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Collage shows 2026 U.S. midterm election candidates. From left to right: Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Rep. James Talarico of Texas, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan.

26 claims about midterm elections candidates, investigated

Rumors regarding high-profile midterms candidates continue to swirl as voters head to the polls to cast their ballots.

Reporter Taija PerryCook rounded up our reporting about the candidates to help you separate fact from fiction, including claims about:

  • Abdul El-Sayed

  • Mike Rogers

  • Ilhan Omar

  • James Talarico

  • Ken Paxton

  • Amy Acton

A photograph shows two golden equestrian statues among greenery.

Is gold melting off Trump's regilded horse statues in DC?

We asked the National Park Service why an image of the statue shows golden drip streaks.

Midterms misinformation is everywhere. Help us expose the truth

Our team is already hard at work investigating falsehoods and misleading rumors spreading on Election Day.

This work takes time and resources. We can’t do it alone.

Become a Snopes member today to support our independent fact-checking.

As a thank-you, you’ll unlock ad-free reading, exclusive newsletters, members-only investigations and more perks.

Items in an emergency preparedness kit laid out on a table. From left to right, a flashlight, first aid kit, a roll of elastic bandage, batteries, a can opener, a lantern and three water bottles.

Why governments urge citizens to maintain emergency preparedness kits

People were concerned that a catastrophic event was about to occur after multiple countries updated their emergency guidelines.

A large cottonwood tree looms over the U.S.-Mexico border line during the daytime in a lush, green scene, next to a road lining the border, with activists' tents visible to the right of the tree.

Did Trump cut down 250-year-old 'grandmother' tree to pave way for border wall?

A video allegedly shows crews destroying a large tree, followed by screams from activists who had tried to protect it for months.

A U.S. Army D6 bulldozer, operated by horizontal construction engineers from the 20th Engineer Brigade, backfills a simulated temporary interment trench during Phase II of Operation Dragon Covenant near the St. Mere Eglise Drop Zone, Oct. 21, 2026.

Do photos show US Army practicing digging mass graves?

According to the rumor, soldiers were being trained on how to temporarily bury bodies so that they could be identified and relocated later.

Staff pick

The Ceremonial Opening of the Seventh Senedd, Cardiff Bay on Oct. 15, 2026.

Can Welsh politicians lose their jobs for lying?

Posts claimed the country introduced new rules that "could eventually allow voters to remove politicians for serious and deliberate deception."

Is that true? Reporter Laerke Christensen has the facts.