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[00:00:40] right here on BBC News. MUSIC
[00:00:54] Will voters strengthen Donald Trump's hand or change the balance
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[00:01:04] News. The US midterm elections 2026
[00:01:08] 2026 on BBC News. MUSIC
[00:01:15] MUSIC These These are the latest headlines from from BBC News. Millions prepare to
[00:01:19] to vote on the eve of Americas crucial
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[00:01:24] Republicans keep control of the US US Congress as Democrats look to
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[00:01:40] Russian forces have bombed a village village in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia
[00:01:43] Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least
[00:01:46] least 24 people. A business jet crashes crashes in a neighbourhood in Florida,
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[00:01:51] people on board. The UK home secretary, secretary, Shabana Mahmood scraps
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[00:02:17] tour. Hello. You're very welcome. welcome. Back to The Context USA.
[00:02:20] USA. Well, let's turn to Michigan Michigan now because there is plenty
[00:02:24] plenty of attention on that Senate Senate race. And it got even hotter
[00:02:28] hotter over the last day or so. Democrats
[00:02:30] Democrats are fighting to win control control of the Senate and to hang
[00:02:33] hang on to their Senate seat in Michigan. Michigan. But they also appear to
[00:02:37] to be fighting with each other there there because in a surprise move,
[00:02:41] move, the Democratic congresswoman congresswoman there is asking voters
[00:02:43] voters to elect the Republican candidate candidate to the Senate. And we're
[00:02:46] we're just seeing Senator Elizabeth Elizabeth Warren, a progressive herself
[00:02:49] herself from Massachusetts, campaigning campaigning for Abdul El-Sayed, the
[00:02:53] the Democrat in Michigan. So back back to the controversy. Congresswoman
[00:02:57] Congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over
[00:03:01] over Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated defeated her in the Democratic primary.
[00:03:04] primary. Their bitter split includes includes disagreements over Israel
[00:03:07] Israel and the war in Gaza. Now,
[00:03:10] Now, this is a seat that Democrats
[00:03:12] Democrats already hold. Senator Gary Gary Peters there is retiring. That's
[00:03:15] That's why it's up for grabs. But
[00:03:18] But losing it would make their path path to a majority in the Senate
[00:03:21] Senate even harder. El-Sayed leads leads the final New York Times Siena
[00:03:25] Siena poll, but tomorrow we'll find find out whether this party split
[00:03:29] split has had any impact on the vote vote there. Earlier, Abdul El-Sayed
[00:03:32] El-Sayed was asked if he thought thought Congresswoman Haley Stevens
[00:03:35] Stevens had betrayed the party. This This was his response. At the end
[00:03:38] end of the day, I actually don't don't think about Haley Stevens see see what I'm saying? I think about
[00:03:42] about the like I said, the 9,999,998
[00:03:47] 9,999,998 people who are not those those two because you know what?
[00:03:50] what? I'm just less interested in in the politics of it all than I
[00:03:53] I am in the policy of it all. And And so look, if you're somebody who
[00:03:57] who believes that we ought to have have more rights, not less than I
[00:04:00] I would think you would support me me in this race. If you are somebody
[00:04:03] somebody who believes that we should should stand up to hate. And you
[00:04:06] you have watched this last campaign, campaign, I think we probably would
[00:04:09] would not want to support Mike Rogers Rogers and Donald Trump and JD Vance.
[00:04:13] Vance. Well, let's go live to Detroit, Detroit, Michigan now and we can
[00:04:16] can speak to our North America correspondent
[00:04:19] correspondent Nada Tawfik, who is is following developments for us
[00:04:22] us there in Michigan. No shortage
[00:04:24] shortage of developments to follow follow in Michigan. Just what sort
[00:04:28] sort of an impact is this defection, defection, if you like, by Congresswoman
[00:04:31] Congresswoman Haley Stevens going
[00:04:34] going to have? Well, look, Katrina,
[00:04:37] Katrina, if you speak to experts experts and if you even speak to
[00:04:40] to voters like I have, they really really do think that this won't,
[00:04:44] won't, in the end, sway voters, that
[00:04:46] that voters at this point have made
[00:04:48] made up their mind. What it has done
[00:04:51] done is it has absolutely put a fire
[00:04:53] fire under Abdul El-Sayed campaign.
[00:04:56] campaign. Yesterday they raised $2.4
[00:04:59] $2.4 million, their biggest fundraising fundraising day yet from 65,000 donors.
[00:05:03] donors. And I went to his rally last
[00:05:06] last night in Southfield, Michigan, Michigan, and you could just see
[00:05:09] see from his supporters how disappointed disappointed they were in Haley Stevens.
[00:05:13] Stevens. You know, one said to me me that any Democrat who is serious
[00:05:17] serious about winning this key Senate
[00:05:19] Senate seat in this swing state will will now be working even harder to
[00:05:23] to get El-Sayed elected. And that
[00:05:26] that certainly kind of the mood because because remember Katrina, while you
[00:05:30] you had heavyweights like President President Barack Obama coming out
[00:05:33] out and campaigning for El-Sayed El-Sayed to try to get the crucial
[00:05:35] crucial black vote up in Detroit, Detroit, which I will say it didn't
[00:05:39] didn't actually win by a large amount amount in the primary. You've also
[00:05:42] also had some kind of centrist establishment
[00:05:46] establishment Democrats being quite quite lukewarm about him even in
[00:05:48] in interviews. And so what this has has done Haley Stevens kind of what
[00:05:52] what they call a betrayal of the the party. It has also galvanised
[00:05:56] galvanised a lot of those Democrats, Democrats, including the Senate leader, leader, Chuck Schumer, to come out
[00:06:00] out much stronger in support of El-Sayed
[00:06:03] El-Sayed and to say that there are are no fractures in Democratic Party,
[00:06:06] Party, that they are united toward toward one goal taking back Congress.
[00:06:10] Congress. And that this isn't just just a personality issue in Michigan.
[00:06:14] Michigan. It's one of the Senate Senate races where we're seeing foreign foreign policy front and centre,
[00:06:17] centre, where we're seeing that fracture fracture within the Democratic Party
[00:06:21] Party coming to fall in terms of of what the future Israel policy
[00:06:24] policy should be in this country.
[00:06:29] country. Absolutely. Katrina and
[00:06:31] and in a swing state, no less. I I mean, progressives are already
[00:06:35] already trying to push populist policies, policies, which in the past have
[00:06:39] have gone over well in Michigan. Michigan. Let's not forget that in
[00:06:42] in the 2016 primary, Bernie Sanders Sanders triumphed over Hillary Clinton
[00:06:45] Clinton before the state ultimately ultimately voted for Donald Trump.
[00:06:48] Trump. So progressives are hoping hoping that if they do well here,
[00:06:51] here, it will add to that debate debate in the Democratic Party about
[00:06:54] about which direction it should take take into the 2028 election. But
[00:06:58] But more recently, the divides in
[00:06:59] in the party have been, as you say,
[00:07:02] say, over foreign policy, over the
[00:07:03] the amount of support the US gives
[00:07:06] gives to Israel over whether the
[00:07:08] the US should stop arming Israel.
[00:07:11] Israel. And that is a position where where you find El-Sayed and Stephens
[00:07:14] Stephens on complete opposite sides.
[00:07:16] sides. And we've seen even Stevens
[00:07:20] Stevens fiance, who is a staunch staunch Israel supporter. You know,
[00:07:23] know, he has come out also very vocally
[00:07:26] vocally to attack El-Sayed for being being a critic on Israel. So this
[00:07:30] this race will also say a lot about about the Democrats and what their
[00:07:34] their messaging should be. Because Because if there's one thing we have have heard from voters time and time
[00:07:38] time again, not just here in Michigan Michigan but across the country, country, is that they don't hear
[00:07:42] hear a cohesive message coming from from Democrats. And that is something
[00:07:46] something that the party really needs needs to get their head around before
[00:07:49] before 2028. OK. Thank you very much. much. That's Nada Tawfik for us there
[00:07:53] there in Detroit, Michigan. OK, back
[00:07:57] back to our panel who are still with with us, of course, Joel Rubin and
[00:07:59] and Angie Wong and Joel, I have to to start with you because just as
[00:08:03] as we were off air for a few moments moments there, you were telling us
[00:08:06] us obviously you're very plugged plugged in to the Jewish Democrats
[00:08:09] Democrats group and also, you know, know, lawmakers, voters, and you've
[00:08:13] you've been hearing really so much much in the last 24 hours about Michigan.
[00:08:17] Michigan. What are you hearing? Excuse Excuse me? This is the worst case
[00:08:20] case scenario right now for the Democratic
[00:08:23] Democratic Party internally as well well as in this election. And I say
[00:08:27] say that because the fight over Israel Israel and not just by the way, it's
[00:08:30] it's not just the fight over Israel, Israel, it's also the fight over
[00:08:33] over Jewish safety. That is a real real debate. We have to remember
[00:08:36] remember that back in March in Michigan, Michigan, there was an almost successful
[00:08:40] successful terror attack against
[00:08:42] against a synagogue where there were
[00:08:44] were 150 children in a day-care and and that immediately after that aborted
[00:08:48] aborted or failed attack, Abdul El-Sayed
[00:08:50] El-Sayed said, hurt people, hurt
[00:08:52] hurt people. That was an excuse.
[00:08:55] excuse. Now the making and that offended offended the Jewish community. And
[00:08:58] And so this is going to be an ongoing ongoing debate. And I think that
[00:09:02] that what Haley Stevens is saying saying is that the concerns that
[00:09:05] that that community has, the Jewish Jewish community has have not been been addressed by side. And that's
[00:09:09] that's why she jumped off. Can I I just follow up and ask you because
[00:09:11] because Abdul El-Sayed he did address address that comment that you mentioned
[00:09:15] mentioned there. He walked back, back, he apologised for it. And he
[00:09:17] he says he's drawn a very clear line
[00:09:19] line between support for Israel and
[00:09:22] and protection of Jewish voters who who he would be representing as well.
[00:09:25] well. Do you think that's just not not been convincing enough? I don't don't think it's been convincing
[00:09:29] convincing enough, and I think it's it's because of the consistent obsession
[00:09:33] obsession over Israel policy. And And in the recent debate saying that
[00:09:36] that he couldn't really tell the the difference between Israel and and Iran, that Iran really is not
[00:09:40] not an enemy of the United States. States. And Israel is a problem too.
[00:09:43] too. And that that's not the kind kind of language that the Democratic Democratic Party stands for. And
[00:09:47] And I think for the Jewish community. community. I look at that with deep
[00:09:50] deep scepticism about what that means. means. If he goes into the Senate.
[00:09:53] Senate. What are you seeing in Florida,
[00:09:56] Florida, Angie, in terms of the Israel Israel support within Democrats?
[00:09:59] Democrats? Are you seeing that lean lean towards Republicans? Is that
[00:10:02] that the fracture is big there? I
[00:10:04] I think Democrats that were that
[00:10:06] that are Jewish voters are definitely definitely going into the independent
[00:10:10] independent realm. They're not all all the way to the Republican line
[00:10:13] line just yet, although some have. have. But picking up on what Joel
[00:10:16] Joel has said, if El-Sayed actually actually gets into the Senate, he
[00:10:19] he would be the most powerful progressive progressive in America. And I think
[00:10:23] think roll back one week. Nancy Pelosi Pelosi picked up on that after this
[00:10:27] this House progressive block that that most of the members haven't
[00:10:30] haven't even been elected yet. They're They're already making demands such
[00:10:34] such as defunding Israeli military military aid from the US so Nancy
[00:10:37] Nancy Pelosi pretty much opened up up the doors to giving Democrats
[00:10:40] Democrats a way of pushing back on on this antisemitic message that's
[00:10:44] that's coming out from the left. left. I think Haley Stevens made
[00:10:47] made a great political play, a great
[00:10:50] great political calculation by endorsing endorsing Mike Rogers, because if
[00:10:53] if she were to run again in Michigan, Michigan, not only would she get get the Democrat vote, she would
[00:10:57] would also now get the Republican Republican vote, which is in a 50-50
[00:11:00] 50-50 state like Michigan. I think think that's a great play. Except Except that right now the Democratic
[00:11:04] Democratic Party in Michigan is saying saying we don't want anything to to do with her. And I think that
[00:11:07] that that's. But that is this is is the live debate. It's now and
[00:11:10] and it's going to continue for the the next two years. Did Haley Stevens
[00:11:14] Stevens do you think, shoot herself herself in the foot or does she does
[00:11:16] does Angie have a point here to say say she could actually pick up voters
[00:11:20] voters from both sides of the political political spectrum? And I don't mean
[00:11:23] mean specifically Haley Stevens, Stevens, but that message. No, Angie
[00:11:26] Angie completely has the point. I I think right now American Jewish Jewish voters are generally going
[00:11:30] going to vote for Democrats this this cycle. But I believe American
[00:11:33] American Jewish voters are free agent
[00:11:34] agent constituency heading into 2028. 2028. But isn't there a debate to
[00:11:38] to be had? And we saw it play out out over this past summer in a vote
[00:11:42] vote up on the Hill about where US
[00:11:44] US policy stands towards Israel,
[00:11:46] Israel, towards funding what Prime Prime Minister Netanyahu is doing, doing, the state of Israel, which
[00:11:50] which is separate to the issues you're you're raising about protecting Jewish
[00:11:53] Jewish voters. Right. Well, there's there's the safety and then there's there's the question where American
[00:11:56] American money goes and where does does military money, military aid
[00:11:58] aid go? And now we have potentially potentially new Israeli government.
[00:12:02] government. And that may also create create new dynamics as well. But
[00:12:06] But so for the Democratic Party, Party, if the if it coalesces around
[00:12:09] around an idea that there should should no longer be a relationship
[00:12:11] relationship with the state of Israel,
[00:12:14] Israel, that Israel as an ally is is no longer seen that way. I think
[00:12:17] think that's where the line goes goes too far. And that's the language
[00:12:20] language of Abdul El-Sayed. But there there can be a conversation about
[00:12:24] about where the military aid goes, goes, which is broader than what
[00:12:26] what we're seeing in Michigan. Yes. Yes. And they are, frankly, government
[00:12:29] government to government negotiating negotiating a new military aid package
[00:12:31] package as well. So it's going to
[00:12:34] to become another voting issue in in the next Congress. I'll just say,
[00:12:37] say, as we're looking at pictures pictures of Abdul El-Sayed just coming
[00:12:40] coming out on stage for this rally, rally, last minute rally, of course,
[00:12:43] course, in Michigan. Angie, I do do want to ask you about this debate.
[00:12:46] debate. It's not just Democrats more more broadly in the US we've seen
[00:12:50] seen for support for Israel diminish
[00:12:53] diminish really the attitude Americans Americans have towards Israel has
[00:12:56] has changed through the course of of the war in Gaza. And because of
[00:12:59] of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, is not popular in the
[00:13:03] the US.. Yeah, and Michigan is going going to be the test, right? We're
[00:13:06] We're going to see what happens there. there. It is also a crisis management
[00:13:09] management project at the moment moment for Democrats, because the
[00:13:12] the party split between the Democratic
[00:13:14] Democratic Party split between pro-Israel pro-Israel and anti-Israel. And we're
[00:13:17] we're really seeing that fight really really play out in Michigan and other
[00:13:20] other states as well. You know, President
[00:13:23] President Trump is not going to budge budge on his relationship with Benjamin
[00:13:27] Benjamin Netanyahu. He was re-elected. re-elected. Whether or not the coalitions
[00:13:30] coalitions are all going to be there there with him, we don't know yet.
[00:13:33] yet. I think that there's still going
[00:13:36] going to be whether it's going to
[00:13:38] to be Iranian. The act three of the the Iranian conflict. I expect that
[00:13:42] that to be the case. That's certainly
[00:13:45] certainly what's, you know, post-election. post-election. Certainly that's what
[00:13:47] what we're looking at. But I don't
[00:13:50] don't think the I don't think we're we're in trouble just yet with Israel.
[00:13:52] Israel. So but if I can add also also just over the horizon, JD Vance
[00:13:55] Vance has been the number one sceptic sceptic of Israel and the war with
[00:13:59] with Iran. And so that will become become a live issue inside the Republican
[00:14:02] Republican tent as well. Is he positioning positioning himself for 2028? We
[00:14:05] We don't know. But that's. The Ohio. Ohio. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. But that's
[00:14:09] that's a discussion for post midterms. midterms. Let's say first we have have to take a short break around
[00:14:13] around the world and across the UK.
[00:15:17] Carter for Explore Japan from east
[00:15:18] east to West on BBC News. You're
[00:15:27] You're watching the context. USA. USA. Now President Donald Trump is
[00:15:30] is not on tomorrow's ballot but his
[00:15:32] his presidency faces a defining test
[00:15:34] test if Democrats win both the House House and the Senate, well, they
[00:15:38] they could block legislation that that he likes. They could investigate
[00:15:41] investigate his administration. They They could stop the nomination for
[00:15:44] for senior jobs or appointments to
[00:15:47] to the higher courts. And that would would be a problem for the last two
[00:15:51] two years of President Trump's administration. administration. From Maine to Georgia,
[00:15:54] Georgia, Senate contests could help help determine just how much resistance
[00:15:58] resistance President Trump will face face in his final two years in office.
[00:16:01] office. President Trump would still
[00:16:03] still have substantial power, though though he could veto bills. He could,
[00:16:07] could, of course, continue to conduct
[00:16:09] conduct diplomacy and other matters matters of foreign affairs. And as
[00:16:12] as he has done from day one issue, issue, many, many executive orders,
[00:16:16] orders, which would be within the the law. Attention is already turning
[00:16:19] turning to 2028, if you can believe believe it. Georgia's Democratic
[00:16:22] Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff attracts attracts presidential speculation,
[00:16:26] speculation, although he says right right now he has no interest in running.
[00:16:29] running. So what will these elections elections tell us about what comes
[00:16:32] comes after Trump? Well. We will will go back to our panel in just
[00:16:36] just a moment for thoughts on that. that. But first, let's check in with
[00:16:39] with some of our correspondents around around the country. Our correspondent
[00:16:43] correspondent Helena Humphrey is is in Maine and Carl Nasman is in
[00:16:46] in Georgia. All right, let's start start with Helena Humphrey in Maine
[00:16:50] Maine there. Helena, we've just been been talking about this election
[00:16:53] election as a test for President President Trump and indeed Susan
[00:16:56] Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent incumbent there, has championed her
[00:16:59] her record as being a bipartisan bipartisan senator and having an
[00:17:02] an independent streak, not agreeing agreeing with President Trump on
[00:17:05] on everything. So just how is that
[00:17:06] that playing out there in Maine?
[00:17:10] Maine? That is. Absolutely the case
[00:17:12] case that she makes time and time time again in this election. This
[00:17:15] This is a seat that the Republican Republican incumbent, Senator Susan
[00:17:19] Susan Collins, has held since 1997.
[00:17:22] 1997. She is battle hardened when when it comes to these Senate races.
[00:17:26] races. She's facing a challenge from from the Democrat Troy Jackson. He
[00:17:29] He hasn't really had a long run up up in this race just a couple of
[00:17:33] of months after Graham Platner had
[00:17:35] had to drop out after being embroiled
[00:17:38] embroiled in a scandal over rape rape allegations, which he denies.
[00:17:42] denies. But certainly Susan Collins Collins has been touting her record,
[00:17:45] record, she says, as something more more of an independent senator. I've
[00:17:49] I've been speaking to people here here and she's got that name recognition.
[00:17:52] recognition. But certainly I think think those economic concerns are
[00:17:55] are front and centre when it comes comes to the cost of living. This
[00:17:58] This is a rural state, as you know, know, where a lot of people use heating
[00:18:01] heating oil to heat their homes because because of the Iran war that has
[00:18:05] has surged in some cases by more more than 80%. One woman was saying
[00:18:08] saying it used to cost 1,400 USD
[00:18:11] USD a year to heat her home. Now
[00:18:15] Now it's over 5,000 USD a year. And And in this rural state, people make
[00:18:18] make their living in many cases out
[00:18:20] out on the water or in the woods. woods. Lobstermen and women loggers.
[00:18:23] loggers. I was at one sawmill earlier earlier today and they say because
[00:18:27] because of President Trump's tariffs, tariffs, because of the surging cost
[00:18:30] cost of diesel that has made turning
[00:18:33] turning a profit all the more harder. harder. So I asked them, what did
[00:18:36] did they make of Troy Jackson, who who is a fifth generation logger? logger? It's something that he likes
[00:18:39] likes to talk about a lot. And they they kind of scoffed at his credentials
[00:18:43] credentials in that regard. And they they said, Susan Collins does have
[00:18:46] have that reputation for being more more bipartisan and bringing home
[00:18:49] home the bacon. They said to Maine Maine the federal funds to Maine.
[00:18:53] Maine. Still, though definitely a a difficult moment for this industry
[00:18:57] industry with the economic headwinds. headwinds. Take a listen to Mike
[00:18:59] Mike Lebrun. He is the general manager manager of that sawmill about what
[00:19:02] what the industry is currently facing.
[00:19:06] facing. The appeal for a young man man to go in the woods and take on
[00:19:10] on massive debt to cut wood is less
[00:19:12] less and less appealing to more and
[00:19:14] and more young men. The big major
[00:19:17] major suppliers are going to be fine, fine, but I can't imagine someone
[00:19:21] someone going in the woods and cutting cutting wood nowadays with. With
[00:19:23] With the massive cost of equipment, equipment, parts, fuel, just to make
[00:19:27] make a little bit of money selling
[00:19:29] selling wood that isn't very profitable. profitable. And in terms of this
[00:19:33] this election, the midterm election, election, Senator Susan Collins,
[00:19:37] Collins, the Republican incumbent incumbent very well known in this
[00:19:40] this state, she's going up against against Troy Jackson, a fifth generation
[00:19:43] generation logger. Does that mean mean something to people in this
[00:19:46] this industry? I don't know how the the election's going to go, but I
[00:19:50] I don't think that Troy brings any
[00:19:52] any more than Susan Kent already
[00:19:55] already deliver. And she's well known
[00:19:57] known in this state. She's a she's she's like McDonald's. She's a she's
[00:20:01] she's not the best, but she's good
[00:20:03] good enough. So as you can hear,
[00:20:07] hear, not overwhelming enthusiasm enthusiasm there for either candidate. candidate. But certainly this is
[00:20:11] is a tight race. Democrats have been been eyeing this seat for decades.
[00:20:14] decades. They're hoping they can can take this seat and ultimately
[00:20:17] ultimately flip control of the Senate Senate and challenge what President
[00:20:20] President Trump is able to do with with his final couple of years in
[00:20:23] in the White House. OK, Helena, really really interesting reporting there
[00:20:26] there from Maine. Thank you so much. much. Let's go to our correspondent
[00:20:30] correspondent Carl Nasman, who's who's in Atlanta, Georgia. Carl,
[00:20:33] Carl, it's a case in Maine for the the Democrats of trying to flip a
[00:20:35] a seat. But in Georgia, it's what
[00:20:37] what they have. They're trying to
[00:20:40] to hold. Yeah, they're trying to
[00:20:42] to hold on to the seat of Jon Ossoff, Ossoff, the Democratic senator here.
[00:20:46] here. And really coming into this this election, maybe if you look
[00:20:48] look back a year ago, he was considered
[00:20:50] considered one of the most vulnerable vulnerable politicians in the entire
[00:20:53] entire Senate. Now, that is certainly certainly not the case. If you look
[00:20:56] look at the polling, he's up anywhere anywhere from eight to 8 to 10 points
[00:20:59] points against his Republican challenger, challenger, Mike Collins. We are
[00:21:02] are actually outside of Atlanta. Atlanta. We're in Roswell, Georgia, Georgia, and this is one of those
[00:21:06] those crucial suburbs of Atlanta Atlanta that both parties are really
[00:21:08] really looking at. It could be these
[00:21:10] these areas that actually really really tilt the scales come Tuesday.
[00:21:14] Tuesday. And we've been tracking tracking the Democratic efforts out
[00:21:17] out here today to try to knock on on doors, get that last minute campaigning
[00:21:21] campaigning to get people to go to to the polls or get those ballots ballots in ahead of election day.
[00:21:25] day. This is a state that is seeing seeing record enthusiasm for these
[00:21:28] these midterms. A third of the state
[00:21:30] state has already voted. So these these Democratic volunteers today
[00:21:33] today really trying to get those those people who have not yet voted
[00:21:36] voted to make sure they cast their their ballots. You mentioned Jon
[00:21:39] Jon Ossoff. There's a very tight tight race here as well for governor.
[00:21:43] governor. That's Keisha Lance Bottoms, Bottoms, the Democrat. She's running running against Rick Jackson, the
[00:21:47] the Republican. If you look at polls polls there, that is neck and neck. neck. That's also something that
[00:21:51] that really has both parties energised energised right now. I actually want
[00:21:54] want to bring in Democrat here who's who's been working to get those voters
[00:21:57] voters out to the polls. This is is Cassandra Littlejohn, the regional regional chair of the North Fulton
[00:22:01] Fulton Democrats. It's great to have have you here. And just give us a
[00:22:04] a sense when you or other volunteers volunteers are knocking on doors
[00:22:07] doors like we see around this neighbourhood, neighbourhood, what are potential potential voters telling you? Well,
[00:22:11] Well, first of all, they're sharing sharing their frustrations, right?
[00:22:13] right? The same frustration that that you and I have. They are tired
[00:22:17] tired of Trump and his policies. policies. They're tired of the Republicans
[00:22:21] Republicans who had the leadership leadership here in Georgia for over
[00:22:23] over two decades. And we find ourselves ourselves where we are now. We have
[00:22:27] have a governor, as you mentioned, mentioned, gubernatorial candidate
[00:22:31] candidate who's running against Keisha Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has already
[00:22:35] already vowed to beat Trump 2.0.
[00:22:37] 2.0. You know, and so when we think
[00:22:39] think about candidates on the ballot
[00:22:42] ballot who are not pushing back against
[00:22:44] against Trump policies, who are actually
[00:22:48] actually running to enhance continue continue those Trump policies, people
[00:22:51] people are not going for it. And
[00:22:53] And so independent voters, Democratic Democratic voters are all saying
[00:22:56] saying enough is enough. Just briefly briefly about 20s left, you mentioned mentioned independent voters. Are
[00:23:00] Are you seeing some of those independents independents voting Democrat this
[00:23:04] this year? Absolutely. We just talked talked with the independent voter
[00:23:07] voter who told us that she is an an independent voter, and this is
[00:23:10] is the first time that she voted voted straight down the ballot Democrat.
[00:23:14] Democrat. So we're hearing that a
[00:23:15] a lot as we knock doors, even some
[00:23:19] some Republicans who are telling telling us that they can just not
[00:23:22] not vote Republican this year, you you know, they can't vote for the the Democrat, but they're not voting
[00:23:26] voting Republican. So we'll take take it. Cassandra Littlejohn, the the regional chair of North Fulton
[00:23:30] Fulton County, again, one of those those suburbs of Atlanta that's going
[00:23:32] going to be very crucial come Tuesday. Tuesday. We should mention just briefly,
[00:23:36] briefly, there was a lot of focus
[00:23:38] focus as well on the local statewide
[00:23:41] statewide legislature, ten seats seats there separating the two parties. parties. We could see control of
[00:23:45] of that state body change as well. well. We'll see what happens Tuesday. Tuesday. OK. All right. Carl Nasman
[00:23:49] Nasman there for us in Georgia and and Helena Humphrey in Maine. We're
[00:23:53] We're almost out of time on today's today's programme, Joel and Angie. Angie. But just a quick thought from
[00:23:57] from both of you. What are you going going to be looking out for tomorrow
[00:24:00] tomorrow night as an early indicator indicator of whether it's going to
[00:24:02] to be a good or bad night for your your party? Angie oh. Well, we're
[00:24:06] we're going to get some early races. races. I think Florida is going to to be one of the first states to
[00:24:10] to be called. That's going to set set the tone. Georgia, Maine, Alaska.
[00:24:13] Alaska. We may not call tomorrow tomorrow night. I think that's one one thing we're going to have to
[00:24:17] to stay up all week for. Georgia Georgia could go into a run-off, run-off, and they've done it multiple
[00:24:21] multiple times before Alaska and and Maine. They have this ranked ranked choice voting that takes forever
[00:24:24] forever to count. So I think those those are the things that I'm looking
[00:24:27] looking forward to a very long week week to discuss. OK, Joel. Yeah.
[00:24:30] Yeah. I mean, there are a couple couple of House races that I believe
[00:24:33] believe are going to be bellwethers, bellwethers, moderate Republicans Republicans in New Jersey, in New
[00:24:37] New York, I'm sorry, and Mike Lawler, Lawler, as well as Brian Fitzpatrick
[00:24:41] Fitzpatrick in eastern Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. We'll know those outcomes outcomes pretty quickly. And if it
[00:24:44] it looks like a blue night, we'll we'll know by the results of those.
[00:24:47] those. And one thing to add as well well these governor's races, they
[00:24:51] they matter. And there's an expectation expectation in the party that Democrats
[00:24:54] Democrats will do well in the governor's governor's races because right now
[00:24:57] now I believe it's 19 governorships governorships are in Republican hands
[00:25:01] hands and those are critical races races as well, like in Georgia, like like in Ohio. It does seem it might
[00:25:05] might be the night for a split tickets tickets though, as well. Are you you thinking that. Especially in
[00:25:08] in Georgia, I'm hearing from my counterparts counterparts in Georgia that it tends
[00:25:12] tends to be a split ticket state state where you're going one way
[00:25:16] way for the governorship and another another way for the Senate. And I've I've seen it before. So I think that
[00:25:20] that might be a very big possibility. possibility. And Joe, before we let
[00:25:22] let you go, I keep hearing that Democrats Democrats are cautiously optimistic.
[00:25:26] optimistic. Is that an accurate description? description? Oh, we thought we were were going to win two years ago and
[00:25:29] and look how that turned out. So, So, you know, I think that the problem
[00:25:32] problem we have is Democrats is we
[00:25:35] we always find ways to disappoint disappoint ourselves. So we'll see
[00:25:38] see this year if it comes out. But But things are looking better this
[00:25:41] this time than two years ago. Joel Joel Rubin, Angie Wong, wonderful wonderful to have you both with us
[00:25:45] us here in the studio for a special special programme. Thank you so much much for joining us. And you can
[00:25:49] can of course watch our special programme programme here on BBC News. We're We're going to be bringing you the
[00:25:53] the results of the US midterm elections elections as they happen live from
[00:25:57] from Washington, DC with Clive Myrie, Myrie, myself and Katrina. That's
[00:26:00] That's starting tomorrow at 11:30pm
[00:26:03] 11:30pm in the UK, a 6:30pm here
[00:26:05] here in the US.. Stay with us.
[00:29:45] MUSIC
[00:30:13] Hello, I'm Geeta Guru-Murthy.
[00:30:14] This is the context on BBC News.
[00:30:17] News. Tonight, on the last day of of campaigning, we're looking at
[00:30:21] at the US midterms. Millions prepare
[00:30:23] prepare to vote on the eve of Americas
[00:30:26] Americas crucial midterm elections. elections. Can Donald Trump and the
[00:30:29] the Republicans keep control of the the US Congress? King Charles is
[00:30:33] is set to meet with Prime Minister Minister Andy Burnham in Antigua
[00:30:36] Antigua for the Commonwealth Heads Heads of Government meeting during
[00:30:38] during the final leg of his Caribbean
[00:30:40] Caribbean tour. Supermarkets in seven
[00:30:43] seven European countries report problems problems with their refrigeration
[00:30:46] refrigeration systems after a suspected suspected cyber attack. The Home
[00:30:50] Home Secretary scrapped plans for for migrant care workers already
[00:30:52] already in the UK, to wait 15 years
[00:30:54] years for permanent settlement. And
[00:30:58] And nine orangutans saved from forest