Voting has begun in the US midterm elections, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats being contested, alongside gubernatorial races in 36 states.
The elections are widely seen as a nationwide assessment of President Donald Trump’s leadership, as voter dissatisfaction over rising living costs, energy prices and the ongoing conflict with Iran weighs on the political landscape.
Democrats are seeking to regain control of both chambers of Congress. They need a net gain of three seats in the House and four in the Senate to secure majorities in both chambers.
Several polls suggest Democrats could win control of the House and have a chance of taking the Senate. A Republican loss in the House would allow Democrats to obstruct parts of Trump’s legislative agenda and launch investigations into his administration. Losing the Senate could also complicate the president’s efforts to secure confirmation for Supreme Court nominees and senior government appointments.
Trump returned to office last year after pledging to reduce prices. However, inflation, tariffs and higher fuel costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East have continued to put pressure on American households.
The president’s approval rating has remained around the low 30 per cent range, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction.
In Georgia’s suburbs, retired teacher Jane Callum, 77, joined Democratic campaigners supporting Senator Jon Ossoff, describing the election as a defining moment for the country’s future.
She said she felt a responsibility to help change the country’s direction and strengthen its democratic institutions.
Republicans have defended Trump’s economic policies, arguing that tax cuts and stricter immigration measures will benefit Americans. They have also portrayed Democratic candidates as left-wing extremists.
However, during his final public campaign appearance on Monday, Trump focused largely on the renovation of Washington’s Reflecting Pool rather than addressing economic concerns in detail.
He described the midterm elections as the most important of his lifetime before returning to discussion of the renovation project.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticised the president’s remarks, calling them a weak closing message.
Some Republican supporters, however, remained confident of victory, including Texas military veteran Yvonne Clouser, who expressed certainty that her party would prevail.
Although Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Democrats are also contesting seats in traditionally conservative states, including Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Alaska.
Democrats are meanwhile defending several competitive seats, including in Michigan, where Congresswoman Haley Stevens backed Republican candidate Mike Rogers instead of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed following an internal party dispute.
A final forecast by Decision Desk HQ projected that Democrats could secure 241 seats in the House compared with 194 for Republicans. It also projected a 52-48 Democratic majority in the Senate.
Republicans are hoping for strong voter turnout, while analysts caution that polling estimates may fail to capture the level of support for either party.
More than 57 million Americans had cast ballots before Election Day, indicating significant participation in early voting.
The campaign has generated more than $11 billion in political advertising. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter, has also contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican political efforts.
Questions over whether election results will be accepted have also emerged as voting concludes. Trump, who challenged his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, has repeatedly alleged widespread voter fraud and accused Democrats of electoral misconduct without providing evidence.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit that could potentially affect certification of Alaska’s Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses by a narrow margin. However, a court rejected the department’s effort on the eve of the election.
Separately, the US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an emergency request seeking to prevent the counting of mail-in ballots cast by more than 20,000 people in California over claims that they might not be US citizens.
Trump is expected to monitor the election results at the White House on Tuesday night. He has also indicated that, if Republicans lose control of Congress, he could block legislation supported by Democrats.
“I veto everything,” Trump said during a podcast interview on Monday, while adding that he could eventually reach agreements with Democrats.
