its founder Melody Jennings, who encouraged volunteers to stake out ballot boxes and photograph voters in an effort fuelled by baseless allegations that the 2020 presidential election was marred by fraud.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Judge refuses to shut down ‘voter intimidation’ at ballot drop boxes in Arizona

ICYMI: Suspect arrested after break in at Arizona Democrat’s HQ

Tuesday 1 November 2022 02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Police in Phoenix, Arizona have announced the arrest of a 36-year-old man suspected of breaking into the campaign office of a Democratic candidate for governor.

Daniel Mota Dos Reis was booked into Maricopa County Jail on 27 October on one count of third-degree burglary following a break in at Katie Hobbs’s campaign headquarters on Monday night.

He was already in custody for an unrelated burglary.

Suspect arrested after break in at Arizona Democratic candidate’s headquarters

‘You actually have to know stuff to do this job’: Warnock hits Walker over insulin comments

Tuesday 1 November 2022 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Democratic Senate nominee Raphael Warnock hit out at Herschel Walker for his comments on insulin prices.

At a rally attended by former President Obama, Warnock criticised remarks made by Walker during a debate on 14 October. Walker, who came under fire after two women claimed the pro-life former NFL star paid for their abortions, hinted that diabetic patients concerned about insulin prices should “eat right.”

Andrea Blanco has the story.

Warnock hits Walker over insulin comments during rally

Baby Shark is endangering the midterms... how?

Tuesday 1 November 2022 01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

No, Joe Biden didn’t sing the “Baby Shark” song.

But a viral deep fake video showing the US president launching into the children’s tune convinced plenty of people that he had.

Likewise, a clip of a child shouting “shut the f*** up” at First Lady Jill Biden during a reception to celebrate Diwali never happened.

Welcome to the politics of viral deep fakes. Bevan Hurley reports.

How Baby Shark is endangering the US midterms

New poll: Nevada a dead heat and Dems leading in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona

Tuesday 1 November 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A new multi-state survey from The New York Times and Siena College is presenting easily the best news that Democrats have gotten in weeks, particularly when it comes to the fight to hold the Senate.

The survey, released on Halloween, has Democratic Senate candidates leading their GOP opponents in several key races: Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, while the race to protect incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto is tied in Nevada.

John Bowden has the details.

New poll shows Democrats leading in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona

Fired up Obama blitzes midterms campaign trail

Monday 31 October 2022 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Barack Obama, still one of the Democrats’ most effective campaigners, hit the ground running this past week as he completed a whirlwind of appearances to boost his allies in key battleground states.

It’s a last-minute push aimed at reversing a sudden downward trend in the polls for a number of important candidates for Democrats including Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia and John Fetterman, the Senate seat-seeking lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

The former president was in Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and has more stops ahead in Pennsylvania and Nevada. And at every stop, he recaptured the best of his campaign trail self in fired-up speeches to cheering crowds and withering diatribes against Republican opponents.

John Bowden reports.

Fired up Barack Obama blitzes the campaign trail in final stretch before midterms

How to vote in the midterm elections

Monday 31 October 2022 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The 2022 midterm elections are just days away on 8 November with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and 39 state and territorial gubernatorial candidates on the ballot.

In addition to federal races, there are also numerous other state and local elections being contested as Americans head to the polls, including state legislature seats, attorneys general, state treasurers, mayors, county positions and tribal executive positions.

To participate and have your say in the races where you live, here is what you need to know about how you go about voting, whether in-person or by absentee or mail-in ballot.

How to vote in the midterm elections