The initial figures represent leads rather than confirmed victories, and the results could change as more votes are counted.
All 435 seats in the House are being contested. Democrats need a net gain of three seats to take control of the chamber, where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
Democrats are also seeking to regain control of the Senate. A victory in either chamber would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda during the final two years of his presidency.
A Democratic majority in the House would give the party the power to block or delay Trump’s legislative priorities and launch congressional investigations into his administration. Control of the Senate would allow Democrats to obstruct the president’s nominations for senior government positions and federal judgeships.
The midterm elections have become a nationwide test of Trump’s leadership, with Republicans facing growing voter dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living, tariffs and the war against Iran, which has driven up energy prices.
Alongside all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and governorships in 36 states are also being contested. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control, against the Republicans’ existing 53-47 majority.
As the first polling stations closed in Kentucky and Indiana, House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters in Washington that the country was “on the brink of a dramatic change of direction”.
He predicted that Democrats were close to regaining control of the House.
Trump returned to the White House last year promising to reduce prices. However, inflation, tariffs and higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict have put further pressure on household budgets.
The 80-year-old president’s approval rating has remained near historic lows, increasing the pressure on Republicans as they defend their congressional majorities.
Taylor Cook, a 24-year-old voter from Los Angeles, told AFP that the cost of living and limiting the Trump administration’s power were the two main issues influencing her vote.
She said rising rents, grocery bills, utility costs and property taxes had made affordability a major concern.
Economic discontent
Trump defended his record in a final television phone-in appearance on Tuesday, highlighting his immigration crackdown, the war against Iran and tariffs as achievements.
“We have to keep America great. We’re great now. We were terrible two years ago,” he told Fox & Friends.
Republicans have argued that Trump’s tax cuts and tough immigration policies will benefit voters. They have also portrayed Democratic candidates as left-wing radicals, a message that appears to have appealed to some voters.
Maru Restrepo, a 70-year-old voter of Colombian origin, told AFP in Miami that the Democratic Party had become too socialist.
Although Trump campaigned extensively to support Republican candidates, opinion polls suggested that his involvement may have hurt their prospects.
During his final public appearance on Monday, Trump made little reference to the elections and instead spoke at length about problems surrounding the renovation of Washington’s Reflecting Pool.
A White House official told AFP that Republicans were in a stronger position than they had been four weeks earlier.
However, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described Trump’s final speech as “pathetic”.
Senate race remains challenging for Democrats
Despite their early advantage in the House, Democrats face a difficult path to securing control of the Senate.
Republicans entered the elections with a 53-47 majority, but voter dissatisfaction has brought several traditionally conservative states, including Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Alaska, into contention.
Democrats also face the challenge of defending competitive seats, including in Michigan. There, an internal party dispute saw Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorse Republican candidate Mike Rogers instead of the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.
Decision Desk HQ’s final forecast projected that Democrats would win 241 House seats against 194 for Republicans. It also predicted a narrow 52-48 Democratic majority in the Senate.
The election campaign has attracted more than $11 billion in political advertising. Billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, has spent nearly half a billion dollars supporting Republican efforts.
Concerns over disputed results
Concerns have also emerged that Republicans, particularly Trump, may refuse to accept the results if they lose.
Trump has repeatedly alleged widespread voter fraud and accused Democrats of electoral wrongdoing without providing evidence. He also tried to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
On Tuesday, voting machines malfunctioned during a closely contested House race in New York state. The incident prompted right-wing social media influencers to make unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud.
Local election officials, however, insisted that all ballots would be counted.
