American voters are heading to the polls today to deliver a clear verdict on the first two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. Control of Congress hangs in the balance as all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats come up for election. Polls and nonpartisan analysts currently favour Democrats to regain the House while the Senate race remains tight and unpredictable.
History does not favour the party of a sitting president. Republicans have lost ground in Congress in nearly every midterm election since World War Two. Trump’s approval rating sits near its lowest point, largely due to voter frustration over the ongoing war with Iran and the sharp rise in fuel prices that followed. The president has repeatedly told supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot,” and Democratic leaders have gladly echoed that message.
Trump has held more than two dozen campaign rallies since early October, mostly in states he won comfortably in 2024. Republicans have painted Democratic candidates as extreme and radical. Yet voters appear most concerned about affordability. Many disapprove of Trump’s tariff policies and the decision to attack Iran earlier this year, both of which raised everyday costs.
Democrats need to flip at least three House seats and four Senate seats to take control of each chamber. Key Senate battlegrounds include Michigan, Texas, Alaska, and Kansas. In Michigan, progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in a closely watched contest. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico is challenging scandal-plagued Republican Ken Paxton. Alaska’s race has been clouded by controversy, while Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly a century.
A Democratic House or Senate could open investigations into the Trump administration and block key appointments, including potential Supreme Court nominations. Republicans, meanwhile, are fighting hard to hold their ground on home turf.
With turnout expected to be high and emotions running strong, Tuesday’s results will shape the final two years of Trump’s term and set the stage for the 2028 presidential race. Americans are voting not just for candidates but on the direction of the country itself.
