Midterm elections to gauge public sentiment on Trump’s leadership

A shift in the House to Democratic control would empower them to obstruct Mr. Trump’s legislative priorities and initiate investigations into his administration. A loss in the Senate would also impact his ability to appoint Supreme Court justices and other key officials.

All 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and governorships in 36 states are being contested. Democrats require a net gain of three House seats and four Senate seats to secure control of both chambers.

Mr. Trump, who returned to office last year, pledged to lower prices, but rising inflation, tariffs, and fuel costs exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East have fueled public discontent. His approval rating currently hovers around 30 percent.

Republicans are emphasizing the benefits of Mr. Trump’s tax cuts and immigration policies, portraying Democratic candidates as extreme leftists. However, in his final campaign appearance, Mr. Trump largely avoided economic discussion, instead focusing on the 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 stated, before returning to the topic of renovations.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed Mr. Trump’s remarks as “pathetic.”

While some Republican supporters express confidence, the battleground extends beyond traditional Democratic strongholds into conservative states like Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and Alaska. Democrats are also defending competitive seats, including in Michigan, where congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.

Decision Desk HQ’s final forecast projects 241 House seats for Democrats and 194 for Republicans, with a narrow 52-48 Democratic majority in the Senate.

Over 57 million Americans have already cast early ballots, demonstrating high voter engagement. The campaign has seen over $11 billion spent on political advertising, with billionaire Elon Musk contributing hundreds of millions to Republican efforts.

Concerns are emerging regarding the acceptance of election results, particularly given Mr. Trump’s history of challenging election outcomes. He has repeatedly claimed voter fraud and accused Democrats of cheating, without providing evidence. The Justice Department has attempted to block certification of Alaska’s Senate race, and the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to California’s mail-in ballots.

Mr. Trump, who will monitor the results from the White House, suggested he might veto legislation if he loses control of Congress, although he indicated a possibility of future compromises.