04.11.2026 06:41
First results have begun to come in from the U.S. midterm elections, seen as the most critical test of Trump's second term. In the Senate, Democrats have 52 and Republicans 40; in the House, Democrats have reached 211 and Republicans 108 seats. According to U.S. media projections, Democrats are expected to win a majority in the House with 244 seats. With polls closed in 30 states and more than 59 million Americans having voted early, attention has turned to the final results.
In the US, voters went to the polls to determine Congress's new members. In the midterm elections, which are of critical importance for President Donald Trump's political future and the balance of power in Congress, voting is ending at different times depending on the state.
With voting completed in 10 more states, including New York and Iowa, the number of states where polls have closed rose to 30.
While voting continues in other states, polls are expected to close in the coming hours, starting with the eastern states. Due to the time difference, the last polls are projected to close in Alaska at 01:00 local time, 09:00 Turkish time.
LATEST SITUATION IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
According to the first announced results, Democrats reached 46 seats and Republicans 39 in the Senate.
In the House of Representatives, the number of seats won by Democrats was recorded as 133 and by Republicans as 70.
It is eagerly awaited whether Republicans can retain their majority in the House and whether Democrats can regain control of the Senate.
US MEDIA: DEMOCRATS WILL WIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
According to election projections in the US media, Democrats are expected to gain a majority in the House. The projections forecast that Democrats will win 244 seats and Republicans 191.
Democrat Roy Cooper increased his party's seat count by winning the Senate seat held by Republicans in North Carolina. In Virginia, Democratic Senator Mark Warner was re-elected, while in Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz also retained her House seat.
Republican candidates prevailed in Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Florida, while Democratic candidates won the races in Colorado and New Mexico.
Democratic candidates also won seats in Georgia, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, and New Hampshire.
MORE THAN 59 MILLION AMERICANS VOTED EARLY
The high turnout in the midterm elections drew attention. According to data from the University of Florida Election Lab, more than 59 million Americans cast their votes before Election Day.
While polling places across the US experienced crowds, the economy, cost of living, immigration policies, the Iran war, and the Trump administration's policies influenced voters' decisions.
Initial exit polls showed that the economy and the future of American democracy were among voters' most important agenda items.
HAKEEM JEFFRIES AND ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ RE-ELECTED
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez managed to retain their seats in the elections.
Palestinian-American Congresswoman from Michigan Rashida Tlaib was also re-elected, defeating her Republican opponent James D. Hooper.
Tlaib has represented Michigan's 13th District in the House of Representatives since 2019.
In the 435-seat House of Representatives, a party must reach at least 218 seats to gain a majority.
TRUMP: WE HAVE NO PLAN TO STRIKE IRAN IMMEDIATELY
As the midterm election process continued in the US, President Donald Trump made remarks about tensions with Iran in a telephone interview with the Financial Times.
Trump, stating that relations with Tehran were “excellent”, said that the US had no immediate plan to attack Iran.
Trump, emphasizing that they were ready for further war if necessary, implied that he was satisfied with the current state of tensions with Iran.
Asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements that an attack could be carried out this week, Trump said, “I am ready, we are ready. We are ready to act if necessary, but there may be no reason to.”
Trump also argued that energy prices would fall rapidly after the midterm elections. Claiming that more oil had passed through the Strait of Hormuz compared with before the war, the US president alleged that the blockade on Iranian ports had economically “strangled” Tehran.
US ELECTS ITS FIRST BLACK WOMAN GOVERNOR
Along with the congressional elections, gubernatorial elections were also held in some states.
Democratic Party candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial election in Georgia and became the first Black woman governor in US history.
DEMOCRATS CLOSE TO MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Republicans had retained their majority in the House of Representatives after the 2024 elections. However, over the past two years, resignations and vacated seats narrowed the gap between the two parties.
As of November 1, the House of Representatives had 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, and one independent member, while two seats were vacant.
In the 435-seat House, 218 seats are required for a simple majority. Therefore, for Democrats to gain a majority, they need to win at least 4 more seats in addition to their current seats.
The majority in the House of Representatives is important for determining the Speaker of the House, setting the legislative agenda, budget negotiations, and managing congressional committees.
If Democrats win the majority, it is assessed that many critical issues, including the process for Trump's impeachment, could come onto the House agenda.
NECK-AND-NECK RACE IN THE SENATE
Before the election, Republicans held the majority in the 100-seat Senate with 53 seats, while Democrats, together with 2 independent senators who caucus with them, had a total of 47 seats.
According to this picture, for Democrats to take control of the Senate, they need to win at least 4 seats held by Republicans.
In the Senate elections, races in states such as Georgia, Michigan, Maine, Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Iowa are being closely followed.
While Democrats are trying to hold their seats in Georgia and Michigan, which Trump won in the 2024 presidential election, Republicans aim to hold their seat in Maine, which Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris won.
WHY IS CONTROL OF THE SENATE IMPORTANT?
The US Senate is of great importance to the presidential administration due to its powers such as confirming federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, and senior administration officials, and reviewing international agreements.
However, gaining a majority in the Senate is not sufficient for every bill to pass. In many regulations, the support of 60 senators is required to end debate.
Due to the method known as “filibuster” in the American political system, senators can delay the legislative process by speaking on the floor for a long time.
This situation can make it difficult for the party holding the majority in the Senate to pass certain regulations.
HOW IS VOTING CARRIED OUT IN THE US?
Although elections in the US are held at the federal level, voting and vote-counting processes are largely carried out by state governments.
Voters can cast their votes by going to the polls on election day, voting early, or voting by mail within the framework of the rules set by their state.
In some states, mail-in ballots are automatically sent to voters, while in others, those who want to vote by mail must apply in advance.
The requirement to show ID when voting, voter registration periods, and deadlines for accepting mail-in votes also vary from state to state.
The issues of mail-in voting and ID requirements, which stand out in Trump's criticisms of the election system, continue to be debated in American public opinion.
ANNOUNCING FINAL RESULTS MAY TAKE DAYS
Because there is no common poll closing time across the US, election results are announced at different times from the east of the country to the west.
Especially in states where the vote margin is narrow, the announcement of final results may take several days due to the counting of mail-in votes and possible challenge processes.
While turnout is expected to be high in this year's congressional midterm elections, it is assessed that the political polarization between Trump supporters and opponents has been effective in driving voters to the polls.
In previous analyses reflected in the US media, it was stated that more than 43 million voters in 47 states and the capital Washington had voted early or sent their votes by mail. This number indicated an increase of approximately 10 million compared to the same period of the 2022 midterm elections.
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