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Midterms 2018: Early voting sees record-breaking turnout as Oprah heads on campaign trail for Stacey Abrams

The major elections are less than a week away 

Clark Mindock
New York
,Chris Riotta,Mythili Sampathkumar
Thursday 01 November 2018 17:16 GMT
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US Midterms 2018: The five big questions

The US is just four days away from the 2018 midterm elections on 6 November and races around the country are heating up.

Democrats are attempting to gain control of the US House and Senate in the wake of a contentious, partisan battle over the newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

There are several state and local races of importance, too, as the parties square off for control of state legislatures and local city councils.

Follow our liveblog below for all the latest as the elections approach

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Welcome to our live updates of the upcoming 2018 midterm elections. The US is just one month away from the first major election since Donald Trump was elected to office and many people have said the results will be a reflection of how the country has changed the past two years.

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 14:31
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The election is taking place on 6 November and Mr Trump has begun to hold campaign rallies for various Republican candidates all over the country. 

Last week alone he went to four states in six days - Tennessee, Mississippi, Minnesota, and Kansas

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 14:39
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Republicans in some districts could face an uphill battle to gain the votes of women despite Mr Trump winning the majority of the white female vote in the 2016 presidential election. 

The bitter, emotional, often angry confirmation process of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh the past few weeks only served to heighten political - and gender - divisions in the Senate and possibly the country.

Read more about how the hearing and vote to put Mr Trump's second nominee on the Supreme Court may spell hard times for Republican candidates: 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 14:46
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The president heads to Iowa tonight for another of his "Make America Great Again" rallies. 

Some of his supporters consider it a well-deserved "victory lap" after Mr Kavanaugh's confirmation. 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 14:53
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When he was speaking at the United Nations Security Council a few weeks ago, Mr Trump claimed China was attempting to "meddle" in the 2018 midterm elections. 

He said Beijing was placing "propaganda" in newspapers in Iowa - whose former governor Terry Brandstad is now US Ambassador to China - in order to influence voters against Mr Trump and Republicans. 

"They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president to challenge China on trade," he said. 

Read more here: 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 14:57
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The midwest is of particular importance to Democrats as they try to capitalise on huge primary election victories in Minnesota and Michigan. 

Our Andrew Buncombe talked to voters in Eagan, Minnesota, to get a feel for what may happen in just a month for one important candidate, Democratic hopeful for the US House Angie Craig. 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 15:03
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Voter registration drives are in full gear around the country. Several states have deadlines approaching soon and offer in-person, mail, and online registration. 

Check your state's Board of Election website for the rules and read more about it here: 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 17:25
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To give you an idea of the animus and partisan battle the country is about to see in the polls, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the 2018 midterm elections "a knife fight in an alley". 

In other words, Democrats and Republicans will likely 'fight dirty' with unrelenting ad campaigns, millions of dollars in donations, and constant television appearances. 

Tune in here for to make sense of all the noise in the next month: 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 17:35
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Mr Trump tweeted a reminder to voters that in many states, today is the last day to register.

Check your Board of Elections website to determine how and when to register - the deadlines may differ based on how you register as well. 

Some states do offer registration up until 6 November as well: District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 18:08
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The elections are on everyone's minds in the US, including pop star Taylor Swift

She endorsed Democrats who are running for office in Tennessee, her home state. 

Mr Trump said he now likes her music "25 per cent less" because of her endorsement. 

Mythili Sampathkumar9 October 2018 18:28

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