US voters are heading to the polls in midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and the scope of President Donald Trump’s remaining two years in office. Democrats are widely expected to win the House of Representatives, while the Senate contest is less certain, according to the polling and analysis cited in the source report.
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers: 218 to 215 in the House and 53 to 47 in the Senate. Every House seat is being contested, along with 35 Senate seats. Of those Senate seats, 22 are held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats, but many of the Republican seats are in states that lean conservative. Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to take control, while also defending all 13 seats they are contesting.
The Senate outcome may depend on a group of competitive state races, including contests in Georgia and Michigan. A Siena College and New York Times poll cited in the report showed Democrats leading in nearly all the states considered decisive. The poll also pointed to possible Democratic wins in Texas and Kansas, where the party has not elected a senator since 1988 and 1932, respectively.
Historical trends and Trump’s approval rating have added to Democratic hopes. The report puts his approval at 32%, citing Ipsos, and notes that the president’s party has lost congressional ground in all but two midterm elections since the Second World War. The campaign has also been shaped by voter concerns over living costs and the war with Iran, which the report links to higher fuel prices.
A Democratic victory in both chambers would give the party more power to block legislation and presidential appointments. However, Trump would retain presidential powers, including the veto, and the report notes that he has governed extensively through executive orders despite Republican control of Congress.
Nearly 55 million Americans, including Trump, have already voted early, about 10 million more than in the 2022 midterms. The final count may take hours or even days. Trump is scheduled to follow election results from the White House.
Sources: La Vanguardia.