US midterms put Trump presidency at risk as democrats seek control of congress

A Republican defeat in the House would give Democrats the power to block Trump’s legislative agenda and launch extensive investigations into his administration. Losing the Senate would also threaten his ability to appoint Supreme Court justices and senior government officials.

The elections are widely seen as a nationwide verdict on Trump’s second presidency, with public sentiment turning against Republicans amid growing frustration over rising living costs and the war against Iran. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are being contested, along with governorships in 36 states.

Democrats need to gain just three seats in the House and secure a net gain of four seats in the Senate to take control of both chambers. Trump returned to the White House last year promising to lower prices.

However, inflation, tariffs and rising fuel costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East have placed additional financial pressure on American households. The 80-year-old president’s approval rating has remained close to the low 30s.

In the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, retired teacher Jane Callum, 77, was among Democrats campaigning for Senator Jon Ossoff. She described the election as a defining moment for the country's future.

"I really feel an obligation to do everything that I possibly can to change the direction that our country is going in now, and put it more on the path to democracy and away from autocracy," she. Republicans maintain that Trump's tax cuts and immigration crackdown will benefit Americans, while portraying Democratic candidates as left-wing radicals.

However, during his final public campaign appearance on Monday, Trump devoted little attention to economic concerns. Instead, he spent much of his speech discussing the troubled renovation of Washington's Reflecting Pool.

"This is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important midterm I believe in our lifetime," he said 26 minutes into his address before returning to the renovation project. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described Trump's closing campaign message as "pathetic".

Some Republican supporters, however, remain confident of victory. "We're going to win. As a matter of fact, we've probably already won," Texas military veteran Yvonne Clouser.

Although Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Democrats are also targeting competitive races in traditionally conservative states, including Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Alaska. Democrats must also defend closely contested seats, including in Michigan, where an internal party dispute saw Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorse Republican Mike Rogers instead of the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.

Decision Desk HQ's final forecast projected Democrats winning 241 House seats against 194 for Republicans. It also forecast a narrower Democratic Senate majority of 52-48. Opinion polls can underestimate support for a particular party, and Republicans are hoping for a strong turnout among their voters on Election Day.

More than 57 million Americans had already cast their ballots early before Tuesday, reflecting high voter engagement. The campaign has attracted more than $11 billion in political advertising spending, while billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Republican political efforts.

As polling stations close, concerns are expected to grow over whether Republicans will accept the election results. Trump, who attempted to overturn his 2020 election defeat, has repeatedly alleged widespread voter fraud and accused Democrats of cheating without providing evidence.

The Justice Department, led by a close Trump ally, has already filed a lawsuit seeking to potentially block certification of Alaska's Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan narrowly loses. However, a court rejected the effort on the eve of the election.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected an emergency request to require California to set aside mail-in ballots cast by more than 20,000 people over claims that they might not be US citizens.

Trump, who is scheduled to watch the election results at the White House on Tuesday night, has suggested that he could resist Democratic efforts if Republicans lose control of Congress. "I veto everything," he, although he added that he might eventually reach agreements with Democrats.