Victory for ‘true Maga warriors’ would tighten Trump grip on Republican party

Opinion polls suggest late surge in support for Trump-endorsed nominees who have embraced his lie about election fraud

The spectre of Donald Trump's imminent declaration of a new White House run looms over races in several key states ahead of Tuesday's US midterm elections, with the former president poised to seize on any success for ultra-conservative candidates as validation for his 2024 campaign.

Opinion polls appearing to reflect a last-minute surge of support for Trump-endorsed nominees in a number of crucial congressional and governors' contests came as the former president appeared at a rally for the Republican senator Marco Rubio in Florida on Sunday.