US midterm elections begin as Democrats seek to curb Trump’s power in Congress

Americans began voting on Tuesday in the US midterm elections, which will decide whether President Donald Trump keeps a Republican Congress for the last two years of his term.

Democrats have campaigned on the cost of living and opposition to the war with Iran, launched by the United States in February.

What is at stake in the US midterm elections?

Control of Congress is at stake. All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are on the ballot, and 36 states are choosing governors. Republicans hold the House by four seats and the Senate 53 to 47. Democrats need at least three House seats and four Senate seats to take both chambers.

Voters are also choosing thousands of state legislators. Ballot measures in various states cover issues including abortion rights and taxes on billionaires.

Control of either chamber would give Democrats more power to investigate the administration and challenge its legislative agenda. A Senate majority would also let them block presidential appointments, including any Supreme Court nominees.

How has voting started?

The first polling stations opened in Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut and Kentucky, with hours varying by state. More than 57 million people had already voted early.

Turnout was reported as heavy in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.

Why is the political climate difficult for Republicans?

The election is widely seen as a verdict on Trump, who has urged supporters to treat it as a personal contest by telling them to “pretend I’m on the ballot”. Since World War Two, the president’s party has lost congressional seats in all but two midterms.

His approval rating is near its lowest levels, with voters citing affordability, tariffs and the economic fallout of the Iran war.

Since early October, Trump has made more than two dozen campaign appearances, mostly in states he won comfortably in 2024. He has portrayed Democratic candidates as extreme and dangerous. Republicans have focused on mobilizing core supporters and reaching voters wary of progressive policies.

Which races could decide control of Congress?

The Senate contest centers on nearly 10 closely watched races, many in traditionally Republican territory. Democrats must defend their own seats while winning in states Trump carried by double digits in 2024, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Polls show their candidates competitive in several of these contests.

The House fight is also mostly in Republican-held districts, some of which Trump won comfortably two years ago. Election analysts say a Republican redistricting push backed by the president has not yet delivered all the gains the White House expected.

In Michigan’s Senate race, Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary in August, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday over the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.

What are the concerns over the election process?

Trump’s Justice Department has taken legal action in California over ballots it considers potentially invalid, breaking with a long-standing practice of keeping federal authorities away from election administration. On Monday the Supreme Court rejected the administration’s request for emergency intervention in that case.

Democrats have warned that Trump could challenge the results if Republicans lose. He has repeatedly made unfounded claims that US elections are rigged and has not publicly accepted that Democrats could win.

For Republicans, the task is to buck the historical pattern of midterm losses. For Democrats, even modest gains would strengthen their ability to scrutinize the administration and shape the rest of Trump’s presidency.