Midterm elections could expose the costs of President Trump's rule over the final two years of his term
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Voters are casting ballots as soaring living costs, tariffs, and the war in Iran reshape congressional races, while both parties assess how far President Trump's battered popularity can carry them.
Americans are voting in midterm elections that will determine control of the House and Senate as President Donald Trump enters the last two years of his administration. For many families, the campaign has become a referendum on daily economic pain, with voters pointing to rising food, fuel and fertilizer prices that they say are worsened by tariffs and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump has been traveling to traditionally Republican states such as Iowa and Kansas, staging rallies and urging supporters to "pretend" he is on the ballot. Republican campaign spending in these states has surged sharply, prompting analysts to conclude that the party is feeling real pressure. > "When they start spending hard American dollars on political advertising in a state that they should be winning, that's how you know that they think they're in trouble," said Carrie Dann, managing editor of the Cook Political Report.
Polls show Trump's approval rating around 38 percent, while only about 29 percent of voters view the Democratic Party positively. Even so, many Republican voters, despite frustration over the cost of living, say they remain tied to the party's values and are not ready to break ranks. > "One dollar more on gas is not going to change what we believe in," said Tim McKinnon, a Republican voter in Iowa.
Democratic strategists see the elections as a chance to break further into areas long dominated by Republicans. > "This represents an opportunity, really, for Democrats to expand a lot of their influence, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of perception of where they can compete," said Stephen Hawkins of the pollster More in Common.
Both parties are also looking ahead to the 2028 presidential race, weighing whether changing attitudes in states like Texas, Ohio and Michigan could alter the terrain of future contests. The midterm outcome will be a major test of President Trump's ability to hold together legislative support and will help shape the political landscape leading into the next presidential election.