Monday, May 18, 2026

A jam-packed election week

Six states hold primary elections on May 19. Here's what to know. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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On Politics

Mon May 18 2026

 

Nicole Fallert Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Hi there On Politics readers! Nicole Fallert here with Monday's rundown on the news to know from Washington.

Tomorrow will be full of elections across the country

This week is set to be one of the busiest — and potentially most consequential — of the 2026 election cycle yet.

Across six states, Americans will vote in U.S. House, Senate and gubernatorial races, among other local contests. The elections  headline a jam-packed month of races and are set to select candidates to vie for positions in Washington and state government in November's midterms. These elections come as Republicans aim to hold on to narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, and President Donald Trump takes steps to purge GOP opponents. Here are the races happening on May 19 and some standout contests to watch.

Meanwhile, multiple election officials have told USA TODAY they are readying in case Trump's threats of federal involvement in the midterm elections come to fruition. For the first time, they are preparing legal and law enforcement action they might take if National Guard troops or immigration officials are sent to polling sites or if federal agents demand access to ballots or election machines, regardless of whether these interventions violate state law.

A politics roundup:

Trump's approval rating sank to a new low in amid Iran war
USPS faces a financial crisis, pauses pensions and raises prices
After pharmaceutical companies try to block Medicare drug discounts, the Supreme Court weighs in
1965 or 2026? Southerners march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama.

Some Republicans eye exit from Capitol Hill

Greg Gianforte, the chair of the Republican Governors Association, is the man leading the GOP's crusade to occupy more state governors' mansions. In an exclusive USA TODAY interview, Gianforte said it's not lost on him how tough it can be to pass laws at the federal level. But when it comes to embracing those policies, or blunting their impacts, the buck stops in state capitals, Gianforte said.

"Whatever kind of crazy we have in Washington, DC, it's the state administrations that are like the last barrier to crazy," he said.

Trump warns Iran that 'clock is ticking'

Oil prices rose on Monday as Trump warned Iran that the "clock is ticking" following a drone strike on a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates. The strike raised fears of renewed conflict as talks between Washington and Tehran stall. Follow Monday's updates on the war in Iran live with USA TODAY.

Before you go

Looking for a clear, monthly roadmap to the 2026 midterms? Our new election guide Reddit thread  tracks key primaries plus all the resources you may need as a voter (registration, deadlines, ID rules, absentee and mail voting, and more). Catch the May update with local USA TODAY Network reporting and bookmark the guide for future editions. 

💬We also want to hear from you! What questions do you have for our team as we get closer to November? Is there a race you’re watching closely? Let us know by jumping in the  comments on Reddit or responding to this newsletter. 

Thanks for reading! Scroll for more stories. You can reach me at nfallert@usatoday.com

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) as Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2025.

Early voting begins in the Texas GOP Senate runoff as a new poll shows Democrat James Talarico tied with both Cornyn and Paxton for November.

Brothers to the Rescue pilot Jose Basulto talks to the media September 19, 2000 at Key West International Airport following his groups search and rescue mission to locate the downed Cuban plane that was reportedly hijacked.
 

The day two planes vanished near Cuba. Now US weighs Raúl Castro charges

Four died, their bodies never found after 1996 shootdown; US weighs charges against Raúl Castro

Masked federal agents wearing a Police Immigration and Customs Enforcement jacket stand in a hallway at the New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York on March 17, 2026. .
 

ICE detained US citizen in NYC, now congressman wants investigation

Surveillance and cellphone footage captured the May 6 incident in the Bronx, where ICE agents detained the American citizen at gunpoint.

An attendee prays during Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, on the National Mall, on May 17, 2026, in Washington, DC. Leading up to the America 250 celebration later in the year, thousands gathered on the Mall for a day of scripture, testimony, and prayer organized by Freedom250.
 

'Pray without ceasing.' Trump, aides rally Christian faithful on National Mall

Faith leaders from various Christian denominations − and one rabbi − gathered on the National Mall to pray, sing and honor America's religious foundation.

Gas prices for regular unleaded gas are inching closer to $4 a gallon as the price of one pump exceeds $100 for over 29 gallons of gas at the Amoco B Well Market, in Topeka, Kansas, on May 11, 2026.
 

Americans call economy 'uncertain' and 'struggling' in new poll

A new CBS News/YouGov poll found that Americans are largely pessimistic about the economy and disapprove of how the Trump administration is handling inflation.

USA TODAY's The Excerpt podcast
 

PODCAST: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert takes its final bow

USA TODAY’s daily news podcast, The Excerpt, brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week.

 

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