More than 57 million people had already cast ballots by Monday as voting results in the midterm elections took shape and voters decided whether to shift power in Washington. The outcome could change control of the U.S. House and leave the U.S. Senate in play.
Donald Trump in Salina, Kansas
Donald Trump told a crowd in Salina, Kansas, on Sunday evening, "I really want you to pretend I’m on the ballot." He also spent the closing stretch at rallies and stops in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.
Trump kept making false claims about voting fraud, including saying noncitizens are casting ballots en masse. The Trump administration had filed lawsuits in Alaska and California, while Democrats feared interference and voter intimidation as the Justice Department threatened to prosecute local election officials.
Congress and the U.S. House
Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the Senate and three seats in the House to win majorities in those chambers. Republicans had tried an aggressive redistricting effort aimed at creating a more favorable congressional map, yet they were still bracing to lose control of the U.S. House and fight to keep the U.S. Senate.
Turnout had already surpassed the early vote four years ago in many closely watched states. That left both parties watching the same numbers for different reasons: Democrats were looking for the openings that come with even one chamber of Congress, while Republicans were trying to limit the size of any shift.
Washington and Congress
The election was being treated as a referendum on Donald Trump’s second term. Democrats taking control of even one chamber of Congress would open investigations and possible impeachments, with Pete Hegseth and Elon Musk among the possible targets.
A strong Democratic showing could also boost Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg, while complicating the path of JD Vance and other Republicans seeking future momentum. The voting results now decide whether Republicans keep a narrow grip on Washington or hand Democrats a working majority in one or both chambers.
