WASHINGTON - U.S. voters headed to the polls Tuesday in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term amid concerns over the cost of living and the war in Iran.
Public opinion surveys indicate the opposition Democratic Party is set to regain a majority in the House of Representatives, reflecting voter dissatisfaction with Trump, his Republican Party and their governing record.
In addition to being favored to win back the House, surveys show Democrats are also mounting a strong challenge for control of the Senate, where they need to pick up at least four additional seats to secure a majority.
All 435 House seats are up for grabs along with 35 of the Senate's 100 seats. Currently, Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House and a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Traditionally, the party in control of the executive branch tends to lose ground in the midterms, which are held roughly two years into a president's four-year term.
Trump's approval ratings fell to record or near-record lows in the weeks leading up to the elections, with surveys indicating that inflation, gas prices and the cost of living remained top issues for voters amid concern over the stalemated U.S.-Iran war. Republicans faced strong headwinds going into the polls.
The stakes are high for Trump and his administration. A Democratic takeover of the House would make it more difficult for his party to enact legislation and could open the door to aggressive congressional oversight into administration policies and officials.
If Democrats were to win control of the Senate as well, the administration would encounter greater difficulty securing confirmation for judicial and executive-branch nominees.
Some observers say that if Republicans lose control of Congress, Trump, who is constitutionally barred from serving another term, may focus more on foreign policy, an area where presidents wield significant influence and discretion.
Several Senate races have drawn considerable attention. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has listed seats in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Ohio and Texas as "toss-ups," meaning either party has a realistic chance of winning. All are currently held by Republicans.
Trump barnstormed across the country in the lead-up to the midterms, including in normally reliable Republican states such as Kansas, Mississippi and South Carolina, urging his supporters to turn out for the party's candidates.
His intense campaigning came amid signs of growing discontent within key parts of his electoral base. Many farmers in the Midwest have grown frustrated by rising fuel prices during the harvest season. Hispanic voters, who helped propel Trump back to power in the 2024 presidential election, have criticized the administration's immigration enforcement tactics, viewed as brutal and sometimes indiscriminate.
The broad outcome for both the House and Senate could become clear in the hours after the polls close on Election Day or the following day, although closely contested races could delay projections.
The previous midterm elections in 2022 resulted in a prolonged count. Control of the Senate was not decided until four days after Election Day, while the outcome in the House did not become clear until eight days later.
