Democratic control of the House of Representatives, close race in the Senate, Trump Republican Party facing headwinds due to Iran operation - 1 week until US midterm elections

[Washington Current Affairs] One week on the 27th until the US midterm elections on November 3rd. The ruling Republican Party, led by President Trump, is facing headwinds due to rising prices due to military operations against Iran. The opposition Democratic Party is also making an offensive in the Republican Party, and there is a growing expectation that it will regain the majority in the House of Representatives. The Senate race is expected to be close, and attention will be focused on the fate of the seven battleground states.

On the 25th, in a speech in the fiercely contested midwestern state of Michigan, Trump once again appealed, ``If the Republicans win, each person will receive $5,000 (approximately 780,000 yen) and we will achieve unprecedented economic success.'' While it is reported that the Republican Party is struggling, Mr. Trump is making a blatant effort to make a comeback by putting forward his blatant "distribution" policy.

According to predictions by election analysis agency Cook Political Report, there will be 220 Democratic-dominated districts in the House of Representatives (out of 435), outpacing the majority of 218. In contrast, there are 198 Republican-dominated districts. In many of the 17 constituencies where races are close, Republicans are facing a strong challenge, and the party is facing a tough battle.

A fierce battle continues in the Senate (100), where 35 seats are contested. There are 46 constituencies that are dominated by Republicans, including those that will not be re-elected, and 47 for Democrats. The seven closely contested states include the Republican strongholds of Texas in the south, Kansas in the Midwest, and Michigan, where the Democratic Party holds seats, and the outcome is unclear until the very end.

The reason why the Republicans, who hold majorities in both houses of Congress, are at a disadvantage is because of Mr. Trump's declining popularity. According to a Reuters poll published on the 19th, his approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 31%. One of the factors is the soaring energy prices brought on by the Iran operation, with higher gasoline prices directly hitting household budgets and increasing public dissatisfaction.

Although Mr. Trump continues to campaign every day, some Republican candidates have begun to distance themselves from him by criticizing the administration's tariff policies. On the other hand, the Democratic Party has raised issues such as Iran operations and high prices, and has also poured money into Republican strongholds. He is doing his best to capture votes critical of the administration.