US voters are heading to the polls for midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and serve as a measure of support for President Donald Trump. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers, helping Trump advance his agenda. If Democrats win control of either the House or Senate, that balance would change.
All seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate are being contested. Democrats need to gain four Senate seats to take the chamber from Republicans. Closely watched contests could include races in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Kansas and Alaska. Voters are also choosing governors in 36 states and three US territories.
Voting began before Election Day, with millions casting ballots early or by mail. The University of Florida’s Election Lab had counted more than 54 million early votes by Sunday afternoon local time. Polls are set to open at 5 a.m. local time in the eastern United States and close last in Alaska on Wednesday morning, Central European time.
The results may not be clear on election night. US broadcasters are expected to call individual races after polls close, but close contests and the time needed to count ballots, particularly those cast by mail, could delay the outcome. The Senate majority may take especially long to determine, with a tight balance expected.
Trump has repeatedly questioned whether voting is being conducted properly in Democratic-led states. The Supreme Court rejected his administration’s request to set aside ballots from more than 20,000 California voters, without giving a reason. A federal court had previously turned down the Justice Department’s bid to invalidate those votes, which the court described as an intrusion shortly before the election.
The midterms are also taking place alongside ballot measures in several states. In California, voters are considering Proposition 40, which would require people who were billionaires in the state on January 1, 2026, to make a one-time payment equal to five percent of their wealth. The proceeds would go to healthcare; estimates of the potential revenue range from $30 billion to $100 billion. The proposed measure would affect Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.
The campaign has focused heavily on the cost of everyday life, including high grocery bills, as well as immigration policy. The elections come two years into Trump’s four-year term. He is not on the ballot, but the result could significantly affect domestic policy and how easily his proposals can pass through Congress.
Sources: Tagesschau.