Early Vote Surges 10 Million Over 2022 as Trump Switches to Phone Rallies

More than 43 million Americans cast ballots early or by mail as of Thursday, exceeding the 2022 midterm total by nearly 10 million. The Associated Press analysis of data from 47 states and Washington, D.C., shows a 50% jump in Texas, where 6.3 million voters participated compared to 4.2 million four years prior.

Sharp increases also appeared in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas, where advance voting rose over 30% from the same point in the previous cycle. South Carolina saw an 83% increase as voters select a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. In states tracking party affiliation, Democrats led Republicans by 1.6 million early votes, with 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans casting ballots.

President Donald Trump canceled weekend in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Thursday. He opted for telerallies, a strategy the Republican National Committee says allows him to reach voters in nearly two dozen states during the final days of the campaign. Trump called into a Kansas City radio station to endorse Sen. Roger Marshall, describing the incumbent as "fantastic" and the race as "close." He criticized Democratic rival Adam Hamilton, a pastor, as a "radical" who caused turmoil within his church.

Legal friction over election administration intensified as the Justice Department escalated its criminal investigation in California. New grand jury subpoenas were issued, prompting two separate legal filings overnight. One group, including the League of Women Voters, sought a temporary restraining order against the administration's collection of state voter data. A coalition of California workers filed a lawsuit alleging federal threats "significantly risk interfering" with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections.

Both filings asked federal judges to prevent the Justice Department from demanding that election workers remove voters or segregate ballots. The plaintiffs also sought to stop federal officials from threatening prosecution for counting ballots allegedly sent to noncitizens. Attorney General Todd Blanche is "acting expeditiously" in a parallel probe into the Alaska Senate race, according to Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

Scott addressed allegations that Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited a candidate with the same name as her Republican rival. Peltola denied knowledge of the effort on Thursday, calling it a "distraction." She stated that Republicans "can’t win on their record" and are trying to intimidate her. Scott countered that Peltola must be concerned about her inability to win without "lying, cheating, therefore stealing the results."

In other developments, Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election. The Vatican confirmed the Chicago-born leader submitted a mail-in ballot, citing his belief in the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. The Holy See noted he has voted in the United States and previously in Peru whenever eligible. Meanwhile, former U.S. diplomats and national security officials urged President Trump to enforce the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act. The group, which included retired Generals Wesley Clark and Philip Breedlove, warned that current policy risks prolonging the war in Ukraine.

The Pentagon accused Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia of leaking sensitive information to the media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Sylvia as head of strategy, plans, and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff late Wednesday. No specific reason was given for the ouster, which is the latest in a series of departures from senior military posts under Hegseth. The general’s office typically coordinates military plans for the Joint Chiefs chairman and the president.