Source : Perth Now news
The first nationwide verdict on Donald Trump’s presidency will reveal whether voters want to check the Republican president’s power or are willing to accept the status quo.
Democrats are vying to win control of one or both chambers of Congress amid deep voter frustrations over the cost of living and the US-led war with Iran.
Polls indicate Trump’s Republicans could lose their narrow majority in the House of Representatives and possibly even the Senate – but this outcome is far from certain.
AMERICANS GO TO THE POLLS
Early voting has been under way for weeks, with more than 57 million people already casting their ballots as of Monday, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
That is well above the 46 million who voted early in the 2022 midterm elections.
The first polls open on Tuesday at 6am (10pm AEDT) on the east coast, with booths on the west coast closing at 8pm (2pm on Wednesday AEDT). Alaska and Hawaii’s booths close later (3pm and 4pm AEDT).
CONTROL OF CONGRESS AT STAKE
Democrats are widely expected to reclaim the House, but the Senate battle remains highly competitive.
The scale of Democratic gains in one or both chambers will shape Trump’s ability to advance his agenda.
Republicans hold a 218-214 majority in the House, where there are two vacancies and one independent who caucuses with Republicans.
Democrats must win a net gain of four seats to win control.
Democrats also are fighting to win the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and they must net four additional seats to get control.
Twelve Senate races, including those in conservative-leaning states such as Kansas and Texas, could decide the outcome.
Campaigns by Democrats James Talarico in Texas and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan have attracted national attention.
WHAT ARE POLLS SHOWING?
Approval of Trump’s performance is at a near record low of 32 per cent, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Domestic issues such as rising consumer prices are likely to have an impact on the outcome of many races and could erode support for Republicans.
However, a landslide for the Democrats is far from assured.
Republicans could benefit from continued scepticism towards Democrats, a Republican spending advantage on campaigns, and fears from moderate voters over some primary wins by left-wingers.
DEMOCRATS EYE A GOVERNORS’ SWEEP
The 2026 contests also include governor races in 39 states, with Democrats hoping to take over a majority of state offices for the first time in two decades.
The number of states in play is surprisingly large, a reflection of Trump’s poor approval ratings dragging on his party.
Competitive races include those in heavily populated states such as Texas and Florida, presidential battleground states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, and reliably Republican states such as Iowa and Ohio.
Many states are also electing their legislatures and other posts, such as secretaries of state, who often oversee elections in their states.
BILLIONAIRES ON THE BALLOT
A measure to tax the net worth of billionaires is being put to California voters – one of 145 proposed laws and constitutional amendments being decided in states across the US.
Among measures on the ballot are reimposing an abortion ban in Missouri and proposed changes to electoral boundaries in several states, along with measures restricting transgender athletes or medical procedures.
THE TRUMP FACTOR
Hovering over all of this are questions over whether Trump will try to meddle in the elections, which are administered by the 50 individual states.
Since 2020, he has repeatedly insisted, falsely, that there is widespread cheating in US elections.
State election officials and Democrats in Congress have been preparing for possible legal challenges to any moves by his administration to try to intervene.
