Millions of Americans head to the polls on Tuesday as Democrats and Republicans battle for control of Congress in midterm elections that are shaping up to be some of the most dramatic in decades. From New York to Alaska, the two parties are vying for control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. A Democratic victory would be a major blow to Donald Trump's administration and its ability to carry out major reform during the president's last two years in office.
Texas: a three-decade streak on the line
It has been more than 30 years since Texas elected a Democrat as senator, but state representative James Talarico, 37, is hoping to break that streak. He is facing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, 63, for the state's Senate seat. Talarico is campaigning on affordability and against what he calls widespread corruption in US politics.
'Texans are ready for change. We are done with the extremism and the corruption. We're done with the politics of division, and we are ready for something new,' Talarico said. Paxton, endorsed by President Trump on Truth Social, has called Talarico a 'conman and deceiver'. Paxton is running on promises of border security, lower taxes and supporting Trump's agenda.
North Carolina and Michigan: swing-state showdowns
In North Carolina, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is running for a Senate seat against Republican candidate Michael Whatley. The state has voted for Trump in the last three elections, with close results – in 2024, 47.7% voted for Harris and 50.9% for Trump. Cooper is leading in most polls, boosted by his two terms as governor, with Whatley trailing by nine points. Whatley's campaign focuses on safety, enacting the 'Trump Agenda', fighting illegal immigration and 'protecting conservative values', while Cooper's platform centres on affordability through policy change.
In Michigan, the Senate race has turned tense in recent days. Democratic centrist Haley Stevens, who was fighting for the Democratic nomination, endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers. Progressive outsider Abdul El-Sayed has been calling for money to be taken out of politics, taxing billionaires and passing Medicare for all. Rogers is pushing for lower interest rates to help families buy homes and lower prescription drug prices, and his website claims El-Sayed is a 'conman'. El-Sayed holds a narrow lead, and the race has drawn national attention amid an ongoing trade war and tariffs with Canada.
Georgia and what's at stake
In Georgia, Republican Mike Collins and Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff are in a narrow race, with Ossoff currently leading. Both Trump and former President Barack Obama have held rallies in the state this week. Ossoff, who first won his seat in 2021, is seeking another term on a platform of affordability, holding the Trump administration to account and wider access to healthcare. Collins is focusing on immigration, lower taxes and enforcing Trump's agenda. Georgia was at the centre of election drama in 2020 after Trump tried to discredit election results there.
Midterm elections take place every two years, halfway through a president's term. Representatives serve two-year terms, while senators serve six-year terms. The House and Senate are both controlled by the Republican Party, but a Democratic majority would give them control and make it very difficult for Trump to continue pushing his agenda. Voting begins Tuesday, with results expected later that night or early the next morning.
