Midterm elections poised to test Congress as voters weigh Trump’s agenda

Around 210 million registered Americans will cast ballots on Nov. 3 to determine which party controls the U.S. Congress for the second half of President Donald Trump’s term. Although the president is not on the ballot, the makeup of the House of Representatives and the Senate will shape whether the administration can push through its agenda, shield its spending priorities, and continue pressing its partisan goals.

All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats – including special elections in Florida and Ohio – are up for election. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers; Democrats need three additional House seats and four Senate seats to take control. A 50-50 split in the Senate would still leave Republicans in charge because Vice President JD Vance can break ties, preserving a fragile advantage for the governing party.

"If Democrats take one chamber, all non-government funding legislation will grind to a halt," said Todd Belt, a professor of political management at George Washington University. He added that a Democratic victory could restrain President Trump’s domestic agenda and that early results may be misleading because of differing mail-ballot practices, a phenomenon known as the “red mirage.”

Georgetown University professor Nadia Brown emphasized the importance of local races, noting that ballot propositions and referendums often have the most direct impact on everyday life and can matter more immediately than the partisan fight in Washington.

Key issues driving voter decisions include the cost of living, reproductive rights, immigration, and concerns about U.S. security amid the Israel-Iran conflict and the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in early October showed 44 percent of registered voters favoring Democratic candidates in their districts, compared with 36 percent for Republicans, suggesting Democrats still have a real opening if turnout breaks their way.

If Democrats win the House, they could block Republican legislation, launch investigations into the Trump administration, and potentially initiate impeachment proceedings, though a two-thirds Senate vote would be required to remove the president. Control of the Senate would also allow Democrats to block presidential nominees and influence long-term judicial appointments, checking the power of a White House that has already shown little interest in compromise.

Election results will start to be reported after polls close at 6 p.m. Eastern time, but final certification may take days or weeks as mail-in and provisional ballots are counted.