Millions of Americans voted in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, Mwananchi reported. The results are widely expected to be read as a verdict on President Donald Trump. They will also decide how much power he holds for the rest of his second term.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with 35 of the 100 Senate seats. Voters in 36 of the 50 states are also choosing governors for four-year terms. ABC News, cited by Mwananchi, said the outcome could shape the 2028 presidential election. The paper said the campaign was marked by threats of election interference and divisions inside the parties.
Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers. Democrats need three more seats to win the House, where only about 40 races are seen as highly competitive. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats against 47 for Democrats and independents. Democrats need four more seats to reach 51. Republicans can lose up to three seats and keep control with 50, because Vice President JD Vance casts the tie-breaking vote. About 12 Senate races are seen as close.
Political analysts and forecasting models give Democrats a strong chance of winning the House, Mwananchi reported. A Democratic House would make it harder for Trump to pass his agenda. It could also step up investigations into his administration through hearings and subpoenas. The paper said Trump could face another impeachment attempt if Democrats make strong gains.
Trump admitted that his party faces a tough contest. At his final rally in Washington DC on Monday, he said the sitting president's party does not usually win midterms. He called the vote "the most important midterm election of our lifetime" and said Congress must stay strong and free.
History is against the Republicans. In every midterm since 1934 except three, the president's party has lost House seats. Senate races have been harder to predict. Mwananchi said Trump's popularity has fallen sharply since he returned to the White House two years ago.