Live updates: Voting underway in the US midterm elections

US midterm elections are national elections held roughly two years after a presidential election. Voters choose members of the House of Representatives and some senators. They do not choose the president. The timing divides the president’s term and gives voters an early chance to influence Congress.

The central mechanism is representation. House members face election every two years, while senators serve longer terms, so only some Senate seats appear on each midterm ballot. A voter may therefore change one chamber, both chambers, or neither. Midterms can also signal approval or frustration with the president’s record.

The article describes millions voting in an election widely viewed as a referendum on Donald Trump’s administration. Polling suggests Democrats could win the House and might win the Senate. The results will determine how much support the president has in Congress during the second half of his term.

The article gives only a broad scale: millions of Americans are voting. It does not provide an exact number of voters or state a precise number of congressional seats being contested. That distinction matters because turnout and the number of races are different measures of an election’s size.

In a typical midterm, all 435 House seats are on the ballot because House members serve two-year terms. About one-third of the Senate is also contested, normally 33 or 34 seats. Together, that means roughly 468 or 469 congressional seats, though the exact Senate total can vary by election cycle.

The current article focuses less on arithmetic than on control. Polling suggests Democrats are favored to win the House and have a chance in the Senate. As votes are counted, those races will determine which party controls Congress. The article’s “millions” describes participation, not a precise nationwide count.

Voters often use midterms to express views on major national problems. The article identifies immigration, trade and corruption as key concerns. It also highlights the war on Iran, calling it deeply unpopular and saying it has placed pressure on Americans’ hip-pockets. These issues help explain the political mood surrounding the election.

The mechanism is political accountability. Voters weigh the administration’s policies and their effects, then support candidates who promise a different direction or defend the current one. Economic pressure can make foreign policy especially important. Likewise, concerns about immigration, trade or corruption can influence both congressional races and party control.

The article does not rank the issues or provide polling percentages. It says polling suggests they are among voters’ key concerns. Because Donald Trump is not on the ballot, these topics still connect congressional choices to his administration. The results may show whether voters want Congress to support or challenge that direction.

An election becomes a referendum when voters treat candidates as representatives of the president’s record. They may judge policies, economic conditions and leadership, even when the president is not a candidate. Midterms are especially suited to this judgment because they occur during the president’s term and can change Congress.

The key mechanism is party association. Congressional candidates usually campaign with or against the president’s agenda. A vote for their party can therefore signal approval, while a vote for the opposing party can signal dissatisfaction. If the opposing party gains seats, it may gain power to investigate, block or reshape administration priorities.

The article says Trump is absent from the ballot but that this election is widely seen as a referendum on his administration. It also says his popularity has waned since he came to power after the 2024 presidential election. The outcome will show whether that decline translates into changed congressional control.

Control of Congress determines which party leads the legislative process. A Democratic House could prioritize different bills, hearings and investigations from the president’s party. A Democratic Senate could set its own schedule and influence presidential nominations. Control of both chambers would give Democrats greater ability to pass legislation and oversee the administration.

The mechanism still involves negotiation. Bills normally need approval in both chambers before reaching the president. The president can sign or veto them, so a congressional majority does not automatically make every proposal law. Senate control also matters for approving many executive and judicial appointments. Oversight can examine government actions and demand information.

The article says Democrats are tipped to win the House and have a shot at the Senate, while remaining nervous. If they win one chamber, divided government would likely produce more clashes and bargaining. If they win both, the administration would face a more unified congressional opposition during the rest of its term.

The president’s party does not need to control Congress to remain in office, but it usually needs congressional cooperation to advance its agenda. If the opposition controls one chamber, it can block or alter bills and lead important committees. The president must then negotiate more often, while oversight of the administration may intensify.

The mechanism depends on each chamber’s role. A House majority controls much of the chamber’s scheduling and investigative work. A Senate majority controls its agenda and has major influence over presidential nominations. Legislation generally must pass both chambers before reaching the president, who may sign or veto it. Overriding a veto requires exceptionally broad support.

The article presents this possibility through the prospect of Democratic gains. Democrats could win the House, the Senate, or both, while Trump remains president. One-party control of Congress would give the opposition more leverage. Divided control would make compromise more important and could limit the administration’s ability to enact its preferred policies.

The House, Senate and president divide federal power. The House of Representatives and Senate propose, debate and pass legislation. They also oversee government through hearings and investigations. The president leads the executive branch, carries out enacted laws and sets administrative priorities. This structure prevents one institution from controlling the entire process.

The key mechanism is shared approval. A bill generally must pass both the House and Senate before going to the president. The president can sign it into law or veto it. Congress can sometimes overcome a veto with a large enough majority. The Senate also plays a special role in considering many presidential nominations and certain agreements.

Party control shapes how this system works. The article says Democrats may gain the House, the Senate or both, while Trump remains president. That could produce negotiation, conflict or stronger oversight. The election therefore matters beyond individual races: it may change which institution can set priorities and challenge executive decisions.