2026 midterms could be the most expensive on record. And, Macron condemns protests

Trump Eases Russia Sanctions, Midterm Campaign Money, Violent Protests In France Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today's top stories The 2026 midterm elections are set to become the most expensive on record. More than $15 billion has been raised to influence the outcome and control of Congress. Election workers process ballots for the California state primary at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5. California's relatively slow vote count has put "a big target on its back," as one election expert told NPR. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images 🎧 Democratic nominees in House and Senate races are raking in incredible amounts of donations, even though the Democratic Party remains unpopular, NPR's Stephen Fowler says. Republicans are also unpopular, largely due to issues like the war in Iran, gas prices and the economy. A few megadonors, such as Elon Musk, are donating money to super PACs to try to push voters to elect Republicans. In the 13 competitive races highlighted in the Cook ...