US President Donald Trump could face a divided Congress for the remainder of his term if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The latest Fox News Power Rankings project a possible Democratic majority in the 435-seat chamber, which would give the party greater influence over legislation, congressional investigations and oversight of the Trump administration.
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, but the House is the main battleground, with Democrats seeking to capitalise on the historical tendency for the president’s party to lose seats in midterm elections.
The Senate contest remains competitive, with Republicans holding 53 seats against 47 for Democrats, including two independents who caucus with them.
Fox News’ rankings indicate that Democrats are favoured in 48 Senate seats and Republicans in 47, leaving several races in contention.
Republicans need at least 50 seats to retain control, as Vice-President JD Vance would cast the tie-breaking vote in the event of a 50-50 split.
The projections suggest Democrats could reach 54 seats if they win most of the competitive races, while Republicans could retain up to 52 seats if they perform better than expected.
Trump has said he would rely on his veto powers if Republicans lose control of both chambers.
“If that happens, I think I’ll be Mr Veto. I won’t let them pass anything,” he told New York Post columnist Miranda Devine in an interview on her ‘Pod Force One’ programme, aired on Monday.
The elections also include gubernatorial contests in 36 states, as well as in the US territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands.
Republicans currently hold 26 governorships, while Democrats hold 24.
Alaska, Nevada and Georgia are led by Republican governors. Florida, Kansas and Texas are also considered favourable to Republicans, while races in Arizona, Michigan, Oregon, Iowa and Ohio are competitive, with projections giving Democrats an advantage.
Voters in 11 states will also decide on proposals concerning voter identification requirements and whether non-US citizens should be barred from voting. The states are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and West Virginia.
In California, voters are also watching a proposal for a one-off five per cent tax on residents with wealth exceeding US$1 billion (RM4 billion), with much of the revenue intended for healthcare. - November 3, 2026
