Saturday Night Live
opened its second show of the 52nd season on October 3, 2026, with a midterms-themed cold open featuring Republican get-out-the-vote ads, a frozen Mitch McConnell, and an appearance by James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump.
Republican Get-Out-The-Vote Ads Mocked In Cold Open
Andrew Dismukes and Ashley Padilla portrayed the ad consultants tasked with turning around campaign messaging as bleak polling faced the GOP.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, played by Marcello Hernández, appeared to address Latino voters and admitted that Trump did not live up to expectations and that endless war was not improving conditions.
Mikey Day portrayed 84-year-old Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who recently returned to the Senate after a prolonged absence and questions regarding his health. Day’s McConnell remained frozen during his lines, offering only a peace sign before delivering a premature sign-off. Played by Mikey Day, the wheelchair-bound 84-year-old Kentucky senator offered a premature Live from New York
before being cut off by RNC ad consultants desperate to turn things around for the GOP.
Colin Jost Returns As Pete Hegseth Alongside JD Vance
Colin Jost reprised his role as Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, opening his segment by chugging a non-alcoholic beverage he labeled Spider-Man’s new non-alcoholic b—- beer
.
Parodying his real-life State of the Force
address, Jost’s Hegseth urged viewers to vote and offered slam poetry that included the line, I’m putting God back in war, and it’s working,
alongside soldiers questioning their deployment. “What’s up, schlong donkeys?” the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update co-anchor began in what might have been one of the greatest campaign ads ever if it was real.
Jeremy Culhane also appeared in the sketch as Vice President JD Vance, whose camera test was cut short after he introduced himself with minimal charisma. The cold open further touched on campaign strategy by highlighting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the Senate.
Trump Delivers A Midterm Message Featuring A $5,000 Proposal
James Austin Johnson stepped in as Donald Trump to deliver his own pitch to voters, referencing a real-life reimbursement strategy for a Republican midterm victory.
Johnson’s Trump also recorded two separate closing messages for the sketch to cover both victory and defeat outcomes, declaring We did it. We won!
regardless of the hypothetical election result. Dakota Johnson hosted the October 3 episode, which featured musical guests Turnstile and a surprise appearance by Taylor Swift during the monologue.
Taylor Swift, whose music video for her song “Patient Zerostarred Johnson, made a surprise appearance in the monologue after the
Fifty Shades of Greyactress referenced her
really supportive” friends. Ladies and gentlemen, my literal therapist,
Johnson said, pointing at Swift, her longtime pal. I'm not your therapist, actually,
Swift said. The show will be off until October 31, when it will return for a Halloween episode with “Obsession” star Inde Navarrette hosting with musical guest Gracie Abrams.