More than 54 million Americans have voted early as both parties compete for control of Congress, while a Democratic lawmaker in Michigan delivers an unexpected boost to a Republican Senate candidate.
Americans head to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the midterm elections, a major political test for President Donald Trump and an indication of whether his Republican Party can retain control of both chambers of Congress during the final two years of his term.
The elections come amid growing voter dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living and the repercussions of the war with Iran. Opinion polls suggest Democrats are gaining ground in the race for the House of Representatives, while the contest for the Senate remains tighter and more uncertain.
According to US media reports, more than 54 million Americans had already cast their ballots early, reflecting significant voter participation ahead of Election Day. Around 210 million Americans are eligible to vote.
The elections will determine all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats, as well as governorships in 36 states.
DDHQ FORECAST UPDATE (11/2): Senate
Democrats now have a 65% probability of winning the Senate in our forecast.
Democrats lead in six states: Alaska. Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. They need to flip four states to win control of the Senate. https://t.co/MMsK6Xqgja
Democrats are seeking to regain control of both chambers. They need a net gain of four Senate seats, increasing their total from 47 to 51, while Republicans are fighting to retain their majorities and enable Trump to continue advancing his political and legislative agenda.
Attention is focused on several states that could determine control of the Senate, particularly Texas and Kansas, where closely contested races make the outcome difficult to predict.
In a significant development two days before the vote, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan after losing the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed.
Stevens announced her endorsement while appearing alongside Rogers at a church in Detroit, in a move that could deepen divisions within the Democratic Party in a state considered crucial to the party’s hopes of regaining control of the Senate.
“There is no place for me in Abdul’s campaign,” Stevens said in a video posted on social media.
Trump welcomed her decision, urging her to join the Republican Party during an election rally in Iowa. He also said he intended to contact her to thank her for what he described as a “smart move.”
In the final hours before polling stations opened, both Democrats and Republicans stepped up their efforts to mobilize voters. Speaking in Washington, Trump urged his supporters to back Republican candidates to ensure the party retains its majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping to take control of both chambers, which would give them greater power to block Trump’s legislative agenda and launch investigations into his administration.
The election results are expected to reshape the balance of power in Congress and determine the extent of Trump’s ability to advance his policies during the second half of his presidency.
