US voters to head to polls in crunch elections seen as referendum on Trump

Millions of US voters are to head to the polls in elections which will decide control of Congress for the rest of Donald Trump’s term in the White House.

The parties have been making their final pitches on the eve of the hotly contested November 3 races, which are being seen as a referendum on the controversial president’s record.

Many people have already cast their ballot in the midterms, which are the most expensive in US history.

The elections will decide who controls both chambers of Congress (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

AP

The challengers are expected to benefit from voter unhappiness over the cost of living and high energy prices fuelled by the Iran war, which Mr Trump launched with Israel earlier this year.

The president has held rallies in traditional Republican strongholds in a bid to shore up support and boost turnout, and promised every adult US citizen 5,000 dollars if his party kept control of both the House and Senate.

But the Democrats have faced their own challenges during the campaign with internal divisions, underlined by a fallout in the Michigan Senate race, and the president has sought to portray them as hard-left extremists who pose a threat to the country.

If the party was to gain one or both chambers it would be able to block legislation and launch investigations into the conduct of Mr Trump’s White House.

However, the president would still have executive authority in key areas and the power of veto, which could frustrate his opponents’ efforts on Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has said he would not hesitate to give pardons to those around him to protect them from potential criminal liability.

He told a New York Post podcast: “I would if I needed to, sure.

“I would not even think about – I’d do it.”

He pointed to the amnesties granted by former president Joe Biden to family members, administration officials and politicians, including those who investigated the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in 2021.

The outcome of the elections will influence the debate and party strategies in the run-up to the 2028 presidential race.