Midterm Elections Put Trump’s Congressional Majority and Agenda at Risk

Voters across the United States are casting ballots Tuesday, Nov. 3, to elect members of Congress in a midterm contest that could create major challenges for President Donald Trump’s second term. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are up for election. Democrats are seeking to regain ground in Washington as Republicans’ control of both chambers appears vulnerable.

The vote comes amid declining approval for Trump, the continuing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and rising living costs. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday, Nov. 2, found Trump’s approval rating at 32%, unchanged from the previous survey and near the low of 31% recorded on Oct. 19. Among respondents, 46% said they preferred Democratic candidates for Congress, compared with 38% who favored Republicans. Half of independent voters said they planned to vote against Trump. The poll surveyed 1,765 voters and had a margin of error of two percentage points.

Forecasts point to a close contest, particularly for Senate seats. Democrats are viewed as well positioned to retake the House, with election projections giving them more than a 90% chance of winning a majority. They also have an advantage in Senate estimates, though that race is expected to be tighter. Republicans currently hold 218 House seats, compared with 214 for Democrats; the opposition needs to gain four seats to take control, according to the report. In the Senate, Republicans have 53 seats, while Democrats and independents aligned with them total 47. Democrats need 51 seats to claim a majority.

Midterm elections take place every two years between presidential elections and are often seen as a measure of public sentiment toward the sitting administration. No presidential candidate appears on the ballot, but the results can influence the government’s ability to advance its priorities. Members of the House serve two-year terms, while senators serve six-year terms. Congress writes and approves federal laws and oversees the executive branch, so a shift in control could make it harder for the White House to pass key proposals and change the balance of power in Washington.

The economy is a central concern for voters, with prices for fuel, food, health care and housing rising. The prolonged war is also adding pressure to the cost of living and drawing criticism of Trump’s foreign policy. Democrats have blamed trade tariffs for making goods more expensive, while Republicans have highlighted the administration’s tougher immigration policies as an achievement. Regulation of artificial intelligence has also become part of the election debate.

Trump spent about 50 minutes speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington on Monday, urging voters to help Republicans keep their congressional majority. He called the election the most important of their lives and said, “The Democratic Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history.” He accused Democrats of supporting open borders, higher taxes, restrictions on gun ownership and policies that, he said, would raise energy costs and increase immigration. Trump described the country as experiencing a “golden age,” touted his administration’s economic performance and asked supporters to treat the election as if he were personally on the ballot. The speech came as voters voiced concerns about living costs; Republican strategists were also worried that Trump was focusing on projects to renovate or build monuments and other structures in Washington while Americans faced economic difficulties.

If Democrats win control of either chamber, they could gain greater authority to scrutinize the administration. A House majority would give them control of committees and the ability to summon administration officials, request documents and open investigations into the Republican government, including scrutiny of contracts, potential conflicts of interest and actions taken through executive orders. Democrats could also pursue impeachment: the House can bring charges, while the Senate conducts the trial, and conviction requires the support of two-thirds of senators. A Democratic Senate majority could impede confirmation of presidential nominees to senior posts, embassies and federal courts, including any Supreme Court vacancies. Trump could still use executive orders, but would face more institutional resistance and greater difficulty turning proposals into law. The results are also expected to shape political maneuvering ahead of the 2028 presidential election, in which Trump cannot run because he has already served two terms.