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Midterm elections live updates: Justice Department asks SCOTUS to block CA from counting disputed ballots

The DOJ filed the appeal one day before ballot counting begins in California.

Last Updated: November 2, 2026, 3:09 PM EST

The high-stakes midterm elections are a day away, and candidates are making their final pitches to voters.

There are several key House and Senate races that could determine the balance of power in Congress as well as significant races for governor around the country. The elections could ultimately determine how effective President Donald Trump's agenda is in the back half of his second term.

1 hour and 26 minutes ago

Many Americans are worried about healthcare costs as midterms approach. Why do they keep rising?

As Americans prepare to vote in Tuesday's midterm elections, rising healthcare costs are among the top financial and economic concerns, according to recent polling.

A quarter of voters say they are "very worried" about being able to afford healthcare costs and more than one-third say they are "somewhat worried," according to a KFF poll earlier this month.

Those who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) saw their average monthly benchmark premium jump from $497 per month in 2025 to $625 in 2026, according to KFF, particularly after enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of last year.

"At this point in time, I am not seeing that there's going to be any sort of magic bullet in the short term to bring costs down," Sabrina Corlette, a research professor, founder and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, told ABC News.

Read more.

-ABC News' Mary Kekatos

2 hours and 30 minutes ago

Justice Department asks SCOTUS to block CA from counting disputed ballots

One day before ballot counting begins in California, the DOJ has filed a last-minute appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking an injunction ordering the segregation of 20,000 ballots from suspected noncitizen voters.

The U.S. Supreme Court Building stands, October 5, 2026 in Washington.
Finn Gomez/Getty Images

Solicitor General John Sauer reiterates the familiar arguments about the need to investigate -- writing, "California and the United States disagree about the likely unlawfulness of the ballots at issue. These dueling allegations can and should be investigated. In the meantime, however, an interim injunction is necessary to preserve the relative positions of the parties until a trial on the merits can be held. To that end, the Court should issue a limited injunction directing California to stop commingling suspected illegal ballots with legal ones pending completion of the United States’ appeal to the Ninth Circuit and further review in this Court."


The high court will likely ask for a response from the state but it remains unclear -- if not unlikely -- that the justices will act on this.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer

3 hours ago

Trump says he'll become 'Mr. Veto' if Dems gain control of Congress

Appearing on a New York Post podcast, Pod Force One, which was taped on Friday, President Donald Trump said he would be "Mr. Veto" if Democrats were to regain control of Congress.

Asked if he would be able to "work to Democrats" if they win the majority in Congress, Trump responded, "Well, if that happens, I guess I'll become Mr. Veto."

"I'm not gonna let them -- And then at some point, we'll probably make deals. That's what's happened. I mean, this is this wouldn't be the first time you'll have a president, and he won't have the House or the Senate, they'll be sending stuff up. You veto it, and eventually, after a month or two of getting all vetoed, you know, it's waste. They just waste. They come over and you make a deal. I think that probably would happen, but hopefully, we don't have to worry about that," the president said.

Earlier in the interview, Trump also noted his veto power.

"Look, if we didn't win, I think we're going to do great. But if we didn't win, I veto everything. I'll be vetoing, vetoing. Then they'll come along, and we'll probably make some deals along the way. But it wouldn't be as good,” he said.

Trump acknowledged that the president's party usually loses seats in midterm elections, but highlighted his intense travel schedule leading up to the midterms.

"When you are president, Republican or Democrat, good or bad, they don't do well at midterms. I don't know why. Doesn't make sense. Never made sense, and we'll see how we do. But I've never worked the midterms like I have this one," Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks on stage during a campaign rally, October 28, 2026 in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

3 hours and 47 minutes ago

Bill Clinton endorses Keisha Lance Bottoms in new video

Former President Bill Clinton endorsed Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in a new video ad released by her campaign Monday morning, one day before Election Day in Georgia's toss-up governor's race.

"I hope you'll cast your vote for my friend, Keisha Lance Bottoms, as your next governor," Clinton says in the direct-to-camera ad.

People wave signs during a rally with former President Barack Obama, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in Morrow, Georgia, October 28, 2026.
Edgar Su/Reuters

"I know a little something about what a governor can do to create opportunity, invest in education, and stand up for families. Keisha is the leader Georgians need to stand up and fight for them and produce results," said Clinton, the former Democratic governor of another southern state -- Arkansas.

Another former president, Barack Obama, has supported Lance Bottoms as well. Obama campaigned with Lance Bottoms and Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff in Morrow, Georgia, last week.

Former President Barack Obama, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms hold a rally ahead of the midterm elections in Morrow, Georgia, October 28, 2026.
Edgar Su/Reuters

-ABC News' Halle Troadec

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