Trump Takes Midterm Fight to Alaska as Congress Braces for a Possible Power Struggle

WASILLA, Alaska: With three weeks left before the November 3 midterm elections, President Donald Trump took his campaign to Alaska on Tuesday. He rallied supporters in Wasilla and urged them to re-elect Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The trip shows how seriously the White House is treating races that were once seen as safe. Republicans are defending narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress while the president's approval ratings sit at second-term lows. A Pew Research Center survey released last week put his approval at 30%.

"Equally Hard" to Hold Both Chambers

In an unusually frank comment, Trump said it seems equally hard for Republicans to keep the House as to keep the Senate. That was a notable admission from a president who usually predicts sweeping wins. Republican strategists have privately worried about losing the House for months, but a competitive Senate map has added to the pressure. Alaska is among the states the party is now working to shore up.

A Possible Power Struggle in 2027

Democrats say that if they win control of Congress, they will use it to challenge the president. Their plans include investigations, subpoenas, and using control over spending bills to block parts of his agenda. A Democratic House would control the committees that oversee the administration. A Democratic Senate would gain leverage over nominations, including judges and cabinet officials.

The president would still have powerful tools to push back. These include the veto, executive orders, and the ability to resist congressional demands in court. That sets up the possibility of a long standoff between the White House and Capitol Hill in 2027.

Three weeks out, the midterms are shaping up as a referendum on the president, and he is campaigning as though his own name were on the ballot.

The Final Stretch

Early voting is underway in many states, and both parties are pouring money and staff into turnout operations. Pew's latest survey found Democratic voters more engaged in the midterms than Republicans. The GOP hopes the president's rallies can close that enthusiasm gap.

Follow live maps, candidate profiles and results on TND's 2026 Midterm Election Hub.

Sources: CNN, AP via Live 5 News, Pew Research Center, October 2026.