Over the course of this election, we’ve monitored key toss-up congressional races, fact-checking false claims and distortions of the facts on a host of topics. But some issues have loomed larger than others.
Common Themes in the 2026 Midterms
Issues: Illegal immigration
FactChecking Claims from Trump’s Midterm Rallies
Throughout October, President Donald Trump has traveled across the country, holding campaign rallies supporting Republican candidates in the 2026 midterms. In his remarks, he has made a number of false, misleading or exaggerated claims.
Trump’s Numbers, October 2026 Update
Our latest quarterly report on various statistical indicators of how the country is faring as the midterms loom.
FactChecking Day Two of the GOP Midterm Convention
Vice President JD Vance gave the keynote address on the second night of the Republican midterm convention, which also featured Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson and a final send-off from President Donald Trump. Here’s what we found in fact-checking their remarks:
FactChecking Trump’s Midterm Convention Speech
In a nearly two-hour speech at the first Republican midterm convention, President Donald Trump promised to pay Americans if Republicans won, and he repeatedly said communists could take over Congress if they didn’t, among other familiar claims.
Rising Measles Cases Driven by Falling Vaccination, Not Illegal Immigration
Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida who is running for governor, has blamed “rampant illegal immigration” during the Biden administration for measles outbreaks. But we found no link to illegal immigration in several recent large outbreaks, and infectious disease experts told us that the main driver of the cases is falling measles vaccination rates in the U.S.
The NRSC’s Weak Ties Between Brown and Deadly Interstate Crash in Ohio
In the Ohio Senate race, a Republican ad blames former Sen. Sherrod Brown for a deadly crash in April on an Ohio interstate in which an immigrant was charged with vehicular homicide. But there’s no evidence of any tie between Brown’s votes on immigration, as the ad suggests, and the suspect in this incident.
Trump’s Numbers, July 2026 Update
Our quarterly series presents just the statistics on various measures since Trump reentered the White House.
Trump’s Numbers, April 2026 Update
Our first quarterly update of various economic and social indicators under Trump’s second term as president.
Biden Makes Flawed Comparisons with Trump
During a speech in South Carolina on Feb. 27, Joe Biden touted his record as president while criticizing his successor, President Donald Trump. But during his remarks, Biden made a number of false, misleading or exaggerated claims.