Midterm Elections Seen as Referendum on President Trump’s Second Term
Voters cast ballots in U.S. midterms amid expectations that Democrats could gain congressional control and legal battles over election integrity continue.
Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday in nationwide midterm elections that many observers describe as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term. Historically, the party occupying the White House loses seats in Congress during midterms, and Democrats are aiming to capitalize on President Trump’s declining approval ratings to win control of the House and Senate.
The Department of Justice in California announced additional charges against six individuals for alleged voter fraud, marking a further step in the administration’s efforts to address election integrity. In a separate development, the Supreme Court rejected a request to require California election officials to separate and discard ballots from individuals the Justice Department alleges are non-citizens.
Reporters from across the country covered key races, including a Senate contest in New Hampshire where Republican hopes of flipping the seat are tempered by concerns that President Trump’s influence may be a liability, and a Texas House race where candidate James Talarico seeks to break a long Democratic losing streak. In California, Attorney General Xavier Becerra is positioned as the likely winner of the gubernatorial race, while in Michigan, former Representative Haley Stevens has shifted her endorsement to Republican Abdul El-Sayed in a notable reversal.
The Guardian’s election guide provides details on ballot counting procedures, candidate profiles, and a live-blog of results as they unfold.