US midterms: 62% of voters blame Trump policies for rising prices as Congress votes

Voters vent anger at Trump

Voters went to the polls for the US midterm elections with strong dissatisfaction over Donald Trump. In a large survey of voters conducted for several major US broadcasters and cited by CNN, 62% said Trump's policies were responsible for rising prices. Another 37% said they were dissatisfied with the situation in the country, and 38% said they were angry about it. The survey combined election-day voters with early and mail voters interviewed online or by phone since 19 October.

What is at stake in Congress

All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are being decided. Trump's Republicans currently control both chambers, and a Democratic majority in one or both would limit the president's room for manoeuvre. Losing the Senate would hurt him most, because that chamber must confirm candidates for central government posts and judges. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, so Democrats would need 51 votes together with two allied independent senators. That looked unlikely only a few months ago, but Democratic candidates gained in polls as discontent grew. In the House, Republicans have only a thin lead, so a change of majority is considered more likely than not.

Economy and the campaign issues

The economy was the central issue for 39% of voters. Fuel prices, which rose sharply after the Iran war that Trump began, were a particular grievance, growing by up to more than 70% in parts of the central United States where Republicans traditionally do better. In the survey, 40% described the economy as "not so good" and 35% as bad, and nearly two-thirds said Trump's import tariffs had harmed it. Asked which party could better get the economy moving, 43% chose the Democrats and 38% the Republicans.

Economy39%

State of US democracy32%

Immigration14%

Healthcare8%

Economy

39 %

State of US democracy

32 %

Immigration

14 %

Healthcare

8 %

Data from the article text

When the result will be known

First results are expected overnight into Wednesday Central European time, but the final majorities may remain unclear for days. In California, the final count can take days, and some races could go to runoffs. Almost 61 million people cast their ballots before election day, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida, compared with just under 46 million in the 2022 midterms.