The first polling stations have opened on the East Coast of the United States as the nation begins its midterm elections. In states such as New York and New Hampshire, voting commenced at 12:00 CET, while Vermont saw some locations open an hour earlier. Polls in Texas are scheduled to open at 14:00 CET, followed by Colorado at 15:00 CET and California on the West Coast at 16:00 CET. The last polling stations are expected to close in Alaska between 06:00 and 07:00 CET on Wednesday.
These midterms involve the election of all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and approximately one-third of the 100 Senate seats. Currently, Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers of Congress. Additionally, governors are being elected in 36 states and three territories. Political analysts suggest that Democrats have a strong chance of winning a majority in the House due to high dissatisfaction with President Trump, though the race for the Senate is expected to be much tighter.
Economic concerns remain the most pressing issue for voters. Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook of the Bertelsmann Foundation noted that many Americans are struggling to afford groceries and fuel, with some skipping meals entirely. This frustration is compounded by rising oil prices following reported US military attacks on targets in Iran, which have pushed Brent crude to around $106 per barrel. Other key topics influencing voters include corruption, US migration policy, and the conflict in Iran.
In Arizona, voters are also deciding on a measure to limit the use of traffic cameras for catching speeders and red-light runners. This ballot initiative was placed before voters by the Republican state legislature after Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a ban on the cameras. Meanwhile, California is voting on Proposition 40, a wealth tax that would require billionaires to contribute 5% of their assets once to fund healthcare. Estimates suggest this could raise between $30 and $100 billion, affecting figures such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The financial disparity in the election campaign has been significant. Republicans entered the final stretch with substantially more funding than Democrats, bolstered by the MAGA Inc. fundraising organization and hundreds of millions of dollars from Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Data from AdImpact indicates that Republicans spent $188 million more than Democrats on Senate advertising in competitive states through September, potentially making 2026 the most expensive election cycle in history.
President Donald Trump, who is not on the ballot, has seen his approval ratings drop to historic lows. His last public appearance before the election was dedicated to the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where he spoke for over 20 minutes about pipes and algae. On election day, Trump plans no public appearances, with only private meetings scheduled, including one with the US Ambassador to Portugal.
Legal challenges have also marked the pre-election period. The US Supreme Court rejected a request by the Trump administration to invalidate ballots from over 20,000 voters in California, citing doubts about their citizenship. A federal court had previously dismissed the Justice Department's move as a brazen interference shortly before the election.
Voters have already cast millions of ballots through early voting and mail-in systems. The University of Florida's Election Lab reported over 54 million early votes by Sunday afternoon. Due to varying state regulations on vote counting, particularly regarding mail-in ballots, it may take days or even weeks to determine the final majority in Congress. In previous midterms, certainty for the Senate took four days and for the House eight days. The outcome will significantly impact President Trump's ability to pass legislation and could influence the trajectory of US democracy leading up to the 2028 presidential election.
Sources: Tagesschau.