US midterm elections: Voters head to polls in key test for Trump, republicans
US citizens are heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, for the midterm elections, in which members of the House of Representatives, some senators and several governors will be elected.
The vote will determine whether President Donald Trump's Republican Party retains control of Congress or whether Democrats manage to secure a majority, Reuters and The Washington Post report, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.
The election is considered the first nationwide electoral test of the Trump administration since his return to the White House. Although the president is not running in these elections, the results will reflect voters' perceptions of his performance and could influence the political agenda for the final two years of his term, as well as preparations for the 2028 presidential election.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate's 100 seats are being contested, along with several governorships and other state-level positions. According to Reuters, Democrats need a net gain of three seats to take control of the House of Representatives, while they need to secure four additional seats to win a majority in the Senate.
Voters have had the opportunity to cast their ballots early for several weeks. More than 57 million Americans had already voted by Monday, according to data from the University of Florida cited by Reuters. This figure exceeds the approximately 46 million early votes recorded during the 2022 midterm elections.
The economy and the cost of living are among the main issues dominating the campaign. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted ahead of the election found that 46% of registered voters intended to vote for Democrats, compared with 38% for Republicans. Meanwhile, only 32% of respondents said they approved of Donald Trump's performance as president. Rising prices and fuel costs, as well as the effects of trade tariffs and the war with Iran, have fuelled voter dissatisfaction.
According to the BBC, the election results will affect Donald Trump's ability to advance his political agenda during the second half of his term. If Democrats take control of either chamber of Congress, they will be able to block or amend the administration's legislative initiatives and launch congressional investigations into its activities.
Reuters notes that Democrats are considered favourites in the race for the House of Representatives, while the Senate contest is more closely contested. States attracting particular attention include Michigan, Alaska, Texas, Kansas, Maine, Iowa and Ohio.
The first projections are expected after polling stations close, with closing times varying from state to state. According to Reuters, the first polling stations will close in Indiana and Kentucky at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. However, results in closely contested races may not become clear until a larger number of ballots have been counted. The BBC will provide live coverage of the election and its results.
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