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

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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

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 the forces driving those costs are coming from far beyond voters' own communities. The war with Iran is affecting prices at the gas pump. Tariffs imposed in Washington are reaching the checkout counter. Foreign policy, economic policy and household costs are becoming harder to separate.

Trump officials changed forms for overseas voters amid a GOP push to restrict voting

Republicans and Democrats are both campaigning on promises to make everyday life more affordable. But voters are weighing more than their bills. Immigration and the rapid growth of massive data centers are also part of the conversation. So is the voting process itself, including new restrictions that are raising questions about how ballots will be cast, secured and counted.

People are asking ChatGPT to help them decide how to vote in the midterms

And in several of these states, another question hangs over the races: What do voters want from their own parties, and do old political loyalties still hold? Those are some of the questions that Morning Edition will take on the road, using the six states as a window into an electorate that is changing.

Steve Inskeep is reporting from North Carolina and Georgia, two closely watched Southern states. North Carolina has an open Senate seat and newly redrawn congressional districts. Georgia has competitive races for Senate and governor after several elections in which voters have backed candidates from both parties.