03.11.2026 10:01
Voters in the US are going to the polls for critical midterm elections that will assess the first two years of President Donald Trump's second term. In the elections, in which 435 House and 35 Senate seats will be determined, it is assessed that Democrats could seize the majority in the House of Representatives. While war with Iran, rising fuel prices, and the cost of living form voters' priority agenda, the results are expected to directly affect the remaining two years of Trump's term.
Midterm elections to be held today in the US will be one of the most important political tests of President Donald Trump's second presidential term. As voters assess the Trump administration's performance over its first two years, they will also determine the balance of power in both chambers of Congress.
Since World War II, in only two of the midterm elections held has the incumbent president's party not lost seats in Congress. The historical trend reveals the difficult picture Republicans face in this election.
While Trump's public support is hovering near its lowest levels, especially the war with Iran and the resulting rise in fuel prices are increasing voters' backlash.
TRUMP: ACT AS IF I AM ON THE BALLOT TOO
Donald Trump is at the center of the election campaign. Urging Republican voters to go to the polls, Trump repeatedly gave his supporters the message, "Act as if I am on the ballot too."
Trump has held more than 20 election rallies since the beginning of October. The fact that most of the rallies were held in states he won comfortably in the 2024 presidential election showed that Republicans are running an intensive campaign even in their own strongholds.
While Republicans accuse Democratic candidates of being radical and contrary to the country's values, Trump, in a speech in Washington on Monday, said, "The Democratic Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history."
VOTERS' PRIORITY: COST OF LIVING
According to public opinion polls, the most important agenda item for voters is the cost of living. Trump's comprehensive tariffs and his decision in February to launch a military strike on Iran caused costs to rise in the country.
Polls show that a significant portion of voters are dissatisfied with the Trump administration's fight against economic problems.
Republican candidates, however, are finding it difficult to distance themselves from the president's policies because of Trump's strong political influence.
ALL SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND 35 SENATE SEATS WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION
In the midterm elections, votes will be cast for all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 35 seats in the 100-member Senate.
For Democrats to gain a majority in the House of Representatives, they need to win at least 3 seats from Republicans. To reach a majority in the Senate, they must gain at least 4 seats.
If Democrats secure a majority in either chamber of Congress, it could directly affect the Trump administration's legislative activities.
A House of Representatives or Senate controlled by Democrats could launch investigations into allegations of conflicts of interest against the Trump administration and demand concessions in exchange for approving bills.
If the Senate comes under Democratic control, Trump's senior appointments and possible Supreme Court nominations could be blocked.
CLOSE RACES IN NEARLY 10 STATES FOR THE SENATE
The fate of the Senate majority will be determined by competitive elections in about 10 states. Most of these races are taking place in states where Republicans have traditionally been strong.
For Democrats to win a majority, they need to keep their existing seats and win at least 4 seats held by Republicans.
The races in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas, in particular, are drawing attention. Trump won the 2024 presidential election in all of these states by double-digit margins.
SURPRISE ENDORSEMENT IN MICHIGAN SHIFTS THE BALANCE
The Senate race in Michigan is between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and former Republican House member Mike Rogers.
While the 42-year-old El-Sayed faces the 63-year-old Rogers, Haley Stevens, who narrowly lost the Democratic Party primary, endorsing Rogers on Sunday was an unexpected development in the race.
The fact that El-Sayed would become the first Muslim senator in US history if elected also makes the Michigan race stand out.
A possible victory by El-Sayed, known for his criticism of Israel and advocacy of progressive policies such as universal healthcare, is seen as a significant development for the left wing of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
NAME SIMILARITY CRISIS IN ALASKA
The Senate elections in Alaska, meanwhile, became the scene of a remarkable controversy.
According to a New York Times report, the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola helped a third candidate with the same first and last name as her Republican opponent Dan Sullivan enter the race.
While the 53-year-old Peltola denied the allegations, the Justice Department under the Trump administration launched a criminal investigation into the matter.
The department also filed a lawsuit to prevent the official certification of the election results. However, the court rejected the attempt.
THE ELON MUSK FACTOR IN TEXAS
In Texas, where Republicans have been strong for many years, Democratic candidate James Talarico has revived his party's hopes of winning the Senate race.
The 37-year-old Talarico's opponent is the 63-year-old Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has been associated with various scandals.
Paxton benefited from the substantial financial support for Republicans from Elon Musk, the world's richest person.
It was reported that Musk spent hundreds of millions of dollars to help Republicans preserve their majority in Congress, with his total support reaching $366 million.
POSSIBILITY OF A HISTORIC RESULT IN KANSAS
In Kansas, Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton is slightly ahead of Republican Senator Roger Marshall in the polls.
While the 62-year-old Hamilton is known as the pastor of a large church, his opponent Marshall is 66 years old.
Kansas, which Trump won in the 2024 presidential election by more than 16 points, has not elected a Democratic senator for nearly a century.
TOUGH TEST FOR REPUBLICAN SENATOR IN MAINE
In the state of Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins is seeking re-election for a sixth term.
The 73-year-old Collins's opponent is 58-year-old Democrat Troy Jackson, former president of the state senate.
Jackson became his party's candidate after Democratic candidate Graham Platner withdrew from the race following allegations of inappropriate conduct against him.
Platner, for his part, denied the accusations leveled against him.
In Maine, where Democratic voters are in the majority, Collins's political future is also among the notable headlines of the elections.
DEMOCRATS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
According to Reuters' analysis based on assessments by leading election forecasting organizations, 47 races in the House of Representatives are seen as competitive.
If results in other districts turn out as predicted, Democrats will need to win only 13 of the competitive races to gain a majority.
A significant portion of the House races is taking place in Republican districts that Trump won by double-digit margins in the 2024 elections.
However, initiatives backed by Trump and aimed at redrawing electoral district boundaries in some states in favor of Republicans are assessed as not providing the advantage the White House expected.
LEGAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE ELECTION PROCESS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Democrats are warning that if Republicans lose the elections, Trump could challenge the results.
The Justice Department under the Trump administration, in addition to its efforts in Alaska, filed a lawsuit in California to prevent the counting of ballots it argues may be invalid.
These interventions, seen as different from long-standing practices aimed at keeping election processes free from political influence, have sparked controversy.
The U.S. Supreme Court, meanwhile, on Monday rejected the Trump administration's request for an emergency ruling in the California case.
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS WILL ALSO BE HELD IN 36 STATES
In addition to the congressional elections, gubernatorial elections will also be held in about 36 states.
Voters will also cast ballots for thousands of state legislature seats. Referendums will also be held on various issues, from tax measures targeting billionaires to abortion rights.
The results of the midterm elections will directly affect Trump's relations with Congress and his political agenda during the remaining two years of his second term.
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