On November 3, approximately 210 million registered voters across the United States will decide which political party controls Congress for the second half of Donald Trump’s presidency, as reported by Al Jazeera. While the president himself is not on the ballot, the legislative future of the country hangs in the balance.

According to Al Jazeera, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are being contested, alongside gubernatorial races in 36 states. Special elections in Florida and Ohio are also being held to fill vacancies left by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers of Congress. Al Jazeera reported that Democrats need to gain three seats in the House and four in the Senate to take control, noting that a 50-50 split in the Senate would leave Republicans in control because Vance can cast tie-breaking votes.

Background

Midterm elections are held halfway through a US president’s four-year term to determine the makeup of Congress, which writes the country's laws and controls federal spending. House members represent individual districts and serve two-year terms, while senators serve six-year terms. According to Al Jazeera, midterms are widely considered a referendum on the sitting president's performance.

Al Jazeera cited Todd Belt, a professor of political management at George Washington University, who noted that since 1946, the president’s party has lost an average of 26.5 seats in the House and a handful in the Senate during midterm elections. Belt told Al Jazeera that a Democratic victory could significantly limit Trump’s ability to pursue his domestic agenda, stating that non-government funding legislation would grind to a halt if Democrats take one chamber.

Beyond federal races, voters are also electing state legislators and local officials. Nadia Brown, a professor of government at Georgetown University, told Al Jazeera that local politics is where most Americans interact with government, adding that local propositions and referendums impact everyday lives.

Why it matters

For international observers and readers following global developments, shifts in the United States Congress directly influence American foreign policy, federal spending, and international agreements. Changes in legislative control determine how executive power is checked or enabled, shaping the broader geopolitical environment and bilateral relations worldwide.