Election night opens with Trump in battle mode

As midterm voting began across the country Tuesday, President Trump's administration was putting pressure on the outcome. The DOJ had issued over a dozen target letters in the Alaska Senate race, escalating its investigation into the Republican nominee Dan J. Sullivan. This comes amid the White House sharing Election Day talking points, outlining Trump's achievements to bolster his Republican candidates' campaigns.

Despite facing challenges, Trump has been a driving force in the campaign, rallying supporters across various states. On Election Day itself, Trump took to social media to criticize Democratic nominees in Michigan, California, and elsewhere. Some election machine issues were reported in multiple locations, including New York's competitive House race.

The political stakes are high: a Democratic takeover of either the House or Senate could lead to investigations, subpoenas, and legislative gridlock under Trump's second term. Republicans are defending slender majorities, with several competitive races in traditionally GOP districts. The results will reveal whether Trump's support among young, Black, and Latino voters continues or if they shift back to Democrats for the 2028 election.