US Midterms Voting Could Curb Trump’s Power
Americans voted on Tuesday in midterm elections that could break President Donald Trump’s hold on Washington. US midterms voting on 3 November 2026 puts all 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats at stake, along with governorships in 36 states.
Democrats need only three House gains and a net four seats in the Senate to take both chambers. A House loss would give Democrats the power to stall Trump’s legislative agenda and launch sweeping investigations of his administration. A Senate loss would also threaten his ability to appoint Supreme Court justices and senior officials.
The mood has turned sharply against Republicans amid anger over soaring living costs and the war on Iran. Trump returned to office last year promising to bring down prices, but inflation, tariffs and fuel costs inflated by the Middle East conflict have squeezed American households. His approval rating has hovered near the low 30s.
US midterms voting: what the final forecasts say
Decision Desk HQ’s final forecast projected 241 House seats for Democrats against 194 for Republicans, and a narrower 52-48 Democratic Senate majority. Polls can underestimate one party’s support, however, and Republicans hoped their voters would turn out in force on election day itself.
More than 57 million Americans had voted early before Tuesday. The campaign attracted more than $11 billion in political advertising. Billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Republican political efforts.
In the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, retired teacher Jane Callum, 77, was among Democrats canvassing for Senator Jon Ossoff. She framed the race as a watershed moment for the country’s future. “I really feel an obligation to do everything that I possibly can to change the direction that our country is going in now, and put it more on the path to democracy and away from autocracy,” she told AFP.
The closing messages and the contested seats
Republicans insisted Trump’s tax cuts and immigration crackdown would benefit Americans. In his final public campaign appearance on Monday, however, Trump barely touched on the economy. He spent most of the time on his problem-plagued renovation of Washington’s Reflecting Pool.
“This is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important midterm I believe in our lifetime,” he said, 26 minutes into the speech, before quickly returning to talking about renovations. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer branded it a “pathetic closing message.” Feature Pakistan covered that final appearance in Trump makes final midterm pitch at Reflecting Pool.
While Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, the battlefield has extended into conservative states like Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Alaska. Democrats must also defend competitive seats, including in Michigan, where congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers rather than the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.
Disputed results could follow the count
As soon as polls close, concerns will mount over whether results will be accepted. Trump, who tried to overturn his 2020 election defeat, has repeatedly alleged widespread voter fraud and accused Democrats, with no evidence, of cheating.
The Justice Department, run by a close Trump ally, has already sued to potentially block certification of Alaska’s Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan narrowly loses, although a court ruled against the effort on the eve of the election. The Supreme Court rejected on Monday an emergency bid to force California to set aside the mail-in ballots of more than 20,000 people on grounds they may not be American citizens.
Trump planned to watch the results at the White House on Tuesday night. He signalled that if he lost control of Congress he could simply defy Democrats. “I veto everything,” he told a podcast on Monday.
Why the result matters beyond America
For readers in Pakistan, the result matters through trade, tariffs and oil. A Congress controlled by Democrats could constrain Trump’s tariff policy and his freedom to pursue the Iran war, both of which feed into global fuel costs. Feature Pakistan has tracked that link in petrol and diesel prices cut for 3 November and in oil prices fall on US-Iran diplomacy hopes.
The campaign also carried a distinct voice for Muslim American voters, covered in Muslim American voters seek greater voice in midterms. Polling before the vote pointed to Democratic gains, as reported in Democrats lead in midterm polls. The count itself will show whether those polls held, and whether a divided Congress changes the course of Trump’s second term.
Frequently asked questions
What is at stake in the US midterms?
All 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and governorships in 36 states are at stake. Democrats need three House gains and a net four Senate seats to take both chambers from Republicans.
What happens if Democrats win the House?
A Democratic House could stall Trump’s legislative agenda and launch sweeping investigations of his administration. A Senate win would also affect his ability to appoint Supreme Court justices and senior officials.
How many people voted early?
More than 57 million Americans had voted early before Tuesday, indicating high energy in the election. The campaign attracted more than $11 billion in political advertising.
What did the final forecast predict?
Decision Desk HQ’s final forecast projected 241 House seats for Democrats against 194 for Republicans, and a 52-48 Democratic Senate majority. Polls can still underestimate one party’s support.
Could the results be disputed?
Concerns over acceptance of results were expected as soon as polls closed. Trump has repeatedly alleged voter fraud with no evidence, and legal fights over certification in Alaska and mail-in ballots in California reached courts before election day.
