US midterms six days away as Democrats lead national polls

The US midterm elections will be held on November 3, six days after Al Jazeera's report. Democrats lead Republicans in national polls, while several key Senate races are too close to call. The vote will decide which party controls Congress for the next two years, Arab News reported.

A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted from October 22 to 26 found 47 percent of voters backed Democrats and 36 percent backed Republicans. When undecided voters' leanings were included, Democrats led 50 percent to 41 percent. President Donald Trump's approval rating rose by one point to 32 percent.

The survey found 73 percent of US adults said the cost of living was going in the wrong direction. France 24 reported that in Arizona, many people are criticising the administration's decision to cut food stamps. Arab News said Americans are also increasingly unhappy about the Iran war.

Trump held two rallies in Texas on Tuesday and was heading to Ohio on Wednesday, where he is due to speak in Chillicothe at 23:00 GMT. He is also scheduled to hold a rally in Iowa on Sunday. Former President Barack Obama and Kamala Harris were campaigning for Democrats in Georgia. Vice President JD Vance was due in Kinston, North Carolina, to campaign for Republican Michael Whatley.

In Texas, Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are virtually tied in the polls. Al Jazeera's Phil Lavelle said Trump has made four visits to Texas in seven weeks, which he said is twice as many as at the comparable point before the 2024 election, adding that it perhaps shows how concerned Republicans are.

Other Senate contests are close. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers. In Kansas, Republican incumbent Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, with about $71m committed to advertising by both parties and allied groups, according to the AP, the most expensive Senate contest in the state's history. In Ohio, Republican Jon Husted faces Democrat Sherrod Brown, with more than $400m spent or reserved on ads as of October 8, according to Axios.

Voters in more than three dozen states will also decide around 150 ballot measures, The Independent reported. They cover abortion access, rules for transgender athletes, voter ID and redistricting. California's Proposition 40 would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on the worldwide assets of the state's roughly 250 billionaires, a measure Governor Gavin Newsom opposes.