America Votes... and the World Counts the Ballots

Washington – Agencies: The entire world entered a phase of anticipation yesterday as polling stations opened on the U.S. East Coast, with the results of the midterm elections set to shape the remaining two years of President Donald Trump’s term, both domestically and internationally. Most recent polls predict Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, and possibly also the Senate, driven by public anger over declining purchasing power, which could allow Trump’s opponents to significantly constrain his policies. Even if Democrats win control of the House alone, they would gain the upper hand in federal budget matters, while Republicans losing their majority in either chamber two years before the end of Trump’s term would complicate his legislative agenda.

Candidates are competing for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate, as well as governorships in 36 states. Democrats need to gain just three seats in the House and four net seats in the Senate to take control of both chambers.

Upon returning to the White House for a second presidential term, Trump pledged to lower prices. However, inflation, tariffs, and rising fuel costs due to the conflict in the Middle East have increased pressure on Americans. Republicans maintain that Trump’s tax cuts and stricter immigration measures will benefit Americans, while portraying Democratic candidates as extreme leftists. Yet, during his final campaign appearance before the vote, Trump barely touched on the economy, spending most of his speech elaborating on his “Reflecting Pool” renovation project in Washington, which has faced numerous problems. Trump said, “This is the last day before the midterm elections, and I think they are the most important midterms in our lives.” He focused on his project to restore landmarks in the U.S. capital, ignoring issues preoccupying voters such as inflation and the war against Iran.

In response, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called it a “pathetic closing message.” Despite Republicans holding a 53-to-47 majority in the Senate, the electoral battle extended to conservative states such as Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and Alaska. To win a Senate majority, Democrats are counting on victories in Texas and Kansas. Meanwhile, Democrats must defend closely contested seats, including in Michigan, where Democratic Representative Haley Stevens announced on Sunday her support for Republican candidate Mike Rogers against Abdul Siddiq, who had defeated her in the Democratic primary—a move welcomed by Trump.

Decision Desk HQ, a specialized election forecasting firm, expects Democrats to win a majority in the Senate (52 seats to 48 for Republicans) and also control the House with a comfortable majority of 241 seats to 194. Republicans are relying on high voter turnout among their supporters, as polls sometimes underestimate the actual level of support for a party. Approximately 57 million people cast their votes before Election Day, setting a record. As polling stations close, questions are mounting over whether Republicans will accept the results.

Trump, who sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election after losing it, continued to repeat claims of widespread fraud and accused Democrats of electoral rigging without providing evidence.