The Republican Party, which controls both houses of Congress as well as the White House after the 2024 presidential elections in the USA, faces a narrow majority balance before the midterm elections held today.
In the table where two seats are vacant in the House of Representatives, Republicans have 218 seats, while Democrats are sitting in 214 seats; Independent Kevin Kiley, who left his party in March 2026, mostly acts with his old party.
In the Senate, there are 45 Democrats against 53 Republicans and two independent senators who vote with them.
Losing the majority in even one house of Congress could have decisive consequences for the Donald Trump administration.
Democrats who will take control of the House of Representatives will be able to chair committees and open investigations against White House staff and the Trump family, call officials to testify, and impose restrictions on cross-border military operations and budget spending, including Iran.
Democrats will also have the right to restart the impeachment process.
Trump initiated the impeachment process twice, in December 2019 and January 2021, but both attempts were rejected in votes in the Senate.
Since a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required for impeachment, Democrats are unlikely to achieve this goal without the support of Republican senators.
Even a simple majority in the Senate is enough to expand the Democratic Party's field of action.
A change of hands in the Senate, which has the power to confirm federal judges and senior executive officers, could directly halt Trump's appointment plans.
Faced with this risk, Republican senators plan to quickly confirm Trump's proposed judge candidates in the transition phase between the elections and the start of the new legislative term in January 2027.
On the other hand, Trump is trying to turn this race into a vote of confidence for his own policies.
Addressing voters at the rally in Kentucky on October 17, Trump asked them to vote as if his name was on the ballot.
Despite this strategy of the president, who attended 29 separate rallies in the last month, public support is declining.
According to the Reuters/Ipsos survey dated October 26, the rate of approval of Trump's actions remains at 32 percent, while the rate of disapproval is measured at 66 percent.
Under the influence of this situation, many Republican candidates are distancing themselves from Trump.
A Reuters survey of the 62 most contested electoral districts reveals that 41 Republican candidates are trying to hide their ties to Trump.
Texas candidate Eric Flores launched a legal fight to remove these images after his Democratic rivals prepared billboards showing him side by side with Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Difficulties in the economic situation also face the ruling party.
After the war between the USA and Israel against Iran, diesel fuel prices increased by approximately 70 percent. Wanting to curb price increases, Trump agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9 to import Russian diesel, and the Treasury Department allowed this trade until April 7, 2027.
On October 16, Trump also suspended key provisions of the Lindsey Graham law, which became law with joint bipartisan votes and envisaged heavy sanctions on Russia. Both decisions drew reaction from both houses of Congress.
Crises within the administration also affect the election atmosphere. US Ambassador to Athens Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was revealed to have asked for money from donors to pay off debt and lobbied for Greek companies, was forced to resign on October 13.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's proposal to livestream the execution of 2009 Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan was halted by Trump on Oct. 15 after bipartisan objections.
Katie Zacharia, who was appointed as the spokesperson instead of Karoline Leavitt, resigned five days later due to false statements regarding her attorney title.
