US Midterm Elections Under Way as Trump's Republicans Face Possible Congressional Losses
US midterm elections to Congress are being held on 3 November, with the Republican Party under pressure over the cost of living. The result will show whether President Donald Trump keeps control of the legislature for the rest of his term.
The United States is holding midterm congressional elections on 3 November, which will decide which party controls the House of Representatives and the Senate, the two chambers of the legislature. President Donald Trump's Republican Party enters the vote at a difficult moment, as voters are most concerned about the cost of living, according to the British broadcaster BBC.
Rising prices and falling ratings
BBC reports that fuel and food prices have risen markedly because of Trump's import tariffs and the war with Iran that he launched. The price of diesel has nearly doubled, and inflation has climbed from 3% to 3.7% since Trump took office. Economists believe the increase would not have happened without the new tariffs. The president's approval ratings have fallen to unprecedented lows in recent months.
Trump has campaigned actively, including in states that were previously safe Republican territory, such as Iowa and Kansas. Republicans have also put hundreds of millions of dollars into advertising in states they once won comfortably. Carrie Dann, editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, said this signals concern within the party, adding that spending in Kansas is much higher than Republicans expected.
The fight for the Senate and the House
Stephen Hawkins, director of international research at More in Common, said that in states Trump won by 10 to 15 points two years ago, Democrats now have a real chance of winning Senate seats.
Thirty-five Senate seats are up for election, and Democrats need a net gain of four to win a majority. If they lose Michigan, which they currently hold, they would need five. The key swing states include Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Maine, Alaska and North Carolina.
If Democrats win the House, they could try to block legislation Trump backs, launch investigations, or seek impeachment of certain administration officials, primarily Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump has already tried to bypass Congress through executive orders.
BBC stresses that a Democratic win is not certain, since many Republican voters are angry but not enough to switch sides. The vote is also the last test before the 2028 presidential election.
