Millions of Americans will head to the polls on Tuesday as Democrats and Republicans battle for control of Congress.
Most of us pay attention to American elections every four years, but this year’s midterms are shaping up to be some of the most dramatic in decades.
From New York to Alaska, Republicans and Democrats are vying for control over the House of Representatives and the Senate.
And if the Democrats win, it will be a major blow to Donald Trump’s administration and his ability to carry out major reform during his last two years in office.
Races in swing states are neck-and-neck. Metro‘s US reporter Sarah Hooper has laid out what races to watch – and why they’re so important.
Texas
It’s been more than 30 years since Texas elected a Democrat as Senator, but a young state representative could soon break that streak.
Democrat James Talarico, 37, is facing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, 63, to fight for Texas’ Senate Seat.
Talarico is fighting for affordability for Americans and against 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.
His opponent, Paxton, was endorsed by President Donald Trump on Truth Social. Paxton has called Talarico a ‘conman and deceiver’.
Paxton is campaigning on promises for border security, lower taxes, and supporting Trump’s agenda.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is vying for a Senate Seat while running against Republican candidate Michael Whatley.
North Carolina is a notorious swing state, but has voted for Trump in the last three elections, with close results (in 2024, 47.7% voted for Harris, and 50.9% voted for Trump).
But if there’s one thing the state is known for, it’s southern hospitality – and candidate Cooper clearly has heaps of it. The NC native is leading in most polls, spurred by his two terms as governor.
The latest polls show that Whatley, the Republican candidate endorsed by Trump, is trailing Cooper by nine points.
Whatley’s website shows that his major campaigning issues are safety in NC, enacting the ‘Trump Agenda’, fighting illegal immigration, and ‘protecting conservative values’.
Cooper’s platform is based around making things more affordable for North Carolinians and other Americans through policy change.
It’s been more than a decade since NC had a Democratic Senator – this race is one to watch.
Michigan
The last few days have caused a bit of tension in the already hotly contested Senate race in Michigan.
Last night, Democratic centrist Haley Stevens, who was fighting for the Democratic nomination, endorsed the Republican candidate Mike Rogers.
Progressive outsider and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has been rallying for money to be taken out of politics, taxing billionaires, and passing Medicare for all.
Rogers is fighting for lower interest rates to help families buy homes and lower prescription drug prices. His website claims that El-Sayed is a ‘conman’.
El-Sayed is in a narrow lead ahead of Rogers, and Michigan has been in the national spotlight due to an ongoing trade war and tariffs with Canada.
Republicans are hopeful they can take the seat, previously held by a Democrat, but the race is tightening.
Georgia
Republican Mike Collins and Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff are in a narrow race in Georgia, where Ossoff is currently leading.
Both Trump and former President Barack Obama have held rallies in Georgia this week to sway the vote.
Ossoff first won his seat in 2021 and is seeking to keep it for another term. His platform has been focused on affordability, holding the Trump administration to account and wider access to healthcare.
Collins, the Republican candidate, is focusing on immigration, lower taxes and enforcing Trump’s agenda.
In 2020, Georgia was at the epicentre of election drama after Trump tried to discredit election results in the swing state.
When are the midterm elections?
Every two years, elections take place in the US for Congress and the Senate. When the elections take place halfway through a President’s term, these are referred to as midterms.
Many other states also hold state-level elections, voting in governors and other representatives.
In the House, Representatives serve terms of two years, but those in the Senate serve six-year terms.
The House and Senate are both controlled by the Republican Party right now, but if Democrats win the majority of seats, they would have control.
Democrat control in the House and Senate would make it very difficult for Trump to continue pushing his political agenda.
Most Americans see this midterm election as a key opportunity to vote either in favour of or against Trump and his policies – even though the President himself isn’t on the ballot.
Voting begins Tuesday, and results will be in later that night or early the next morning. Buckle up – it’s going to be a wild ride.
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