Americans vote in midterms with Congress control at stake

· Politics · United States

Polls closed in parts of Indiana and Kentucky on Tuesday as Americans voted in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress for the rest of President Donald Trump's second term. Surveys and nonpartisan analysts favor Democrats to capture the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains uncertain. More than 58 million people cast early ballots, and several key states reported record turnout. Voters cited the cost of living, fuel prices that spiked after the start of the Iran war and uncertainty about jobs as their main concerns. Trump spent election day making calls to television shows and was watching returns at the White House, where an official said he was "cautiously optimistic." A Democratic House would be able to block his legislative agenda and launch investigations.

Why it matters：The result determines whether the US president governs with a friendly or hostile Congress, shaping budget, trade and foreign policy for the rest of his term and signalling the mood of the world's largest economy before the 2028 presidential race.

Key points

  • First polls closed in Indiana and Kentucky on Tuesday evening.
  • Democrats are favored to win the House; the Senate is seen as a toss-up.
  • Trump's approval rating is near his all-time lows, dragged down by the Iran war and fuel prices.

Sources (original reporting)

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