Donald Trump launched a frenetic social media blitz as millions of Americans cast their votes in pivotal midterm elections, urging voters to help Republicans keep control of Congress.
Using his Truth Social site to drum up support, Trump took aim at a slew of Democratic candidates, including one standing in the key battleground state of Texas.
Trump targets Democratic candidates
He labelled Johnny Garcia a “radical left Democrat” - one of a number of “Dumocrats” - opposed to no tax on tips, overtime, and social security.
Trump said: “He wants massive tax increases, open borders (and) men playing in women’s sports” describing him as “reckless, radical, and dangerous”.
Midterm significance
Appearing on American TV, an upbeat Trump said the election was important “because we have indeed made America great again”.
He said: “I think the results are going to be better than you think. I did a tour for 30 days - I don't know what to tell you. Those stadiums were packed. We had people nobody's ever seen. I think [rallies] will have a big effect. The spirit and the love of our country is tremendous.”
He added that the US was “the most respected country anywhere in the world” - and took a swipe at Europe which he said was “falling apart”.
Polling stations in the eastern states of New York, Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania were the first to open in a nationwide ballot that will determine who gains control over Congress, which creates and passes federal laws. Americans are choosing members of Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
These elections take place every two years and when they happen in the middle of a president's four-year term, as they are now, they are called midterms.
Impact on Trump's presidency
The outcome will decide which party - Trump's Republicans or the Democrats - controls Congress and how easy it is for the president to carry out his plans.
Although Trump is not on the ballot, he has attempted to use the midterms as a vote on his second-term presidency.
Historically, incumbent parties take a battering in the midterms and latest polling shows only 17% of US adults approve of his handling of the cost of living crisis, while positive polling on the economy overall has slipped to 26%. Some 65% now blame Trump's policies for persistently high costs more than factors outside his control.
The results of the midterm elections will be seen as a measure of how happy people are with the president.
Democrats need a net gain of three seats in the House and of four seats in the Senate to flip what is currently a Republican-dominated Congress and severely neuter Trump’s power for the remainder of his term in the White House.
As polls opened, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said around 1,000 election monitors and observers were being deployed to all 50 states for the first time in history.
They will be used to check federal voting laws are being followed in support of “free and fair elections”.
In a rallying cry to Democrats across the US, California governor Gavin Newsom said: “Trump's presidency ends…as long as we do our job.”
