President Donald Trump has pushed Congress to pass a proof-of-citizenship law, signed an executive order seeking a national voter ID requirement and tried to limit mail voting through U.S. Postal Service changes. None of those moves succeeded in time to affect this year's midterm elections. It's a different matter in the states.
Plus, Latino voters in Pennsylvania, Sen. Chuck Schumer's future and federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's D.C. home. |
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Debbie Lewis, right, early in-person voting intaker, hands Eddie Johnson, left, his ballot, in Cleveland, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) |
Many GOP states have imposed new voting rules this year, some mirroring Trump's midterm proposals — By Gary Fields and Julie Carr Smyth
More than three dozen voting laws passed in Republican-controlled states are taking effect for the first time this year, many of them containing elements of Trump's stalled proposals. They include changes to what IDs are acceptable to register for the first time and requirements to show proof of citizenship, an issue the Republican president has tried but failed to get through Congress.
Some new laws seek to make voting easier. Others continue a trend in Republican-controlled states of imposing restrictive rules after Trump's false claims of widespread fraud in his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump's continued false claims have resonated with Republican voters, a majority of whom believe Biden was not legitimately elected despite all evidence to the contrary.
Among the changes confronting voters as early voting gets underway: Students in New Hampshire can no longer use student IDs; Utah voters returning mail ballots must include more information on the envelope; and some voters in Mississippi might need birth certificates or passports to verify their identities. Read more from Fields and Smyth about this year's new voting laws. |
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From the field: Reporting on Latino voters in Pennsylvania |
Victor Martinez, who runs La Mega 101.7, a Spanish-language radio station in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, hosts a politics talk show from his studio in Allentown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) |
A Spanish-language radio show overflows with voters' frustration in Pennsylvania battleground — By Mike Catalini Turning it over to New Jersey-based national politics reporter Mike Catalini for his insights on reporting this story:
"The sun was barely up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, when Spanish-language radio host Victor Martinez began the politics hour of his morning show. Just one positive thing about Trump. Una sola cosa. The calls came in quick: someone pointed to the $5,000 payout the president promised if Republicans win. That prompted Martinez to play a laugh track. Martinez told me in an interview in his studio, where he operates control boards like an orchestra conductor, that people are just as frustrated now as they were in 2024. They're angry about higher prices for fuel and groceries. And this year, it's Republicans who could face the consequences in the midterm elections." Read more from Catalini's reporting on Latino voters in Pennsylvania. |
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Midterms could decide Schumer's future as Democratic leader |
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., looks over his notes as he speaks with reporters after a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) |
Chuck Schumer has broad support from his caucus, but midterms could decide his future as leader — By Mary Clare Jalonick Schumer has won and lost Senate majorities since becoming Democratic leader a decade ago. But this year’s midterm elections could be his most important yet, with some in the party having said he needs to step down and make way for a new generation. Schumer, who has directly or indirectly overseen his party’s Senate campaign arm in almost every election cycle over the last 20 years, has regained trust within his caucus, for now, as Democrats are hopeful of making gains in the midterm elections despite a difficult map that favors Republicans. Allies of the New York Democrat say it’s a significant turnaround from last year, when the party was still reeling from major election losses. Interviews with more than a dozen Democratic senators in recent weeks indicate that Schumer has recovered his political standing with many in his caucus.
Read more from Jalonick on Schumer's future as Democratic leader. |
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US agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's home as part of criminal probe: AP sources |
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., takes questions during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) |
Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's home as part of a criminal investigation, AP sources say — By Alanna Durkin Richer
Federal agents searched Omar’s home on Monday as part of a criminal investigation, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The search was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations agents, said the people, who were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
More details about the investigation and its focus were not immediately clear, though Vice President JD Vance last May signaled that the Trump administration would investigate the Democratic House member for immigration fraud allegations, which she has denied.
An email seeking comment was sent Monday to a representative for Omar. The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that HSI agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the department in the Washington, D.C., area but provided no other details. Read more from Richer on the agent activity at Omar's DC home. |
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