North America | 22 October 2026
The story in brief
People in the United States will soon vote in elections that could change which political party controls Congress.
Congress is the part of government that makes national laws.
Who is involved?
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Donald Trump: President of the United States.
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Republican Party: The political party currently controlling Congress.
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Democratic Party: The political party hoping to win control.
What is happening?
Three main issues are influencing voters:
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Living costs: Many people are worried about paying for food, fuel, housing and healthcare.
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Immigration: The parties disagree about rules for people moving to the United States from other countries.
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President Trump: A recent Reuters survey found that many Americans are unhappy with how he is doing his job.
What is the background?
Congress has two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
These elections are called midterm elections because they take place halfway through a President's four-year term.
President Trump is not standing for election.
Why does it matter?
The Republican Party currently controls both parts of Congress.
If Democrats win control of either part, they could have more power to challenge President Trump's government.
What happens next?
People standing for election will continue campaigning until 3 November.
President Trump plans to hold large public events in several states to encourage people to vote Republican.
Source: Reuters, 20 October 2026