After months of campaigning, political clashes and mounting public frustration, Americans head to the polls today for a high-stakes election that could reshape the U.S. Congress and determine how much power President Donald Trump retains during the second half of his second term.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are being contested, along with 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats. The results will determine which party controls both chambers of Congress, with Republicans fighting to defend their narrow majorities and Democrats hoping to turn public dissatisfaction into a decisive electoral victory.
Although Trump is not on the ballot, the election has become a referendum on his leadership and policies. While addressing supporters at a rally days before Election Day, Trump urged voters to “consider him as being on the ballot” and described their votes as one last favor they could do for him.
According to pre-election polls, Democrats entered Election Day with a stronger chance of regaining control of the House. The Senate remained a tougher contest, although several traditionally Republican-held seats had become competitive. For Democrats, regaining control of the Senate would also give them greater influence over the president’s actions.
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Among the issues that emerged during the campaign, economic pressures have been a defining concern, with voters worried about housing costs, groceries, fuel prices and health care expenses. Inflation and the war with Iran have added to concerns over rising energy costs. The Trump administration’s tariff and immigration policies have also figured prominently in the campaign. Democrats have sought to make these concerns central to their electoral message.
A recent Harris poll found that 36% of voters identified the rising cost of living as the most important factor influencing their midterm election preferences.
Meanwhile, Republicans portrayed Democratic candidates as too far to the left, arguing that a change in congressional control could put Trump’s agenda at risk.
Among the Senate contests, Texas, Alaska, Kansas, Michigan and Maine are drawing particular attention because their results could influence the balance of power. Democrats are seeking to win seats in states that have traditionally favored Republicans. In Texas, Democratic candidate James Talarico is challenging Republican Ken Paxton.
Michigan has also seen a late campaign dispute after Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers just two days before the election. Although political analysts have questioned the potential impact of the endorsement on Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan remains a closely watched Senate contest. Stevens’ endorsement also triggered a backlash among Democrats. Her longtime chief of staff, Justin German, announced his resignation shortly after the announcement.
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“There are millions of Michiganders whose number one issue is getting their costs down,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after casting his vote in New York on Tuesday.
The election has also been shadowed by legal battles over voting procedures. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to prevent California from counting thousands of mail-in ballots, amid federal officials’ concerns that some ballots involved noncitizens. In another case, a legal dispute in Alaska over the certification of Senate results was dismissed by a judge.
The U.S. Department of Justice is deploying around 1,000 federal election monitors across all 50 states to observe voting during Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“Election monitors will be checking for compliance with the federal voting rights statutes that fall within the jurisdiction of the (Civil Rights Division),” the DOJ said.
As voting gets underway, the country awaits a verdict that could mark a turning point in American politics. For both parties, the results will determine whether months of campaign promises, political attacks and electoral strategies have translated into votes.