‘Referendum’ on Trump
5 Points on: The US Midterm Elections
Victoria Barkley and Connor Sullivan, with their dog "Chicken," on their way to a polling station in New Orleans. Photo: Gerald Herbert / AP / TT
Donald Trump has two years left in the White House.
Today, Americans will decide how much power he gets to keep.
1. What Americans are voting on
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs. At the same time, one-third of the Senate is being contested.
Additionally, governors and local officials are being elected in various places.
Several states are also holding referendums—including votes on abortion rights in Idaho and Missouri, and a tax on billionaires in California.
2. A referendum on Trump
Trump is grappling with record-low approval ratings—support has fallen to just over 30 percent in several polls.
Although he is not on the ballot, the president has urged voters to act as if he were a candidate.
Now, voters will pass judgment on his first two years in the White House.
3. Why it matters
The US is electing representatives to Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Currently, the Republicans hold a majority in both chambers.
If Americans change that, the Democrats will be in a better position to obstruct Trump’s agenda.
4. The Talk of the Town
In Michigan, Republicans hope to flip a seat currently held by the Democrats.
Their opponent is the progressive Abdul El-Sayed, who could become the first Muslim senator in the United States. Trump has targeted him with racist and Islamophobic remarks.
5. The Issues Dividing the U.S.
Economic concerns—matters that hit people in the wallet—will be the deciding factor. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, Americans are worried about high grocery bills, rising gasoline costs, and healthcare expenses.
Immigration and the war in Iran are also highly debated topics.
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