Washington: Americans began voting on Tuesday in the 2026 US midterm elections, a crucial political test for President Donald Trump as his approval ratings face pressure amid the war in Iran, rising inflation, trade tensions and deep divisions across the country.
The elections will decide whether Trump’s Republican Party retains control of both chambers of Congress or whether Democrats manage to regain control of at least the House of Representatives. The outcome could significantly shape the final two years of Trump’s second presidential term.
The polls are widely being viewed as a referendum on Trump’s presidency, with Democrats hoping to capitalise on public dissatisfaction and make gains in key congressional and state-level contests.
On the eve of voting, the United States launched limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the action was in response to Iran firing at a US aircraft.
What Is at Stake in the US Midterm Elections?
The elections will determine the fate of all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Senate contests are also being held, along with gubernatorial elections in 36 states.
One of the closely watched gubernatorial races is in Ohio, where Indian-American Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing Democratic nominee Amy Acton.
Several other Indian-American candidates are contesting elections for positions ranging from governor to city council member.
Democrat Nithya Raman, who was born in Kerala, is facing a competitive contest against her former boss, Karen Bass, for the mayoral post in Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States.
Indian-American lawmakers Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal and Suhas Subramanyam are seeking re-election to the US House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Democrats Pia Dandiya and Amish Shah are contesting competitive races in an effort to enter Congress for the first time.
Trump’s Approval Ratings Put Republicans Under Pressure
Republicans and Democrats made their final appeals to voters on Monday ahead of polling. Trump chose the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington as the venue for his final campaign appearance, highlighting renovation work undertaken in the national capital rather than focusing on issues such as tax cuts, tariffs and border security that had featured prominently in his election rallies.
According to the White House, Trump travelled across 20 states, mostly Republican strongholds, and addressed 30 rallies during the final 32 days of campaigning.
Political analysts say Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to their lowest levels and that his unpopularity could become a liability for Republican candidates.
A Democratic victory in either chamber could increase congressional scrutiny of Trump’s administration and make it harder for him to advance his legislative agenda. However, the President would retain executive powers, including the authority to issue executive orders.
“We are reaching a boiling point in the country as a whole. There are the elites, the ruling class, the Epstein class that is truly 1 per cent that is wealthy, and there is the rest of us,” Shuchita Patel, a Democrat running for Forsyth County Commissioner, told PTI.
Trump has also acknowledged the possibility of Republicans losing control of Congress. Speaking to the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast, he indicated that he would use his presidential veto power if lawmakers tried to block his administration’s actions.
“I guess I’ll become Mr Veto,” Trump said when asked about the possibility of Republicans losing control of both chambers.
Democrats Target Key Senate Seats
Democrats are aiming to gain control of the Senate by winning key contests in Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Iowa and Alaska.
Each of the 50 US states elects two senators, who serve six-year terms. Senate elections are staggered across three groups, with elections held every two years.
Members of the House of Representatives, meanwhile, serve two-year terms.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, although their majorities are narrow.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson leads 218 Republicans and one independent, Kevin Kiley of California, against 214 Democrats, with two seats vacant.
The Senate currently has a 53-47 Republican majority. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber.
The report states that 22 of the 35 Senate seats on the ballot are currently held by Republicans, making the contests important for both parties.
JD Vance Builds Profile Ahead of Possible Succession
The midterm elections are also significant for Vice President JD Vance, who is building his political profile as a potential successor to Trump.
Vance campaigned in New York and Ohio on Monday, where Republicans are fighting to retain key House and Senate seats.
During his campaign appearances, he highlighted Trump’s efforts to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime and strengthen border security. He also criticised Democrats, describing them as “lunatics” who hold American voters in contempt.
More Than 210 Million Americans Registered to Vote
According to USAFacts, approximately 210 million Americans are registered to vote.
California has the highest number of registered voters at 23.2 million, followed by Texas with 17.4 million and Florida with 13.6 million. Together, the three states account for around 26 per cent of registered voters.
Wyoming has the fewest registered voters, at 278,468, followed by Vermont with 459,455 and Alaska with 603,310.
According to the Associated Press, more than 57 million ballots had been cast across 47 states and Washington, DC, by Monday. This was higher than the slightly fewer than 44.5 million ballots recorded across 49 states and Washington, DC, at the same stage in the 2022 midterm elections.
The results are expected to have major implications for Trump’s presidency, congressional oversight and the direction of US politics during the remaining two years of his second term.