Polls Show Democrats Ahead in 6 Senate Races as 57M Vote Early

With more than 57 million early ballots already cast nationwide ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections, final battleground polling, federal court rulings in Washington and New York, and civic development updates across 10 cities rounded out Monday's national news.

NYT/Siena Polls Show Democrats Leading in 6 of 7 Senate Battlegrounds as Early Voting Tops 57M

As reported by the San Francisco Examiner, final New York Times/Siena College surveys across 7 competitive U.S. Senate races found Democratic candidates leading in 6 states and tied in 1—putting Democrats within reach of the net 4 seats required to win a Senate majority while President Donald Trump's approval rating stood at 38%:

• Seven-State Senate Poll Numbers: In Texas (which has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994), Democratic State Rep. James Talarico led Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton 50% to 43% (7 points, with 16% of 2024 Trump voters backing Talarico). In Maine, Democrat Graham Platner led 5-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins 51% to 45% (6 points). In Ohio, former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown led appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted 49% to 44%. In Kansas (which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932), Democrat Christy Davis led Republican Sen. Roger Marshall 49% to 44%. In Alaska, former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola led Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan 48% to 46%. In North Carolina, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper led Republican Michael Whatley by 11 points, while in Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek and Republican Ashley Hinson were tied.
• Closing Campaign Clash, Cost-of-Living Pressures & Brooklyn Rally: According to KCBS Radio and Hoodline, more than 57 million voters have already cast early ballots as voters cited gas prices averaging $4.2824 per gallon in September, a $417,500 median existing-home price in August, and a 17% approval rating for Trump's handling of the cost of living (Brookings Institution senior fellow William Galston noted inflation's central role). In Brooklyn, Hoodline reported that New York Attorney General Letitia James and Texas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett headlined a weekend get-out-the-vote rally with 500+ attendees, while KCBS Radio noted that Trump posted a Truth Social image morphing his face with Elvis Presley after telling an Iowa rally that he avoided the Vietnam War because of high draft lottery numbers.

Judge Tanya Chutkan Sets Rapid Arch Deadlines; Guardians Pitchers Stand Trial and Illinois Man Admits $227M Medicare Fraud

Three major federal court proceedings also advanced on Monday:

• Judge Chutkan Gives DOJ 1 Hour in D.C. Arch Lawsuit: As reported by KCBS Radio, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered Justice Department attorneys to file a status notice within 1 hour—and gave 5 plaintiff veterans represented by Public Citizen 30 minutes to respond—after learning that workers were installing fencing and preparing soil excavation at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery for President Trump's planned 12-story (250-foot) neoclassical triumphal arch ahead of Friday's preliminary injunction hearing.
• Ex-Guardians Pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz Go on Trial in Brooklyn: According to KCBS Radio, jury selection began Monday in Brooklyn federal court before U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto for former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase (a 3-time All-Star closer with a $20 million, 5-year contract) and Luis Ortiz, who are accused of intentionally throwing balls on specific pitches between May 2023 and June 2025 so bettors in the Dominican Republic could win more than $460,000 in prop wagers in exchange for kickbacks of $5,000 to $7,000 per pitch.
• Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to $227M COVID-19 Medicare Fraud: Meanwhile, Hoodline reported that 36-year-old Syed Murtuza Kablazada of Des Plaines, Illinois, pleaded guilty to 2 counts of health care fraud (carrying up to 20 years in prison) for a 6-month scheme beginning in January 2023 that paid $11 million to a Pakistan-based firm for stolen beneficiary data and used 3 Chicago-area laboratories (Chicago Care, V Care, and Al-Ameer) to bill Medicare $227 million for unrequested COVID-19 test kits, receiving $136 million in payouts and forfeiting over $46 million across 10 bank accounts.

California and National Municipal Development Briefs

Local outlets also tracked 10 municipal housing, school, healthcare, retail, and cultural projects across California and the nation:

• California Housing, School & Dining Updates: In Bakersfield, Hoodline reported that the Housing Authority of the County of Kern is converting the former Ramkabir Motel on Union Avenue into 30 studio apartments (15—half—reserved for veterans) with $8.4 million in Homekey+ funds. In Pasadena, Hoodline noted that the Pasadena Unified School District selected KEMP Bros. Construction and LPA Design Studios under Measure R (the $900 million 2024 bond) to rebuild San Rafael Elementary School, relocating students to Allendale Elementary in fall 2027 ahead of a targeted 2029–2030 reopening. In Valencia, Hoodline reported that Bakersfield brunch chain Huevo House, founded by Sameena Gill and Bhavya Kaur, is moving into the former IHOP at 26135 Bouquet Canyon Road.
• New York, Midwest & Texas Civic Projects: In the Bronx, Hoodline covered the reopening of Galileo Playground in Morris Heights after a $7 million renovation. In Queens, Hoodline reported that Northwell Health's LIJ Forest Hills Hospital filed state plans for a $10 million, 5,650-square-foot emergency room expansion, while Hoodline noted Queens Borough President Donovan Richards highlighted $33 million for P.S. 37 in St. Albans. Elsewhere, Hoodline reported the demolition of the Memphis & Pearl site in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood for Desmone Architects; Hoodline covered Kroger subsidiary Dillons filing plans for a 6th Kansas City-area store near Cookingham Drive; Hoodline reported the Houston Rockets' partnership with ITA Airways; and Hoodline covered the 55th Las Artistas Art & Fine Crafts Show returning to Epic Railyard in El Paso on November 21–22 with 100+ artists.