Polls open for US midterms in vote seen as referendum on Trump

Polling commenced in the United States on Tuesday, with millions of citizens indirectly voting on President Donald Trump's policies. In states on the East Coast like New York and New Hampshire, polling stations opened at 6 am (1100 GMT). Some polling stations in Vermont, a northeastern state, began an hour earlier. Most of Texas (1300 GMT), Colorado (1400 GMT), and California on the West Coast (1500 GMT) followed suit from 7 am.

The final polling stations to open were those in Alaska and Hawaii, at 1600 and 1700 GMT, respectively. Early voting was significant, with nearly 58.7 million votes cast, either via postal ballot or in-person. President Trump himself participated in early voting before the first polling stations opened. These midterms will determine the next two years of Trump's term, with control of the House of Representatives at stake.

Citizens will decide whether Trump can continue relying on a Republican-controlled Congress or face more challenges from the opposition Democrats. All 435 seats in the House and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs. Trump hoped his campaign slogan, "Pretend I'm on the ticket," would bolster Republican candidates' support, but recent polls indicate his personal approval ratings are at a record low.

Democrats hope this strategy backfires, as gaining control of one or both chambers of Congress could impede Trump's legislative agenda, launch investigations into his administration, and block his judicial nominees. The Senate's control would also restrict his ability to appoint federal judges. While Trump is usually confident of midterm victories, he acknowledged that historically, the party in power often loses seats in Congress. Despite the unfavorable odds, Trump "gave this a very strong shot."