What voters in 6 key states could tell us about the 2026 midterms

Voters cast their ballots inside the Arlington County Courthouse in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 18, which was the first day of early voting in the state for the midterm elections. Tom Brenner/Getty Images hide caption Tom Brenner/Getty Images A version of this essay first appeared in the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get the news you need to start your day — plus a little fun — every weekday and Sunday. Four weeks from now, the midterm elections will help decide the balance of power in Congress. And ahead of Election Day, Morning Edition will be traveling to six states with some of the most competitive races to hear what voters say is shaping their decisions. We already have some clues about where voters stand. The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found registered voters favor Democrats for Congress over Republicans by 12 percentage points. President Trump is also very much on voters' minds, with 45% saying their vote for Congress is a vote against him, compared with about a quarter who say they are voting to support him. Across the political divide, one concern keeps rising to the top: the cost of living and what it means for people's economic futures. But this year, some of ...