On 3 November, voters from all over the United States will cast their ballots in the midterm elections, which could reshape Congress and make it harder for Donald Trump to pass policy.
Thousands of candidates will appear on ballot papers as Americans elect representatives and officials at all levels of national and local government.
While Trump’s name will not be among them, the midterms are viewed by many as a referendum on the US President, who will be a major influence on how many voters approach this year’s midterms.
Whether they are weighing up issues of war and peace, migration or economics, Trump and his divisive second term will be high in voters’ minds in these historic elections.
Who is voting, and what are they voting for?
The midterms take place halfway through a four-year presidential term. Voting will take place in every part of the US, and citizens will have a range of options depending on where they live.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress (similar to the UK House of Commons), will be up for grabs. The number of seats in each of the 50 states is determined by population, and representatives are elected every two years. Trump’s Republican Party currently holds the balance of power in the House with 219 seats (including one independent who caucuses with the Republicans) to the Democrats’ 212, with four seats vacant.
The Democrats need a net gain of three seats to take control of the House, and are favoured to win the majority – but the race is tight, with fewer seats genuinely contestable after recent redrawing of district lines.
In the upper house of Congress, the Senate, each state has two representatives regardless of size, but only 35 of the 100 seats will be contested in this year’s elections, including two special elections to fill vacancies. The Republicans have a 53-47 majority (including two independents who caucus with Democrats).
The Senate is on a knife-edge, with the Democrats needing to net four seats. If they only gain three, creating a fifty-fifty tie, the sitting vice president – currently JD Vance – has the tie-breaking vote. The seats up for election this year are mostly in states that voted for Trump, giving Democrats a very narrow path towards winning control.
Thirty-six states will also be electing governors, a role that has traditionally been a step towards the White House with several former governors becoming US president, including Ronald Reagan (California), Bill Clinton (Arkansas), and George W Bush (Texas).
Thousands of “down ballot” elections will take place to choose local administrators and officials from mayors to sheriffs to state legislators. States also can use the elections to vote on contentious issues such as taxation, abortion rights and local government structures.
Fewer Americans tend to vote in the midterms with turnout rates typically between 40 and 50 per cent compared with around 60 per cent in presidential contests.
Which are the races and candidates to watch out for?
In a deeply politically divided country, many of the elections will fall safely into the hands of the dominant local party. So all eyes will be on crucial battleground races that could tip the balance.
These include Senate races in Michigan, Maine, Ohio and Texas.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico, a 37-year-old former teacher and church minister, takes on Ken Paxton, a Trump-approved candidate with a chequered political career serving as state attorney-general in the Republican stronghold. “Talarico has a kind of a new way of campaigning for the Democratic Party,” says David Andersen, associate professor in US politics at Durham University.
“He wears his religion on his sleeve and has a different interpretation of Christianity from his Republican rival. And a Democrat winning in Texas would be big, big news.”
Trump backed Paxton, 63, in a heated primary contest as he battled allegations of personal and financial misconduct. In contrast to his young rival, Paxton has “been plagued by as many scandals as Trump himself has”, says Andersen.
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul el-Sayed, 41, could be America’s first Muslim senator. He has voiced support for progressive causes like universal healthcare and abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has been a vocal critic of US foreign policy and Israel. Trump called the former public health official a “Communist loser” while he has received endorsements from leading left-wingers including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Michigan is a big one for the Democrats, because the Democratic Party is always worried about whether it’s too far to the left and needs to come more to the centre,” says Andersen.
But he believes the governor races are even more significant. “The governors are arguably the most important political actors in America. The presidency gets all the attention, and we talk a lot about Congress, but the governors are the ones who actually get things done for people in America.”
Democratic ex-mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms is aiming to be the first black woman to lead Georgia while Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who stood against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is running for Ohio governor.
Ohio’s House race is also one to watch after the safe seat moved to toss-up following allegations of domestic abuse against Republican incumbent Max Miller. He denies the allegations and claims his wife has “significant mental health challenges”.
Pennsylvania – with its mix of rural and urban areas that mirror the national landscape – is seen as a bellwether, and has the most toss-up races of any state, according to the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
What has happened so far in Meta’s trial over ‘harm to children’
The first hearing day of the lawsuit against Meta over alleged child harm ended yesterday.
A coalition of 29 US states initially brought the action against Meta Platforms in 2023 in California, accusing the company of deliberately designing its platforms to be addictive to young people.
The opening arguments
California’s deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill alleged that Meta hid the truth about the risks its platforms posed to children, chose profit over safety and actively intervened in its own mental health research.
Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt argued the company always took safety into account, has a track record of sharing information about social media harms and that enforcing content and age limit policies is complicated.
A whistleblower’s testimony
Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar said in his testimony that Meta knew its platforms were harming young people, and underplayed the amount of harm among users in its public reports.
During the trial, protestors gathered outside the courthouse.
What happens next?
California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, said the hearing will resume with the continuation of Béjar’s testimony. The trial is expected to last 5-7 weeks.
Whether CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg will testify is still “TBD”, according to Bonta.
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How Ulez is improving children’s health in London
A study has revealed that children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the introduction of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), which restricted the most polluting vehicles from entering London.
The researchers described it as a vindication of the policy, which has been criticised as a burden on motorists.
What you need to know
Previous research showed that by the age of eight or nine, children living in London’s most polluted areas had lung capacity that was 5–10 per cent lower than that of children living elsewhere.
This increased their risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and premature death later in life.
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The study
- Researchers from Queen Mary University of London recruited 1,664 children aged six to nine in London and 1,750 in Luton.
- They then measured the children’s lung health and size annually to assess how air quality changes after the introduction of Ulez affected their lung development.
- The children in London initially had much smaller lungs than those in Luton, but after Ulez, their lungs’ health improved until they were comparable with those in Luton.
For years, politicians and pundits opposed to the Ulez have cynically sought to turn questions of public health into a crude culture war. Today, though, it’s clear that we’re winning the battle against toxic air in the capital – and it’s London’s children who are reaping the rewards.
Sadiq khan, mayor of london
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The organ in your chest that could be key to living longer
If you ever muse about which parts of your body are most impacted by getting older, your heart, brain or perhaps your muscles may come to mind. One that you probably wouldn’t think of is the thymus.
Erin Patterson challenges convictions over mushroom murders
Erin Patterson was jailed for life last September for murdering three relatives and trying to kill another after giving them a poisonous mushroom meal.
But now, Patterson is returning to court in an attempt to overturn her conviction.
Patterson’s lawyers say there are pieces of evidence the jurors saw which were not relevant and prejudicial, causing a substantial miscarriage of justice.
They include mobile tracking data indicating that she had been to places where death cap mushrooms had recently been seen, and online messages to Facebook friends in which she ranted about her in-laws and estranged husband.
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A closer look at the detail
Patterson’s lawyers also claimed that other evidence had been wrongly excluded.
They pointed to photos relating to her hobby as a long-time mushroom forager that would have supported their argument that the deaths were a tragic accident.
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Issues with prosecution
- Her lawyers argued that the prosecution had been inconsistent over the motive, initially telling the court they would not put forward a specific motive, but later suggesting that one did exist.
- They criticised the five days Patterson was cross-examined by barrister Nanette Rogers.
- Patterson said it was “unfair and oppressive”.
- Because of the global scrutiny on the case, steps were taken to ensure the jury were insulated from outside influences.
- However, Patterson’s lawyers argued a “fundamental irregularity” occurred which “fatally undermined” the integrity of the verdicts.
- This is because the jury shared a hotel with members of the prosecution among others.
- The judge at the time said there was no evidence the jury interacted with anyone linked to the case.
What happens next?
The result of the appeal will not be announced immediately after these hearings, as reaching a decision could take months.
If the three judges overturn her convictions, there are two options – a retrial or acquittal.
If the prosecution’s appeal is successful, Patterson may see her parole period extended, or could face life without parole.
Nick Kyrgios banned from tennis after positive cocaine test
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
What you need to know
- Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended since 4 August.
- The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension “but has not done so to date”.
- In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made “a huge mistake” and takes “full responsibility” for it.
What the suspension means
Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours.
The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with injuries. He last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he lost in the first round.
Years of injuries take toll
My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do. Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did.”
said in a written statement
How worried should you be about UK salmonella outbreak
One person has died and more than 200 have fallen ill amid a UK-wide salmonella outbreak, with health officials linking the cases to the consumption of imported eggs.
Source being investigated
The patients affected appear to have eaten the contaminated eggs in restaurants and cafes, not at home. Those affected include babies and people as old as 90.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has ruled out UK-produced eggs or poultry as the source and said the evidence suggests imported eggs are responsible.
Where have the cases been?
Most cases have been in England, including 47 in London and 38 in Yorkshire and the Humber. There have been six cases in Scotland, one in Wales and another in Northern Ireland.
Officials have found that all of the cases are linked to a single strain of salmonella.
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How worried should you be?
- More than a third of those affected have needed hospital care – however, most people get better without treatment.
- Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, though vulnerable people may experience severe illness.
- There are simple steps to prevent the spread of salmonella, including washing your hands after using the bathroom and before handling food.
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What are the symptoms?
- Hannah Charles, the UKHSA’s lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections said: “Symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever.
- “Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out-of-hours service in the first instance.”
- To prevent the spread, she advised: “Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly.
- “If you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible.”.
The mispronounced words Britons struggle with the most
The most commonly mangled words in the UK have been revealed in a new survey, as well as our attitudes surrounding pronunciation.
Here is everything you need to know.
What you need to know
OnePoll has conducted a survey on the most commonly mispronounced words in the UK.
The research was commissioned by Czech car manufacturer Skoda to highlight the fact that many Britons pronounce the brand’s name wrong – “S-co-der” instead of the correct “Sh-co-da”.
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Mispronounced words – and the correct pronunciations
- 1Acai: Ah-sigh-ee
- 2Segue: Segway
- 3Charcuterie: Shar-koo-tuh-ree
- 4Quinoa: Keen-wa
Mispronounced words – and the correct pronunciations
- 5 Gnocchi: Nyock-kee
- 6 Worcestershire: Wus-ter-sher
- 7 Chipotle: Chi-poht-lay
A closer look at the survey
The survey also revealed how Britons feel about mispronounced words.
- 85 per cent of respondents had someone correct them after a mispronunciation, with 25 per cent feeling embarrassed afterwards.
- 27 per cent admitted they continued using the wrong pronunciation anyway.
- 52 per cent thought it shows respect for language, while 38 per cent thought it made them appear more knowledgeable.
- 34 per cent thought it made them seem more professional.
- 38 per cent said that the way someone pronounces words could affect the impression they have of them.
Ikea is set to launch its own second-hand selling site later this year, which will allow shoppers signed up to its membership to buy and sell pre-owned Ikea items locally.
Already trialled in other countries
The scheme follows trials of online second-hand marketplaces in Spain and Norway.
It also comes five years after the world’s biggest furniture retailer began buying and selling used Ikea items in some of its UK stores.
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Perks for users
- On the Spanish version, selling is made easier with price suggestions given by Ikea and pre-filled product descriptions.
- Ikea also offers sellers 15 per cent extra on the price of the item if they agree to be paid with an Ikea gift card.
- A similar system to Vinted of paying a 5 per cent “protection fee” is being implemented in Spain from January next year to fund various costs related to the sale.
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How some prostate cancers ‘can be diagnosed without biopsy’
Researchers at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) have found MRI scans can be used to detect cancer in some men with a high degree of certainty.
What the research found
- Men may not need to have a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Radiologists looked at scan results combined with the patient’s age and their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score.
- Of the 69 patients deemed to be “99 per cent certain” they had a tumour via their MRI scan, all of them had cancer confirmed through biopsy.
- Researchers said this indicates certain men may not need to have invasive biopsies.
What does this mean?
UCLH consultant radiologist Alex Kirkham said the research indicates prostate cancer could join the list of cancers which can be diagnosed with a scan alone.
Consultant urologist and professor of interventional oncology Mark Emberton said it is particularly important as prostate cancer incidence is only set to rise.
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The expert reaction
Avoiding unnecessary biopsies is an important goal in cancer care, because they can be painful, invasive and can cause infections… Using MRI alone to diagnose these cancers could make the process much safer and easier for men, and less costly for the NHS.
Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Cancer UK
What are the big issues for voters?
“It’s the economy stupid” has for decades been the mantra of American political strategists when arguing what voters care about most. In 2026, it’s no different. Polling shows that the cost of living, taxation and the impact of the war with Iran are uppermost in voters’ minds as they head to the polls.
“The cost of gas [fuel] is a cliché for a reason,” says Peter Finn, lecturer in international relations at the University of Greenwich and member of the American Politics Group of UK academics.
“The car has a particular place in the American psyche partly because of geography and partly because of the structure of the economy. People are thinking ‘in February, I was paying this much, but now it has shot up’ and as you’re filling up your tank every few days, you’re thinking of the impact it has on your ability to pay for other stuff,” Finn told The i Paper.
The Trump effect
Midterm elections usually go against sitting presidents. Only four times since 1902 has the president’s party gained congressional seats in the midterms, with Bush the last to do so in 2002 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Trump’s polling shows an approval rating of -23 per cent, with 60 per cent of Americans disapproving of his performance in office. This is fairly typical for recent presidents, with support declining throughout their term in office.
But Trump is especially divisive, with voters holding polarised views on him, casting a shadow over the elections – especially for his own party. “It’s really difficult for them because in order to be a Republican today you need to be a loyal Trump supporter,” says Andersen. “Trump keeps saying ‘the economy is great, inflation has been beaten, there is no cost of living crisis’ – but his own supporters no longer believe him.
“So, for Republican candidates they have to say ‘yes, Trump is absolutely right, I love Trump. I’m Trump all the way’ but also ‘he’s wrong, there is a cost of living crisis and I’m going to do something to change it.’”
Finn believes “Trump will be a different factor in different ways in different places”, with most people doubling down on their existing views.
An overwhelming 93 per cent of Democrats disapprove of Trump’s performance in office, and Finn believes this may motivate them to head to the polls to counter Trump-aligned candidates. But Finn also sees a third group which “would vote for Trump in a presidential election but when he’s not on the ballot they just might not bother”.
Who is going to win and what will happen after the vote?
If the balance of power in Congress shifts to the Democrats, Trump would become a “lame-duck” president and struggle to push through legislation.
“If the Republicans hold the Senate and the Democrats take the House, you will probably get Democratic investigations into various different things Trump has done, and I would say there’s a good chance we’ll have at least one more impeachment attempt,” says Finn.
Legislative powers would be limited, however. If the Democrats win both houses, Trump would face much more oversight and difficulty in passing policy.
But this is not a typical president, and these elections may set off a new threat to American democracy. Trump’s rhetoric and actions have drawn widespread concerns about how he might seek to overrule the will of voters and challenge results he doesn’t like.
“I think this midterm is going to be atypical because usually we have a narrative about how the President is likely to lose control of Congress, and how that’s going to destroy his legislative agenda and therefore nothing will get done for the next two years,” says Andersen.
“But for the Trump administration, part of their purpose is to move away from needing legislation. I don’t think President Trump really cares about losing Congress. He’s not doing things to help his party win more congressional races, and I think he’s just preparing on election day to say, this election was fraudulent and potentially move to block newly elected members. It’s a very bizarre situation.”
Finn puts it in stark terms: “If a democracy is to continue successfully, the losing party in elections has to accept the validity of the process. For democracy to work, you have to accept when you lose.”