The US midterm elections, held two years after a president takes office, are traditionally a measure of public opinion on the administration. The president’s party has often lost ground in these contests. If Republicans lose control of either or both chambers of Congress, it could become harder for President Donald Trump to pass legislation. His second term runs until early 2029.
In the Senate, each state elects two senators, giving the chamber 100 members. Thirty-five seats are being contested. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, while Democrats have 47, including two independents. Democrats would need to gain four seats to reach a 51-seat majority. If the chamber is tied at 50-50, Republican Vice President JD Vance would cast the deciding vote.
Georgia has a special rule for its Senate race: if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the state will hold a runoff on December 1.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election. Unlike the Senate, the number of representatives per state broadly reflects its population. California has 52 seats, while Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming each have one. Republicans currently have a narrow majority, and Democrats need to gain at least four seats to take control, giving them the minimum majority of 218.
Gubernatorial elections are also taking place in 36 of the 50 states. Republicans currently hold 26 governorships and Democrats 24. Republicans have held more governorships than Democrats since 2010.
Sources: Tagesschau.