American voters punished Donald Trump and his Republican Party at the ballot box in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The Republicans lost control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in a crushing defeat to their Democrat rivals.
While the president’s name was not actually on the ballot paper, he frequently told supporters at his rallies to “pretend” he was – making this loss personal for him.
Here’s how it all works and why it matters.
How Do The Midterms Work?
The midterms are when voters get a chance to elect new politicians to the federal legislative branch of the US government, known collectively as US Congress.
Congress’s upper chamber is called the Senate and composed of 100 members, two for each of America’s 50 states. They serve six-year terms, meaning a third are up for election every two years.
The lower chamber is called the House of Representatives and made up of 435 members. They have representation proportional to each state’s population and serve for two years.
In the midterms, all of the Representative seats are up for election while just 33 of the seats in the Senate usually are.
The seats of JD Vance and Marco Rubio, who resigned as senators to become vice president and secretary of state to Trump, were also up for grabs, meaning there were 35 Senate places available this year.
A further 36 states also had races for governor – who acts as the commander-in-chief of each state. Their roles do not have a direct impact on the federal government, but reflect a wider voter sentiment.
Why Are They Significant For Donald Trump?
The president’s executive power can be curbed by Congress if its elected politicians choose to do so.
Both chambers had a Republican majority over the first half of Trump’s current presidential term and so they did not try to rein him in.
However, a surge of support for the Democrats would give them control over Congress and the ability to put obstacles in Trump’s way.
It’s also key for Trump on a personal level. Not only does he hate being a “loser”, but he personally endorsed many Republican candidates, attended in 30 rallies in 20 states over the last month.
The president told supporters to “pretend” they’re voting directly for him, saying to Fox News: “When Trump’s on the ballot, they win.”
What Do We Know So Far About The Midterm Results?
The final figures are yet to be confirmed as votes are still being counted.
But it’s pretty clear already that the Democrats secured a resounding victory – along with some surprise wins.
The Democrats needed to take 218 seats in the House to hold a majority and have already taken 228.
They also flipped seven Senate seats from Republican to Democrat, meaning they comfortably hold the upper chamber too, with 54 seats.
Major Senate wins include Texas, Ohio and South Carolina.
A total of 27 Democratic governors have also been elected, compared to 20 for the Republicans.
Why Did Voters Support The Democrats?
The electorate are widely frustrated with the cost of living right now, particularly the price of fuel.
That’s all down to Trump’s decision to join Israel in striking Tehran on February 28 this year.
Iran retaliated by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the major shipping lane which was responsible for carrying a fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
That ongoing blockade has sent fuel prices around the world skyrocketing as remaining supplies stretch to meet demand.
On Monday, petrol cost $4.17 per gallon on Monday, compared to $2.98 on February 28 while diesel cost $6.29 per gallon, having been at $3.76.
These prices feed into higher food costs and have sent mortgage rates up to a three-year high.
What Happens Now?
With a majority in both Houses, the Democrats can move to block any attempts from Trump at legislation, which would effectively make him a lame duck president.
The US president does still have the “ultimate power” of veto to reject a bill passed by Congress and Trump has made it clear he intends to use it.
However, the Chambers can override such a veto if two-thirds of both Houses vote to pass it again.
The Democrats could also bring more accountability into the Trump administration, by forcing officials to testify publicly about war plans.
They could demand documents and testimony, subject senior officials to congressional scrutiny and even impeach Trump for a third time.
Meanwhile, the president could look for vengeance after this humiliation – though exactly what he might do remains to be seen.
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