Trump touts pool repairs as Democrats push economy in final day
With polls opening Tuesday, the president focuses on Washington renovations while rivals in red states target high prices and a fractured Michigan Senate race.
By Ana Castro ·
President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders delivered sharply different closing messages on Monday, less than 24 hours before voters head to the polls. While the White House focused on infrastructure projects in the capital, the opposition concentrated on consumer costs and regional political drama.
The split in messaging came as both parties battle for control of Congress and several governorships. The outcome of these races will determine the balance of power for the remainder of Trump's term. The Supreme Court also rejected a request to set aside thousands of disputed mail ballots in California on the same day.
Trump spoke from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the site of a recent renovation controversy. He described the project as a success, citing new grass and repaired pipes. He repeated claims that vandals had sabotaged the work, though the Justice Department admitted in court filings that a blue liner failed due to rushed repairs.
"Our country is doing great. I think it's the greatest we've ever done," Trump said. He characterized the economy as the best in history, despite voters citing rising prices as their top concern. He spent most of his remarks promoting a planned golf course and a stone promenade connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River.
Democrats in key states focused on affordability and the ongoing war in Iran. In Iowa, gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand campaigned with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, aiming to break a 20-year streak of Republican governors in the state. "This is it," Sand said, referring to the final hours before the election.
The most intense activity occurred in Michigan, where Democrats sought to manage fallout from a primary upset. Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday, a move that shocked her party. Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed, cited policy differences including Israel and past public remarks.
El-Sayed downplayed the controversy during a Monday appearance at Eastern Michigan University. He stood with Senator Elizabeth Warren and his grandparents, urging supporters to cast ballots. "There's only one thing we can do to control the outcome," El-Sayed said. "Go vote."
More than 2.3 million Michigan residents had already voted as of Monday. The state's early in-person voting period ended Sunday, leaving the final decision to those casting ballots on Tuesday. Lori Goldman, a Democratic organizer in Oakland County, noted that while half the electorate had decided, the remaining voters could still shift the result.
