{"id":674488,"date":"2026-11-04T07:40:33","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T07:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/674488\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T07:40:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T07:40:33","slug":"us-midterm-elections-democrats-seize-control-of-house-and-senate-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/674488\/","title":{"rendered":"US midterm elections: Democrats seize control of House and Senate \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main Points Democrats have regained control of both the House <\/a>and US Senate<\/a> A Democratic majority will give the party veto power over Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> judicial and administration nominees and power to investigate the US presidentVoters in the United States<\/a> are electing members of Congress, which is made up of two parts \u2013 the House of Representatives<\/a> and the US <\/a>S<\/a>enate<\/a>James Talarico<\/a> has become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Texas for decades Ken Paxton\u2019s loss<\/a> in the lone star state is a dramatic political failure for Elon Musk, who spent over $200 million to boost PaxtonDemocrats picked up a string of surprise victories in other Republican strongholds, including Ohio, and Kansas – which last elected a Democrat almost a century agoJon Ossoff wins re-election in Georgia Senate race for Democrats; Roy Cooper flips North Carolina from Republicans; Troy Jackson defeats veteran Republican senator Susan Collins<\/a> in MaineRepublican senator Susan Collins concedes defeat to Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine raceDonald Trump has said he will accept the results<\/a> and blames Republican losses on the fact he was \u201cnot on the ballot\u201dKey Reads<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 4 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Abdul El-Sayed wins US Senate race in Michigan\"USUS Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed thanks his wife, Sarah Jukaku, during Michigan Democrats’ election night watch party in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Sarah Yenesel\/EPA <\/p>\n

Abdul El-Sayed has won the US Senate race in Michigan, defending a Democratic seat, in one of the most closely-watched competitions this midterm cycle.<\/p>\n

El-Sayed beat former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in his bead to fill Michigan\u2019s open Senate seat.<\/p>\n

Rogers sought to cast El-Sayed, a public health official, as too extreme for Michigan.<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 10 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Dollar slides as stunning victories for Democrats jolt AI bets<\/p>\n

Global stocks slumped and the dollar hit a one-month low on \u200cWednesday as Democrats gained control of both the Senate and the House in the US midterm elections, fuelling fears that rapid AI sector growth could be hamstrung by regulatory scrutiny.<\/p>\n

In a major setback to US President Donald Trump, \u200bDemocrats notched up victories in the South Carolina, Texas and Ohio Senate races, capturing majorities in both the Senate and House that reached deep into Republican strongholds.<\/p>\n

The breadth of the party\u2019s success was underscored by gains in districts long considered safely conservative, highlighting a political shift that caught many investors off guard.<\/p>\n

AI stocks were quick to slide. That in turn put the dollar under pressure, while cryptocurrencies also fell at the prospect of stronger \u200bregulations. Bonds, though, found favour as investors sought safer assets.<\/p>\n

\u201cTighter regulatory scrutiny of technology and AI companies along with the higher likelihood of political gridlock beckon with a Democrat sweep,\u201d said Prashant Newnaha, senior rates strategist at TD Securities \u2060in Singapore.<\/p>\n

The AI boom has helped propel global markets in recent years, driven by heavy spending from tech giants racing to build data centres and expand \u200ccomputing \u200ccapacity. \u200bThat has left investors acutely sensitive to anything that could derail the technology\u2019s rapid expansion. – Reuters <\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 18 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass hopeful of win\"KarenKaren Bass, mayor of Los Angeles, during an election night event in LA, California. Photo: Caroline Brehman\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

Supporters of Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass appeared hopeful the incumbent could pull off a victory over challenger Nithya Raman. <\/p>\n

Close to 11pm local time, a group of attendees at a Democratic Party event at Loews Hollywood Hotel were dancing as they waited for more results and chanting \u201cfour more years\u201d. <\/p>\n

Early returns showed Bass with a narrow lead in the polls. Bass had addressed supporters earlier in the evening, praising what she described as a critical day for the city and the country as Democrats saw huge wins across the US. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur country has spoken. The city is speaking,\u201d Bass said. \u201cLet me just say from the bottom of my heart, thank you Angelenos.\u201d <\/p>\n

Bass faced a tough fight for re-election given her low approval ratings and Angelenos\u2019 broad dissatisfaction with the state of the city. While her opponent Raman, an LA city councilor and one time ally, was leading the polls for weeks, Bass made gains in recent weeks. <\/p>\n

Democrat Melissa Gonzalo said people were feeling ecstatic about the blue wave across the US, and \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d about the mayor\u2019s race. \u201cThis is a very unique situation,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

As an LA county resident she can\u2019t vote for Bass, but has convinced friends to back the mayor. Bass cares about the city and has rectified past errors, Gonzalo said. \u201cI don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s time for someone new at this moment,\u201d she said, particularly with the upcoming Olympics. <\/p>\n

Kevin Garrity, another Bass supporter, was hopeful given Bass\u2019s momentum in recent weeks. \u201cIt\u2019s too close to call, but if I were betting on it I would vote on Karen. She\u2019s the best candidate. She has experience. She loves this city.\u201d – The Guardian<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 23 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Democrat flips Nebraska\u2019s House district <\/p>\n

Democrat Denise Powell has won the House race for Nebraska\u2019s second congressional district, flipping the open seat after moderate Republican incumbent \u2013 Don Bacon \u2013 announced that he would retire. <\/p>\n

Powell beat Republican Brinker Harding in the contest, which includes Omaha \u2013 the \u201cblue dot\u201d of the state. The district is only one in Nebraska that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

\"DemocraticDemocratic US Senate candidate James Talarico after winning the Texas race. Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt\/AFP via Getty Images Wind of change sweeps America<\/p>\n

Denis Staunton, who writes our daily Global Briefing<\/a> newsletter, says the midterm result marks the end of a culture-wars era in US politics and the return of economic issues to the centre of the political contest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe transfer of power in Washington after elections like this is swift and brutal, as Republican committee chairs and their staff lose influence and patronage powers,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n

\u201cRepublican-supporting lobbyists and legal firms will lose government contracts overnight to Democratic-backing rivals who have been out in the cold until now,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contest to become the next Democratic presidential nomination begins immediately, and Tuesday\u2019s success will encourage more candidates to fancy their chances. The long primary campaign tends to reveal the qualities of each candidate as it tests their endurance but it will also see an ideological debate playing out within the party,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n

You can read his full analysis here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

\"SupportersSupporters at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee watch party in Washington, DC. Photograph: EP Democrats officially clinch 219 House seats, securing control of Congress<\/p>\n

Democrats have officially clinched 219 seats in the House of Representatives, which means they will now have control of the lower chamber.<\/p>\n

Along with the US Senate, the upper chamber, they will now have full control of Congress.<\/p>\n

We will continue to report on the latest race calls and results as they come through.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

\"DemocraticDemocratic US senate candidate James Talarico speaking after winning the Texas race. Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt\/AFP via Getty Images James Talarico: \u2018Tonight we defeated Goliath\u2019<\/p>\n

Democrat James Talarico has won the US Senate race in Texas, breaking a 38-year drought for his party in the Republican stronghold and delivering a stunning blow to Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and a staunch ally of the US president, in one of the most closely watched contests of the midterm elections to decide control of Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight we defeated Goliath,\u201d Talarico said to a jubilant crowd at his election night party in Austin. \u201cAll the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The result has significant implications for control of the US Senate, where Republicans were defending a narrow majority, and complicate Trump\u2019s efforts to advance his agenda during the final two years of his presidency.<\/p>\n

The Democrat\u2019s victory signifies a rupture in the political landscape in Texas, the country\u2019s second biggest state, which Trump carried by nearly 14 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n

Talarico (37) will become the Senate\u2019s youngest member and replace John Cornyn (74) who lost a bruising Republican primary to the scandal-plagued Paxton, whose nomination bolstered Talarico\u2019s appeal to Republican and independent voters.<\/p>\n

Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, former middle school teacher and state representative, built his campaign around economic concerns, Christian faith and a message of political unity.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan’s latest update on how Democrats are on course to win control of both the House and US Senate. \u2018A nightmare scenario for Donald Trump\u2019<\/p>\n

Keith Duggan, our Washington Correspondent, and video journalist Chris Maddaloni are in Austin, Texas, where James Talarico has become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happened here is emblematic of a night that\u2019s gone beyond the wildest dreams of the Democratic Party,\u201d says Duggan. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey have flipped states in Kansas – the first Democratic senator since 1932; they won in Ohio; they have won in south Carolina, where Annie Andrews has taken the seat formerly held by the late Lindsey Graham.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a nightmare scenario for Donald Trump and the Republican Party. He asked voters to make this a referendum on himself, to pretend that he was on the ballot, and really, it\u2019s been a repudiation of many of his policies, and maybe of Trump himself, as a force of nature in US political life.\u201d\u2029<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll publish Keith Duggan\u2019s analysis on the results shortly.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

\"SenatorSenator Susan Collins speaking during her election night watch party. Photograph: Lexi Parra\/The New York Times Republican senator Susan Collins concedes defeat in Maine race<\/p>\n

Veteran Republican senator Susan Collins has conceded defeat in Maine\u2019s Senate race.<\/p>\n

Collins, who has represented Maine in the US Senate since 1997, was seeking another term in office. <\/p>\n

Her defeat marks another significant setback for Republicans as they face a wider battle to retain their influence in Congress.<\/p>\n

Maine has been a closely watched state in the fight for control of the US Senate. <\/p>\n

Troy Jackson\u2019s near certain victory adds to the series of Democratic gains in this year\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"DonaldDonald Trump: “\u2018I\u2019m a little surprised. I thought they\u2019d do better.” Photograph: Maansi Srivastava\/The New York Times
\n Donald Trump: \u2018I\u2019m a little surprised. I thought they\u2019d do better.\u2019<\/p>\n

Donald Trump called in live to talk to Fox News about the results a few minutes ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a little surprised,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought they\u2019d do better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump spoke as if what just happened was not a major rebuke of the majority of his agenda and reissued lines from his rallies and his media appearances.<\/p>\n

Of Democrats, he said: \u201cThey\u2019re in control, but they\u2019re not in control\u201d. He emphasised that he will veto whatever legislation gets passed. <\/p>\n

Trump told the Fox News interview, Bret Baier, that he doesn\u2019t intend to make changes to his Cabinet. \u201cIt\u2019s just a point in time, Bret,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was a mood in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"CapitolCapitol Hill in Washington, DC. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt\/Getty Images How will Democratic control of Congress affect Trump?<\/p>\n

Democratic control of Congress will give the party veto power over US president Donald Trump\u2019s judicial and administration nominees as well as greater weight in fights over spending. <\/p>\n

Democrats have said they will not approve additional funding for the war in Iran or Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n

With leadership of committees, Democrats will also have the authority to subpoena administration officials and others to follow through on investigations they have promised to pursue.<\/p>\n

The loss could prompt Republicans to try to push through some of their priorities in the coming weeks. <\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"IowaIowa Democratic candidate for US Senate Josh Turek. Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Josh Turek flips US Senate seat in Iowa in another seismic victory for Democrats<\/p>\n

Josh Turek, a Paralympian and Democratic state representative, flipped Iowa\u2019s open Senate seat on Tuesday, according to projections.<\/p>\n

He overcame Ashley Hinson, a third-term Republican, in one of this year\u2019s most high-profile battleground races.<\/p>\n

Turek\u2019s victory came in a state that US president Donald Trump won three times, including by 13 percentage points in 2024. <\/p>\n

It delivers Democrats a seat which was seen as crucial to the party\u2019s fight for control of the Senate and signals a backlash to president Trump\u2019s policies.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"USUS president Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. Photograph: Doug Mills\/The New York Times<\/p>\n

Trump says he will accept election result<\/p>\n

US president Donald Trump said he was \u201cabsolutely willing\u201d to accept the results of the midterm elections, and was prepared to work with Democrats.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll, you know, look forward to working with them,\u201d he said in a phone interview with The New York Times. \u201cWe\u2019ll probably work something out.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, in a social media post later, he posted a picture of a red hat with the word \u201cVeto\u201d emblazoned across it.<\/p>\n

Trump blamed Republican losses on the fact that he was not on the ballot, and called his decision to go to war with Iran a \u201cvery wise decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The US president spent much of the midterm campaign asking supporters to vote \u201cas if he were on the ballot\u201d. <\/p>\n

Trump also said he had no regrets about endorsing candidates such as senator Darline Graham in South Carolina and Ken Paxton, the Republican attorney general of Texas, who both lost their US Senate bids.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"DemocraticDemocratic supporters celebrating results in the early hours of Wednesday. Photograph: EPA <\/p>\n

Democrats set to regain control of US Senate and House<\/p>\n

The Democrats are set to win a majority in the US Senate, according to a projections from TV networks and AP.<\/p>\n

The party needed to defend all of its seats make a net gain of four seats from the 35 seats up for re-election to reach a majority of 51 seats.<\/p>\n

It means the Democrats are now projected to control both parts of Congress – the US Senate and the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n

This shift could have a significant impact on Donald Trump\u2019s presidency, with a Democratic majority making it more difficult for the US president to advance his policies through Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocrats have taken back control of Congress,\u201d said Hakeem Jeffries, who is likely to be the new speaker of the House in January. \u201cWe\u2019re going to end this national nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"DemocraticDemocratic US Senate candidate Sherrod Brown. Photograph: Jeff Dean\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Sherrod Brown reclaims Senate seat in Ohio, a key victory for Democrats <\/p>\n

Sherrod Brown, a former Democratic senator from Ohio, will represent his state again after unseating senator Jon Husted on Tuesday, according to the latest projections.<\/p>\n

Brown\u2019s victory in one of the midterms\u2019 key races flips a seat central to the Democrats\u2019 quest to retake control of the US Senate.<\/p>\n

Brown (73) will return to Washington two years after he was defeated by senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio. His comeback reflects just how much the political environment has changed since the Republican Party swept into power in 2024.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"AnAn election watch party at the Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas for the 2026 midterms. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni <\/p>\n

Talarico wins Texas for Democrats in seismic upset<\/p>\n

Democrat James Talarico<\/a> has defeated Republican Ken Paxton<\/a> in the Texas Senate race. It gives Democrats their first statewide victory in \u201cruby red\u201d Texas since 1994.<\/p>\n

It is a seismic upset and a sensational win for the Democrats in what was billed as the most expensive US senate race in history. It also provides a big boost to the party\u2019s chances of taking control of the US senate.<\/p>\n

Ken Paxton\u2019s loss is a dramatic political failure for Elon Musk, who spent over $200 million to boost Paxton. Musk financed a barrage of anti-Talarico adverts, and spent at least $44 million on a voter-contact campaign in the state.<\/p>\n

Paxton, a staunch conservative with US president Donald Trump\u2019s backing, has faced controversy over his impeachment on bribery and corruption charges in 2023, though the state Senate acquitted him.<\/p>\n

Our photographer and video journalist Chris Maddaloni has sent these images from Austin, Texas, where Talarico supporters are celebrating.<\/p>\n

\"PoliticalPolitical signs at the downtown City Hall voting poll station in Austin, Texas for the 2026 midterms. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni\/The Irish Times \"AnAn election watch party at the Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas for the 2026 midterms. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni\/The Irish Times \"VotersVoters enter the downtown City Hall voting poll station in Austin, Texas for the 2026 midterms. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni\/The Irish Times <\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"USUS president Donald Trump waves at the press on the south lawn of the White House on November 02, 2026 in Washington, DC. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s reaction to the early results<\/p>\n

US president Donald Trump has been railing against TV coverage of the results during the night, including Fox News.<\/p>\n

His latest comment on the Truth Social Network is the first to focus on the results.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP\u201d.<\/p>\n

The US president spent the campaign asking supporters to vote \u201cas if he were on the ballot\u201d, telling a rally crowd this summer and TV viewers on Monday night to \u201cpretend I\u2019m on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"JonJon Ossoff and his supporters celebrate the election result. Photograph: EPA <\/p>\n

Ossoff calls Democratic wins a rebuke of \u2018incompetent\u2019 Trump<\/p>\n

Speaking to a raucous crowd in Atlanta, Democratic senator Jon Ossoff described the midterm results as a defeat for the term-limited president, entering his final two years in office.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn sweeping and decisive victories, the American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption and incompetence of a failed lame duck president Donald J Trump,\u201d Ossoff said.<\/p>\n

He added that the country\u2019s politics have been \u201csmall and selfish, bought by big money, unmoored from fixed moral principles, and resigned to intractable division.\u201d<\/p>\n

He called for healing \u201cbrokenness\u201d in the country, not just pushing back on the president.<\/p>\n

In sweeping language, he said the wealthy had benefited from inside information and favors while families suffered with \u201chigher and higher\u201d bills.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"AttendeesAttendees hold campaign signs in support of Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta and Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Georgia. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is first Black female governor in US history<\/p>\n

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the race for Georgia governor, defeating Republican Rick Jackson and flipping control of the battleground state office for the first time in 24 years.<\/p>\n

Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta and a former Biden administration official, overcame a huge spending disadvantage against Jackson, a wealthy executive who pumped more than $100 million of his own money into his campaign.<\/p>\n

She is the first woman and the first Black person to be elected governor of Georgia. She is also the first Black female governor in the country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"DemocraticDemocratic supporters cheer in response to the announcement of midterm voting results at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee watch party in Washington, DC. Photograph: EPA <\/p>\n

Democrats on track to win House and need net gain of three more seats to win US senate majority<\/p>\n

All eyes are US senate contests in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. The Democrats need a net gain of three more seats to control the senate.<\/p>\n

Democrats have picked up one seat in the House and held on to several battleground districts. They need a net gain of just two more seats to take the House majority.<\/p>\n

Overall, Democrats are on track to win the national House popular vote by 12 per centage points, according to estimates from the New York Times.<\/p>\n

That would be the largest popular victory in the national congressional vote for either party since 1982 \u2014 back when Democrats ran up the score nationwide with overwhelming support in the south of the country.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"AnAn election night event with James Talarico, a Democrat from Texas and US senate candidate. Photograph: Jordan Vonderhaar\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

James Talarico on course to take first senate seat for Democrats in Texas since 1994<\/p>\n

James Talarico<\/a> is hoping to give Democrats their first statewide victory in Texas since 1994.<\/p>\n

While Texas has been considered a toss-up state by analysts, TV networks are recategorising it as \u201cleaning\u201d towards Talarico.<\/p>\n

If the trend holds true, it would be a sensational win for the Democrats and a big boost to their chances of taking control of the US senate.<\/p>\n

As things stand, Talarico\u2019s rival Ken Paxton would need to win 61 per cent of the remaining vote to catch or overtake James Talarico, who leads.<\/p>\n

Paxton, a staunch conservative with US president Donald Trump\u2019s backing, has faced controversy over his impeachment on bribery and corruption charges in 2023, though the state Senate acquitted him.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 5 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"AnAn election night event with Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic US senate candidate from Michigan. Photograph: Sarah Rice\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

Democrats gain momentum in battle for control of Congress<\/p>\n

Democrats have secured a series of early victories and strong showings in states and districts where Republicans have won by large margins for years.<\/p>\n

As of 2.30am Irish time, Democrats flipped the US Senate seat in North Carolina and retained control of seats in Georgia and New Hampshire, according to projections<\/p>\n

Florida has provided an fascinating insight into the Democrats\u2019 resilience: two Democratic incumbents retained their House seats even after their districts were redrawn to favour Republicans. <\/p>\n

In addition, Democrats flipped their first House seat of the night in western North Carolina.<\/p>\n

It is early and analysts caution about a \u201cblue mirage\u201d. But there are hopeful signs for Democrats that a lpolitical earthquake may be on the way.<\/p>\n

In Texas and South Carolina, Democrats have fielded strong and well-funded senate candidates against Republicans considered their party\u2019s weakest nominees. In each, the Democratic candidates are posting margins unthinkable for their party in counties that have reported the vast majorities of their votes.<\/p>\n

Trump, meanwhile, is watching the election results from the White House and posting criticism of the Fox News coverage on his social media site. He celebrated a Republican victory in Guam but has yet to speak at length about results in the 50 states.<\/p>\n

Full results won\u2019t be known until well into the morning — and possibly not for days, especially if many of the races are close.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 6 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"USUS president Donald Trump speaking at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington on Monday. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

Trump braces for \u2018bad night\u2019<\/p>\n

Donald Trump is preparing to dampen expectations for the Republicans, White House officials have told NBC News.<\/p>\n

Officials are trying to lower expectations about the party\u2019s performance nationwide, based on early results. One official said the president was bracing for the idea it \u201cmight be a really bad night\u201d for his party.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 6 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"RoyRoy Cooper, Democratic Senate nominee in North Carolina, speaking at a campaign event. Photograph: Cornell Watson\/The New York Times<\/p>\n

First \u2018flip\u2019 for Democrats as Roy Cooper wins senate seat in North Carolina<\/p>\n

Democrat Roy Cooper has won election to the US senate representing North Carolina, defeating Republican Michael Whatley. <\/p>\n

Cooper\u2019s victory gives Democrats a key pickup in their quest to wrest senate control from Republicans. <\/p>\n

The seat was open because Republican senator Thom Tillis opted not to seek another term.<\/p>\n

Cooper is a former governor and state attorney general. <\/p>\n

Whatley is a former state and national Republican Party chairman who ran with US president Donald Trump\u2019s support.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 6 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople arriving at a polling location to vote in Miami Beach, Florida. Photograph: Giorgio Viera\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Is Florida a sign of things to come for Trump?<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s 4th congressional district was a race on few people\u2019s radar; it was rated as likely Republican by the non-partisan Cook Political Report.<\/p>\n

But, with over 90 per cent of the vote counted, the race is unexpectedly close with the Democratic candidate, LaShonda \u201cLJ\u201d Holloway leading by one percentage point.<\/p>\n

Many other Democrats in the state look set to retain seats, or are projected to win marginal contests, despite redistricting efforts by Republicans.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 7 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"JonJon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, is projected to retain his US senate seat. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

Democrat Jon Ossoff projected to win re-election in Georgia senate race<\/p>\n

Democrat Jon Ossoff is projected to win re-election in the Georgia Senate race, according to NBC News.<\/p>\n

Georgia was rated by analysts as a Democrat-leaning state, so it\u2019s not a big surprise. It was one of the few states where Democrats had a money advantage in the final stretch and had moved off the board for Republicans.<\/p>\n

Our Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan recently profiled Ossoff, an e<\/a>merging Democrat star who has become a chief thorn in Trump\u2019s side<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 7 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"VotersVoters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Johnson County Central Resource Library voting center in Overland Park, Kansas. Photograph: Austin Johnson \/ AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Polls close in six states<\/p>\n

Polls have closed in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia<\/p>\n

These are the first states to finish voting. The next batch of poll closures will take place at 12:30am Irish time in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, some of the TV networks are making their first projections.<\/p>\n

NBC projects Democrat Mark Warner will defeat Republican Bert Mizusawa to win another term in the Virginia senate race. Virginia is a solidly Democratic state, so no big surprise there.<\/p>\n

NBC also projects Republican politician Hal Rogers will win re-election in Kentucky\u2019s 5th congressional district, rated as a solidly Republican district by analysts.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Democrat Morgan McGarvey is projected to win Kentucky\u2019s 3rd congressional district, rated as solidly Democratic district by analysts.<\/p>\n

These results offer an early snapshot of the contests shaping the battle for control of Congress.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 7 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"WorkersWorkers processing absentee ballots during the midterm elections in Detroit, Michigan. Photograph: Jeff Kowalsky\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

What does turnout typically look like in US midterm elections?<\/p>\n

Turnout tends to be lower in US midterm elections than in the presidential elections.<\/p>\n

Turnout in the last two midterms was 52 per cent in 2022 and 53 per cent in 2018, according to the US Census Bureau.<\/p>\n

But with the presidency on the ballot, 65 per cent of eligible voters turned out in 2024 and 67 per cent in 2020.<\/p>\n

Latest opinion polls indicate that Democratic voters are more likely to turn out than Republicans this year.<\/p>\n

Election analysts have cautioned that such Democratic constituencies as young, Black and Hispanic voters have historically turned out at lower rates in midterm elections.<\/p>\n

And surveys show persistent skepticism among these groups towards both parties, especially over the cost of living.<\/p>\n

If turnout among those groups falls short of expectations, Democrats could underperform on election day.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 8 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"Israel'sIsrael’s Binyamin Netanyahu and US president Donald Trump. Photograph: Tierney L. Cross\/The New York Times<\/p>\n

Was Trump\u2019s election day announcement on cutting aid to Israel a sign of desperation?<\/p>\n

Earlier on Tuesday, US president Trump made a surprise election day announcement<\/a> on US aid to Israel, a topic that has been raised in some midterm campaigns.<\/p>\n

He said he had made a deal with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu that Washington would stop $4 billion in funding to Israel after the end of this year, though it would still sell Israel weapons.<\/p>\n

The announcement comes as US public support for Israel has fallen, particularly among Democrats, since Israel\u2019s harsh response in Gaza to a deadly Hamas-led cross-border attack in October \u200b2023.<\/p>\n

Trump did not say why he chose to announce the deal on Tuesday, but a number of candidates critical of Israel won Democratic primaries over the past year, and even moderate candidates have been increasingly willing to challenge longtime US support.<\/p>\n

In a key battleground race, Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed is seeking to represent Michigan in the US senate. El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim to serve as a US senator, has opposed unconditional military aid to Israel.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 8 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"AA woman holds her dog while voting in Atlanta. Photograph: Megan Varner\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

First polls close in Indiana and Kentucky<\/p>\n

The first polls in the 2026 US midterms have closed now in Indiana and Kentucky.<\/p>\n

Kentucky\u2019s 6th district, an open seat rated by many as a toss-up, is being treated by analysts as an early test of whether a large Democratic wave is building.<\/p>\n

At midnight, polls in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and most of Florida will close. Virginia\u2019s 2nd district will be the first genuine swing seat to report. <\/p>\n

My colleague Hugh Linehan has provided this guide<\/a> on when to expect the key calls.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 8 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"Photograph:Photograph: Mario Tama\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

How will the TV networks project results?<\/p>\n

Most TV networks and web outlets rely on two providers for vote counts: the Associated Press (AP) or election data firm Decision Desk HQ.<\/p>\n

Some news outlets like Fox News and CBS News make their own projections based on the AP vote count, exit polls, early-vote totals and their own statistical modeling.<\/p>\n

The first projections will start soon after polls begin to close, first with Indiana and Kentucky at 11pm Irish time.<\/p>\n

Then, polls close in Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia at midnight Irish time.<\/p>\n

When making calls, the AP says it uses vote totals and estimates how many votes remain uncounted based on past voting patterns and early-vote data.<\/p>\n

It calls a race only when the trailing candidate cannot catch up.<\/p>\n

Decision Desk HQ collects vote counts from official state sources. The firm says it uses statistical analysis, modeling and expert review to project election winners.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 9 hours ago<\/p>\n

Most voters \u2018angry\u2019 or \u2018dissatisfied\u2019 with direction of US<\/p>\n

Voters are in the mood for change, according to the AP Voter Poll, which found that roughly three-quarters of voters say they feel \u201cangry\u201d or \u201cdissatisfied\u201d with the way things are going in the country today. <\/p>\n

The poll finds most appear to blame the Trump administration for high costs. About six in 10 say higher-than-usual prices are \u201cmore because of Trump\u2019s policies\u201d rather than \u201cmore because of factors outside Trump\u2019s control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, about 70 per cent of voters want the US Congress to provide more checks and balances on the presidency.<\/p>\n

The AP poll suggests most are deeply unhappy with Trump, with roughly six in 10 saying they disapprove of how he\u2019s handling the presidency.<\/p>\n

About four in 10 say the economy is the most important issue facing the country, while three in 10 say the most important issue is democracy, according to the poll, well above the number who said the same about crime, health care and immigration.<\/p>\n

Carl O’Brien – 9 hours ago<\/p>\n

\"VotersVoters line up to cast their ballots at the Hammer Museum polling station in Los Angeles, California. Photograph: EPA <\/p>\n

US midterm polls show a blue surge. Can we trust them?<\/p>\n

Democrats are leading in all key states that will decide senate control, according to the latest polls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, surveys have underestimated Trump and Republican support before. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s precedent in the Trump era for polls to overestimate Democrats, and it\u2019s reasonable to wonder whether the polls might be overestimating Democratic strength yet again. Statistically, Republicans more likely not to respond to polls, which introduces the ever-present risk of a polling misfire. <\/p>\n

The political analyst Nate Cohn says the latest New York Times\/Siena polls have been weighted to take account of this<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition, he argues Democrats lead by enough that they could win the Senate even if the polls underestimate Republicans by as much as they did in 2016 or 2020.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 10 hours ago<\/p>\n

Minnesota voters remember US citizens killed by federal immigration officials\""I“I voted” stickers next to the memorial for Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during Operation Metro Surge on January 24th 2026, on Election Day during the midterm elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photograph: Tim Evans \/ AFP via Getty Images. <\/p>\n

Minnesota voters left \u201cI Voted\u201d stickers on memorial sites for Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, the two US citizens killed by federal immigration officials earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Good, a writer and mother of three, were killed during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis region in January.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 10 hours ago<\/p>\n

Republican voters outnumber Democrats in all votes cast\"AA person votes at a polling location on Election Day during the midterm elections in Anchorage, Alaska on November 3rd, 2026. Photograph: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU \/ AFP via Getty Images. <\/p>\n

In voting on Tuesday, Republican voters outnumbered Democrats by almost half, 856,000 to 445,000, according to Florida Vote Tracker. <\/p>\n

In all votes cast, Republicans led 3.06 million to 2.5 million, with another 1.6 million independent or no party affiliated votes cast. <\/p>\n

The figures, of course, reflect only the number of returned votes by affiliation so far, not who voters actually voted for.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 10 hours ago<\/p>\n

Technical issues reported in several areas<\/p>\n

In New York state, Westchester county executive Kenneth Jenkins told a news conference that voting machines have been unable to scan as many as 250,000 ballots in 332 polling locations across more than 40 of the county\u2019s municipalities. <\/p>\n

Jenkins stressed that people will still be able to vote, and would be directed to cast their vote on emergency ballots.<\/p>\n

Technical issues were reported across several Mississippi counties.<\/p>\n

People have experienced issues with voting, according to Mississippi Voters Action Fund, which supports voting in the state. <\/p>\n

Election officials in Florida\u2019s Broward county, the largest Democratic party stronghold in the state, say they have resolved issues with voting machines in a number of precincts that prevented early election day voters from casting their ballots. <\/p>\n

Joe Scott, the county\u2019s supervisor of elections, said in a statement that the technical problems, which became evident as soon as polling opened, were quickly ironed out.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 10 hours ago<\/p>\n

Voter turnout surges past 2022 levels <\/p>\n

Voter turnout has surged in the lead up to this year\u2019s midterm election, with the number of early ballots cast significantly outstripping the totals from the 2022 midterm.<\/p>\n

By the afternoon, Florida\u2019s Division of Elections reported more than 1,860,000 votes had been cast on election day. <\/p>\n

Georgia\u2019s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger said 775,000 votes had been cast, with an expected total turnout of 1.4 million votes by the close of polling.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 12 hours ago<\/p>\n

Guam elects Republican governor in first unofficial results<\/p>\n

The first election results of the 2026 midterms have come in from Guam, the Pacific island territory.<\/p>\n

The unofficial results published by the Guam Election Commission show that Republican candidate Vicente Ada (also known as Tony) was elected as governor of Guam.<\/p>\n

Voters opted to send Democratic candidate Alicia Anne Garrido Limtiaco to Washington as the delegate to congress.<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump took to his personal social media platform to remark on the results, which he considered a strong showing for the Republicans. <\/p>\n

\u201cGuam, which has always been considered strongly Democrat, just had an early call for a REPUBLICAN victory in the top spot, Governor \u2014 Congratulations to Tony Ada. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, the Republicans have the majority in the State Senate. Wow, hopefully that\u2019s an indication for things to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 13 hours ago<\/p>\n

Officials in some states report strong turnout in opening hours\"VotersVoters cast their ballots at a polling location inside Oakland County Community College Southfield Campus in Southfield, Michigan, US, on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. Photographer: Emily Elconin\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

Voter turnout has surged in the lead up to this year\u2019s midterm election, with the number of early ballots cast significantly outstripping the totals from the 2022 midterm. <\/p>\n

Elections workers across the country were expecting that trend to continue into election day. <\/p>\n

Officials in states including North Carolina, Georgia, and Michigan reported strong turnout in the opening hours of voting.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 14 hours ago<\/p>\n

When can Irish viewers expect the key calls?<\/p>\n

With Ireland five hours ahead of the east coast, the first US midterm<\/a> polls will close at 11pm our time. But that\u2019s only half the story, writes Hugh Linehan.<\/p>\n

Florida and North Carolina usually count most of their vote within hours. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin can\u2019t process postal ballots until polling day, and California accepts postal ballots arriving up to a week late.<\/p>\n

A candidate leading at 2am may be trailing by breakfast, and that is normal rather than sinister. If Democrats<\/a> run ahead of their polls in Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio before 1am, Republicans<\/a> face a very bad night. <\/p>\n

If they don\u2019t, the US Senate<\/a> may come down to Maine and Alaska, where ranked choice voting slows everything down, and we might not have a definitive result for days or even weeks.<\/p>\n

Read the full article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 14 hours ago<\/p>\n

US to cut $4 billion in aid to Israel this year, says Trump <\/p>\n

President Donald Trump said he had an agreement with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu to cut off $4 billion in annual US aid.<\/p>\n

\u201cBibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal,\u201d Trump said in an interview on Tuesday on Fox News. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe give Israel $4 billion a year and we made a deal months ago that we\u2019re stopping \u2014 and they\u2019re fine with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve become a very successful country. They don\u2019t need it. And we won\u2019t be paying anymore,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 14 hours ago<\/p>\n

Astronauts For America write open letter to US voters<\/p>\n

Astronauts For America, an alliance of more than 100 former Nasa explorers, has written an election day open letter to US voters reminding them of the importance of their vote in defending constitutional principles against threats to democracy. <\/p>\n

\u201cFederal authority is not a license for any president or federal agency to take over state election administration,\u201d the letter, also signed by ther non-partisan, pro-democracy groups National Security Leaders for America and Leadership Now, said. <\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of political party or personal beliefs, every American should be able to trust that elections are conducted according to the law, every lawful vote is counted, and the results are determined through established legal procedures – not political pressure or the arbitrary exercise of power.\u201d <\/p>\n

The letter is a thinly-veiled attack on Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to interfere in election machinery, such as his failed attempts to segregate ballots in California and block certification in the Alaska US senate race. – Guardian<\/p>\n

Katie Mellett – 14 hours ago<\/p>\n

Republicans return more ballots than Democrats in Florida so far\"AA man votes at a polling location on election day during the midterm elections in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on November 3rd, 2026. Photograph: Leonardo Munoz \/ AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Florida election officials released early voting figures on Tuesday showing registered Republicans in the state returned over 250,000 more ballots than Democrats – 1.49 million to 1.21m. <\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 15 hours ago<\/p>\n

Gas climbs to election day high of over $4 in bad timing for Republicans<\/p>\n

Americans driving to the polls will pay gas prices averaging over $4 a gallon for the first time on record on an election day, the latest milestone in an energy crisis that has taken center stage in the US midterms.<\/p>\n

US gas prices averaged $4.13 a gallon as of 10am EST, according to GasBuddy, a fuel savings app. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s the most expensive price ever recorded on November 3rd of any year. It\u2019s also more expensive than any prior election day, including 2022, the year US gas prices set an all-time record, according to Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy\u2019s head of petroleum analysis.<\/p>\n

The prices today are below the highs set this year of over $4.56 a gallon in May, and they\u2019re down from a national average near $4.50 in late September, according to AAA.<\/p>\n

But the $4 price tag has never stuck on gas station marquees so late into the year, the result of snarled global energy shipments and a refining crisis spurred by the US-Iran war, continued Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries and limited exports from China.<\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 15 hours ago<\/p>\n

In the hours before polls opened, federal judges issued a series of rulings restricting the Trump administration\u2019s unprecedented efforts to pressure state election officials over alleged noncitizen voting.<\/p>\n

The administration\u2019s legal losing \u2060streak continued last night. In Washington, one federal judge blocked the administration from demanding officials in California not count any ballots received from people \u200con \u200ca \u200blist of alleged noncitizens, while another judge prevented the administration from sending such lists to officials in any state. <\/p>\n

In San Francisco, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court order for the administration to stop \u2060threatening election officials with prosecution if they did not comply \u200bwith its demands over alleged noncitizen voters.<\/p>\n

Those rulings all came after the US \u200bSupreme Court swiftly rejected the administration\u2019s request that it intervene in a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to order California election officials not to count any mail ballots \u200creceived from more than 20,000 people it says may be \u200bnoncitizens.<\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 15 hours ago<\/p>\n

The people have the power, says Kamala Harris. <\/p>\n

There is so much at stake in the midterm elections. <\/p>\n

If you have already voted: Thank you, and make sure your community is ready. If you haven’t voted yet, make sure you have a plan to vote today, Tuesday, November 3. <\/p>\n

The power is with the people. pic.twitter.com\/rw4QjS7hze<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, for the sake of balance, we should probably post something from a Republican perspective and who better to choose but the man who leads that party? <\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 16 hours ago<\/p>\n

The eight Senate seats to watch tonight<\/p>\n

While there are hundreds of races reaching their climax this evening, the outcome may well depend on just eight Senate seats. <\/p>\n

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democrat, is running against Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers, in Michigan while in Maine, Republican incumbent Susan Collins is battlind hard for her seat. <\/p>\n

In Alaska, former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola will hope to take Republican Dan Sullivan\u2019s seat. In Ohio Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, is hoping to return to the Senate having lost his seat in 2024 while in Texas, James Talarico, is trying to flip a red seat blue with a triumph over Ken Paxton.<\/p>\n

Kansas is closer than might have been expected with Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton ahead in the polls against Republican incumbent Roger Marshall while in South Carolina, Darline Graham, the sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, is running for a full term with polls showing a potentially close contest between her and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.<\/p>\n

And then there is Iowa: With Republican Senator Joni Ernst having vacated her seat, her party\u2019s nominee, congresswoman Ashley Hinson, the GOP in nominee, is running to replace her. She\u2019s up against Democrat Josh Turek, a state lawmaker, in a toss-up contest.<\/p>\n

\" A child helps drop a ballot into a dropbox outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library polling location in Washington, DC.
\nPhoto by Tom Brenner\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 17 hours ago<\/p>\n

America decides… but when will we know what it\u2019s saying?<\/p>\n

While Irish polling booths close at 10pm on the day of voting with the full results not becoming clear for days, they do things differently in the US and many of the polls wil be closing at 6pm local time \u2013 or 11pm Irish time – and by early tomorrow morning we should have a good idea what happened. Hugh Linehan has a good breakdown <\/a>of what we can expect and when we can expect it. <\/p>\n

\" Voters fill out their ballot at a polling station inside Zion Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. Photo by Joshua Lott\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 18 hours ago<\/p>\n

Justice department deploying 1,000 election monitors and observers to all 50 states<\/p>\n

The US justice department has said it is deploying 1,000 election monitors and observers to all 50 \u200cstates in what it called the largest election day monitoring effort in \u200bhistory.<\/p>\n

A department statement identified which jurisdictions within the states would receive monitors and observers, and said priorities include areas with \u200ba history of voter access issues and places with competitive races that \u2060could be targets of voter intimidation.<\/p>\n

The Trump administration \u200chas \u200ctaken \u200ban increasingly aggressive approach to election oversight, pressing states for voter-registration data and arguing that \u2060stricter measures are needed \u200bto ensure public confidence in \u200bthe vote. Critics view the moves as federal overreach.<\/p>\n

\"VotersVoters line up outside the Bridge of Hope Church before the polls opened in Youngstown, Ohio. Photograph: Jeff Swensen\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 18 hours ago<\/p>\n

Odds on Democrats to come out on top<\/p>\n

Many of the polls are pointing to heavy losses for the Republicans, but what about the betting markets?<\/p>\n

There has been a staggering $1.48 billion (\u20ac1.32 billion) wagered on the midterms on prediction markets such as Kalshi and \u200cPolymarket.<\/p>\n

The platforms rose to prominence in 2024 when they bucked traditional opinion polls in signalling that Donald Trump \u200bwould win the presidency, and have since amassed a global following among media outlets and investors.<\/p>\n

On Monday, prediction market prices aggregated by analytics firm BetInt implied Democrats had a 95 per cent chance of taking the House of Representatives and a 76 cent chance of taking the Senate.<\/p>\n

\"AA voter casts their ballot at a polling station during the midterm elections in Portland, Maine. Photo by Angela WEISS \/ AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 18 hours ago<\/p>\n

What is occupying the minds of US voters as they go to the polls?<\/p>\n

The rising cost of living will be top of mind for Americans but it is not the only thing concerning them, according to a Reuters\/Ipsos poll that was conducted between last Thursday and Monday.<\/p>\n

THE COST OF LIVING<\/p>\n

Some 48 per cent of registered voters in the poll say the cost of living is the top issue for deciding how they will vote, compared with 26 per cent who say democratic norms and 13 per cent who point to immigration. US fuel prices have surged since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran in \u200bFebruary.<\/p>\n

DONALD TRUMP<\/p>\n

Trump has urged supporters to pretend he is on the ballot in an effort to energize his Republican Party. The Reuters\/Ipsos poll showed that 48 per cent of people who planned to \u2060vote \u2013 or already had done so \u2013 said they thought of their ballots as a vote against Trump, compared with 25 per cent who said they \u200cwere \u200cvoting \u200bfor him. Some 25 per cent said Trump was not a factor in their vote.<\/p>\n

IRAN<\/p>\n

Trump has argued that war was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Some 25 per cent of voters think military action has been worth the \u2060cost, and 55 per cent say it has not been worth it with 18 per cent unsure.<\/p>\n

ELECTION INTEGRITY<\/p>\n

Voters overall trust the US electoral process, with 77 per cent saying \u200bthey are confident their ballots will be counted but 45 per cent saying they think voter fraud is a widespread problem. Trump has falsely claimed that massive numbers \u200cof non-citizens vote illegally and election officials worry the \u200badministration could disrupt the election or certification of results it views unfavourably. The White House says its goal is to safeguard election integrity and voting \u2060security.<\/p>\n

HOUSEHOLD FINANCES<\/p>\n

All told 49 per cent of Americans think their household finances have gotten \u2060worse since January 2025, when \u200bTrump returned to power, compared with 13 per cent who said their finances have gotten better and 37 per cent who say things are about the same. Trump campaigned ahead of the November 2024 presidential election with a promise to turbocharge the economy, but his presidential approval has fallen in recent months to the lowest levels of his political career, including among Hispanic Americans who swung in his direction in 2024. The latest poll showed 54 per cent of Hispanics said their household finances have suffered, while 10 per cent said they had improved.<\/p>\n

TRANSGENDER SPORTS<\/p>\n

Some 38 per cent of voters ahead of the election said keeping transgender girls and women out of women\u2019s sports was a very important issue or the most important issue, compared \u200cto 25 per cent who said that about protecting \u2060the rights of transgender people.<\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 18 hours ago<\/p>\n

What is on the table in today\u2019s election?<\/p>\n

So, with all the talk of midterms and a blue wave and a Democratic sweep seeing power seep away from Trump\u2019s White House, it might be worth recapping just what is up for grabs today.<\/p>\n

First things first. Congress has two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate.<\/p>\n

The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, has 435 voting seats, each representing a district of roughly similar size. There are elections for each of these seats every two years.<\/p>\n

The House has several exclusive powers, such as the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials and elect the president in the case of an electoral college tie.<\/p>\n

The upper chamber, the Senate, has 100 members, who sit for six-year terms. A third of the seats come up for election in each two-year cycle. Each state has two senators, regardless of its population.<\/p>\n

Most legislation needs to pass both chambers to become law, but the Senate has some important other functions, notably approving senior presidential appointments, for instance to the supreme court. <\/p>\n

In most states, the candidate with the most votes on election day wins the seat. <\/p>\n

However, Georgia and Louisiana require the winning candidate to garner 50 per cent of votes cast; if no one does, they hold a runoff election between the top two candidates.<\/p>\n

Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting as opposed to the first past the post voting system in congressional elections. <\/p>\n

Florida and Ohio are having \u2018special elections\u2019 for the Senate because the previous holders of their seats \u2013 Marco Rubio and JD Vance \u2013 resigned to join the executive branch following the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n

And then there are governors. <\/p>\n

They are elected by direct vote in their states. The candidate with the highest number of votes is declared the winner.<\/p>\n

In every state, the executive branch is led by a governor. They serve for four years in office, with the exception of Vermont and New Hampshire where tenures are two years long.<\/p>\n

Governors are responsible for implementing state laws, and have a range of powers available to them such as executive orders, executive budgets and legislative proposals and vetoes.<\/p>\n

Conor Pope – 18 hours ago<\/p>\n

US voters go to the polls in election which could weaken Trump\u2019s hold on power <\/p>\n

Americans are heading to the polls today in US midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on Donald Trump\u2019s second presidency and a chance for opponents to rein in his power. <\/p>\n

The party holding the White House typically loses congressional seats at midterm elections and Democrats are hoping the president\u2019s nose-diving popularity can be exploited.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the US department of justice in California has charged six more people with alleged voter fraud crimes, an escalation of the administration\u2019s campaign against election integrity. <\/p>\n

However, in a blow to Trump, the supreme court has ruled against attempts to force California election officials to segregate and not count ballots from people the department claims are non-citizens.<\/p>\n