Kathmandu, 3 Oct: The United States is holding midterm elections today (Tuesday), which are widely seen as a test of President Donald Trump’s popularity and his administration’s performance. The election is considered a major challenge for the ruling Republican Party as it seeks to retain control of Congress.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are expected to witness fierce competition between the Republican and Democratic parties. The Senate race, in particular, is being viewed as especially interesting. Rising living costs (inflation) and economic policies have emerged as major issues for voters. Both parties have spent huge sums of money on their election campaigns.
Security concerns have also drawn attention after hackers disrupted the US Federal Election Commission’s electronic filing system shortly before the election, prompting increased vigilance over technological security. The election is being closely watched around the world as it is expected to shape the future political direction of the United States.
According to the final poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College, Democratic candidates are leading in seven key states that could determine control of the Senate: Michigan, Kansas, Texas, Maine, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa.
The election is being viewed as a referendum on President Trump’s second term, which has now passed its two-year mark. Democrats have gained an advantage in the congressional races by capitalising on voter dissatisfaction over rising inflation and economic policies. Although Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, Democrats have been working hard to secure the four additional seats needed to gain control.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico is leading Republican Ken Paxton by 50 to 43 percent. In Kansas, Chris Hamilton is ahead of Roger Marshall by 49 to 44 percent, while in Maine, Graham Platner is leading Susan Collins by 51 to 45 percent.
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown and in Alaska, Mary Peltola are also ahead of their Republican rivals. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek has secured 48 percent support, compared with 47 percent for Republican Ashley Hinson. In Michigan, Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed is leading with 53 percent support.
Although the polls suggest that Democrats have a chance of gaining control of the Senate, the final outcome will depend on voters’ decisions.
In the United States, midterm elections are general elections held halfway through a president’s four-year term, after the completion of the first two years in office. Voters do not elect a president during these elections. Instead, they decide the composition of Congress and several important positions at the state level.
