What are the U.S. midterm elections? This is a simple guide

The U.S. midterm elections are held in November, when voters will go to the polls, and the results of this election may have a significant impact on the remainder of Donald Trump's presidential term.

What are midterm elections?

On November 3, Americans will elect members of Congress. Congress consists of two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Elections are held every two years; when they are held in the middle of a president's four-year term, they are called midterms.

An important responsibility of Congress is to make and pass federal laws, that is, laws that apply nationwide.

The outcome of the midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress, Trump's Republican Party or the opposition Democrats, and how easy it will be for the president to implement his plans.

The election results are also seen as an indicator of how satisfied the American people are with the president's performance so far.

Who will be chosen?

The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress, and all 435 seats will be up for election. The term of office of the House of Representatives is fixed at two years. The House of Representatives is usually where bills are proposed and debated.

At the same time, 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate, the upper house, will be up for election. Senators serve six-year terms. Among other duties, they are responsible for approving or vetoing bills introduced by the House of Representatives.

On the same day, voters in much of the country will also elect state officials. The gubernatorial elections in California, Florida, Georgia and Michigan will be among the most closely watched races.

What are the main issues in this election?

The U.S. economy is a focus for many voters, especially those who are struggling with price pressures on fuel, groceries, housing and health care.

Inflation remains above the Federal Reserve's target, in part because of the war between the United States and Israel that broke out with Iran in February.

Democrats believe that Trump’s trade tariff policies have also pushed up the cost of living for the American people.

Immigration is another key issue. Republicans say Trump has fulfilled a key promise during his 2024 campaign by tightening border controls and launching a massive and often controversial crackdown on illegal immigration.

Concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) have become more pressing in recent weeks. Senior politicians from both parties agree on the need to regulate it, putting them at odds with Trump, who has opposed laws to regulate the development of the technology.

What's at stake in the midterm elections?

Congress is one of the three branches of government, along with the presidency and the judiciary. Which party controls Congress has an important influence on the direction of legislation.

Currently, both the House of Representatives and the Senate are controlled by Republicans, but their margins are slim. Republicans have 218 seats in the House, the minimum required to take control, plus one independent member who votes with the Republicans.

In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats. Control of the upper chamber will change hands only if the Democrats win 51 seats, because if each party wins 50 seats, the current Republican vice president can cast the decisive vote.

If the opposition Democrats regain control of at least one chamber, they will gain the power to introduce their own bills to parliament for consideration.

Who might win?

In the past, voters tended to "punish" the president's party and vote against the ruling party.

Recent polls show the president's approval rating is low. According to data from the polling website Silver Bulletin, Trump's approval rating was slightly above 50% when he began his second presidential term, but it had dropped to about 37% by early October. At the same time, 61% of respondents said they did not support him.

However, not all seats in either chamber are closely contested. Some districts are almost always won by Republicans or Democrats.

The BBC's partner in the United States, CBS, pointed out that there are nine Senate races worth watching, including the elections in Iowa (Iowa/Iowa) and New Hampshire (New Hampshire); there are also 42 House of Representatives races worth watching, including the elections in Arizona (Arizona) and Ohio (Ohio).

This year's race will be harder to predict as the two parties tussle over how House districts are drawn.

Republicans have tried to gain advantage by designing more favorable district maps in some states, and Democrats have done the same.

What do the election results mean for Trump?

If Democrats win control of either chamber of the House or Senate, Trump will have a hard time getting any legislation passed in Congress.

As a result, his domestic plans may be hampered, although he has found some ways to exercise power without relying entirely on his party.

If Democrats control either chamber, it would also mean they could use committees to investigate matters from Trump's presidency. Allegations of corruption, a new White House ballroom and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement strategies are all likely to come under scrutiny.

There is also debate within the Democratic Party over whether to impeach Trump. Impeachment refers to the introduction of accusations in Congress as the basis for a political trial rather than a criminal trial.

If the Republicans retain control of Congress, Trump will be able to continue to advance his policy plans for the rest of his term.

How will the 2026 midterm elections affect the 2028 general election?