Millions of Americans have cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday’s crucial US midterm elections, as the battle for control of Congress intensifies, with a surprise endorsement by Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers creating fresh divisions within the Democratic Party.
The elections will determine which party controls the US Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s presidency, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 governorships being contested.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, holding 218 seats in the House, alongside an independent who votes with them, while Democrats have 214 seats, with two vacancies.
In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats, compared with 45 for Democrats and two independents who caucus with them. Democrats are seeking to secure enough victories to take control of both chambers.
Early voting has recorded significant participation across several states, with Georgia setting a new midterm record as approximately one-third of registered voters statewide had already cast their ballots.
In Michigan, more than two million voters had voted early, while Texas recorded more than 7.7 million ballots, representing an increase of more than 50 per cent compared with the same period in the 2022 midterm elections.
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👉 JOIN GISTSMATE WHATSAPP CHANNELThe Michigan Senate race has attracted particular attention following Stevens’ decision to endorse Republican candidate Mike Rogers against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
Stevens, who narrowly lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed, announced her endorsement of Rogers on Sunday, November 1, in a development that drew criticism from senior Democrats.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described the endorsement as a “despicable betrayal”, while Texas Democratic Party chairman Kendall Scudder accused Stevens of acting out of personal grievances and described her as a sore loser.
El-Sayed, campaigning alongside Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, accused his opponents of concentrating on his name and faith rather than addressing his policy positions.
He said his interest in politics developed from concerns about inequalities in life expectancy and the shortcomings of the American healthcare system.
El-Sayed also criticised Trump and the Republican campaign for Rogers, arguing that they had failed to present convincing proposals for reducing the cost of living.
However, political experts in Michigan expressed doubts that Stevens’ endorsement would significantly influence the outcome of the race, noting that millions of voters had already cast their ballots.
Matt Grossman, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, said the endorsement was unhelpful to El-Sayed’s campaign because it left the Democratic Party dealing with internal divisions at the end of the campaign.
Political strategist Adrian Hemond also argued that the endorsement might have had greater influence if it had come a month earlier.
Meanwhile, the economy and rising living costs have emerged as major concerns among voters, with the prices of groceries and fuel featuring prominently in campaign discussions.
In Ohio, voters expressed frustration over the increasing cost of basic necessities, with some saying they were struggling to afford food and fuel.
The economic concerns have also featured prominently in Texas, where the Senate contest is expected to become the most expensive non-presidential election in US history, with more than $560 million spent, according to AdImpact.
Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn is facing a challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who received Trump’s endorsement despite previously facing impeachment and acquittal on corruption charges.
Groups associated with billionaire Elon Musk have reportedly spent more than $200 million supporting Paxton.
Democratic candidate James Talarico is seeking to make gains in Texas, where Democrats have not won a statewide election in more than 30 years. Polls have shown him running neck-and-neck with Paxton, while the gubernatorial contest is also closely contested.
In Maine, the Senate race between Republican incumbent Susan Collins, who has held her seat since 1997, and Democratic candidate Troy Jackson is another closely watched contest.
The logging industry has faced rising operating costs linked to tariffs and increased diesel prices, although some operators said tariffs had helped revive parts of the American lumber industry.
Trump concluded his midterm campaign with a speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, where he highlighted his administration’s achievements and defended his record.
He claimed that personal incomes were at their highest level in history and that the poverty rate had reached a record low.
The president also promised that every American adult would receive $5,000 to spend exclusively within the United States if Republicans won the elections.
Trump urged voters to maintain Republican control of Congress, saying he had fulfilled every promise he made and had travelled across the country to support Republican candidates.
He also criticised Democratic candidates, describing them as the most extreme and dangerous in American history, and accused the party of pursuing radical positions on immigration and transgender rights.
However, his focus on renovation projects around Washington, including the Reflecting Pool, White House ballroom and a proposed Triumphal Arch, attracted criticism from political observers who argued that voters were more concerned about the economy and the cost of living.
Trump’s campaign appearance also came amid concerns over his approval ratings and uncertainty about whether his final appeals would influence voters in closely contested states.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to temporarily prevent California from counting mail-in ballots cast by more than 20,000 voters whom federal officials suspect are non-US citizens.
The Justice Department had previously asked California authorities to set aside the ballots, while Department of Homeland Security officials delivered letters to county authorities warning of possible criminal charges if they failed to comply.
However, a federal judge subsequently ordered the administration to stop threatening state and local election officials with criminal charges over their handling of the ballots.
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