US Midterm Elections Begin as Polls Close Across States

Americans headed to the polls on November 3 for midterm elections that will decide control of Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's second term. Voting began closing in waves starting at 6 pm Eastern Time in Indiana and Kentucky, though the Associated Press will wait until the final polls close at 7 pm ET to declare any statewide winners.

The Stakes

All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are on the ballot, alongside gubernatorial races in 36 states. Republicans currently hold both chambers of Congress. Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to take control of that chamber, and four seats to win the Senate. A Democratic victory in the House would allow the party to block Trump's plans and launch investigations into his administration. Republicans have made the Democrats' path harder through redrawn district maps, but several races remain close, including Florida's 25th District, North Carolina's 1st District, Indiana's 5th district, and Kentucky's 6th district.

Voter Sentiment

An AP Voter Poll shows that roughly three-quarters of voters feel angry or dissatisfied with the current state of the country. About 6 in 10 voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the presidency and blame his policies for high living costs. Approximately 70% want Congress to provide stronger checks and balances on the executive branch. When asked about top priorities, about 4 in 10 voters cited the economy, while 3 in 10 named democracy as the most important issue.

Context

Midterm elections happen midway through a presidential term and historically serve as a referendum on the sitting president's performance. Because US elections are run locally with rules that vary by state, close races can take hours, days, or even weeks to finalize.