In Alaska, home to another crucial Senate race, a judge on Sunday dismissed an attempt by the Trump administration to delay certifying election results if the Republican incumbent candidate loses due to two candidates appearing on the ballot with the same name.
In the lead up to the election, Trump and his administration have repeatedly cast doubt on both the credibility and security of the vote, despite evidence showing voter fraud is rare. The justice department has launched investigations or demanded votes be set aside in multiple US states.
The stakes are high for Trump, as midterm election results are seen as a measure of how satisfied Americans are with a president’s performance.
In most midterm elections, the party that holds the White House typically loses seats in Congress to the opposing party – meaning Trump’s Republican party has the most to lose.
Republicans, who currently hold a slim majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate, don’t want to relinquish their party’s majority in Congress, as losing any seats would hinder their ability to pass laws and shape policies.
Democrats, however, are keen to gain control from Republicans. Holding a majority would enable them to challenge Trump’s agenda, give them investigative powers over his administration, and could also help them showcase their vision for America ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
For lawmakers, it’s all about gaining or maintaining power and control, but it’s Americans who will feel the impacts of their policies.
Who gets elected at the city, state, and federal level affects many aspects of voters’ everyday lives, including the cost of gas, rising inflation and grocery prices, healthcare and abortion access, income and property taxes, and immigration.
