Americans today go to the polls for the full House of Representatives and just over a third of the Senate. According to most predictions, the Republicans will win.

Called midterm elections because they take place halfway through a presidential term, they are traditionally a kind of referendum on the current president, and almost always the party in power in the White House loses power in Congress in midterm elections.

In the current session of the House of Representatives, the Democrats have a small majority (222 to 213) and it is almost certain that they will now lose it.

The Republicans, judging by the polls, are in the lead and are believed to take over the House of Representatives. The Senate will be decided by several close races. For the next two years, America may be governed by a divided government.

What happens in the election?

All 435 seats are contested in the House of Representatives, where representatives serve a two-year term. Democrats control the House of Representatives, but Republicans need just five seats to win the majority.

There is competition for a total of 35 seats in the 100-seat Senate. In it, the candidates have a 6-year mandate and it is divided in half between Democrats and Republicans. However, Democrats are currently in control as they have an extra vote due to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Thus, Republicans need only one vote to take control of the Senate.

In addition to the races for the majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives, many other politicians in lower hierarchical positions are also fighting. Secretary of State races at the state level have taken on added importance this year since they control statewide elections, including the 2024 presidential election.

What is at stake?

In every election, candidates tell voters that this is the most critical election of their lives. This time they may be right, writes CNN.

A number of Republicans may use Trump's methods and talk about how the 2020 election was rigged. Former President Donald Trump is likely to use the influence of a potentially Republican House of Representatives to target the 2024 presidential election. .

A surprise Democratic victory would allow Biden to pursue social, health and climate policies and change the power dynamic on the Supreme Court.

What issues will decide the elections?

The cost of living in the US is the highest it has been in 40 years, causing voter dissatisfaction. High gas prices haven't helped either, and the sense of post-pandemic normalcy that Biden promised remains elusive.

The president has struggled to frame the economic challenges into a strong policy message or to instill any confidence in voters that prices will soon fall. Some Democrats are now questioning whether their candidates have ignored the real concerns of voters by spending so much time arguing that Republicans will destroy American democracy.

Democrats had hoped the conservative Supreme Court's reversal of abortion rights would trigger a backlash against Republicans. This may be happening in some areas, but the economy is still the top concern of voters.

The Republican strategy was to blame Biden for everything from inflation to the pandemic to the war in Ukraine. They also say that Democratic views on education, crime and immigration are extreme and left-wing.

What should be paid attention to?

If Republicans start winning in the suburbs and districts where Biden was much more popular than Trump in 2020, chances are they will.

Given the tight situation in the House of Representatives, Republicans could easily win the majority.

Some of the most important battles are those in Colorado, Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia. The situation is also tense in New Hampshire - if Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan loses her re-election bid in New Hampshire, it's a sure sign that Republicans will win.

Pennsylvania represents the best chance for Democrats to win a Republican-held seat, but Democratic candidate John Fetterman suffered a stroke shortly before winning the party's nomination in May.

Even off the campaign trail over the summer, Fetterman had the edge against his Republican opponent, but the two's latest debate raised new questions about how the long-term effects of a stroke affect the Democratic nominee.

Republicans are trying to win Democratic-held seats in Arizona, Nevada and Georgia. If no candidate in Georgia gets 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held in December, meaning uncertainty over who will lead the Senate for the next two years could last for weeks.

What does this election mean for American democracy?

This is the first election since 2020 that Trump has lost and refused to accept defeat. Biden took office two weeks later with a message of national unity, but his vision of uniting the polarized country was not successful. Trump still won't admit he lost and is lying about being illegally removed from office.

Millions of Americans trust him, so Trump's supporters can return Republicans to power in Congress.

One of the key things to watch is whether Republicans who lose will admit it or, like Trump, insist they won and allege non-existent voting irregularities.

What will happen if the Republican Party wins power?

Republicans plan to destroy Biden's re-election hopes. Party leadership plans to subject the White House to a major round of investigations into everything from the origins of COVID-19 to the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Republicans also have Biden's son Hunter in their sights because of his business activities. In the Senate, a Republican majority would make it extremely difficult for Biden to confirm cabinet appointments, top officials, foreign ambassadors and judges.

What does this election mean for Biden?

History shows that newly elected presidents almost always face a negative election reaction two years after taking office. If Democrats don't do as badly as some fear, Biden will get a boost as he considers whether to run for re-election.

If Republicans win big, there will be new questions about his prospects in 2024. All is not bleak for Biden, however. His two Democratic predecessors, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, suffered poor results in the midterm elections but remained in power for a second term.

What does this election mean for Trump?

The former president presented this election as a loyalty test for Republicans. Republican leaders would prefer that Trump stay out of the election, but he disagrees.

Trump was instrumental in his party losing the House in 2018, and the Senate and the White House in 2020, and it's possible that will happen again as the candidates he endorsed in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Ohio hold big jobs. in front of them.

If the Republicans do well, Trump will take the credit. If they don't meet expectations, they will blame everyone else. Either way, it looks like the former president will run again in 2024. It's important to note that if the Republicans win, "Trumpism" will return to power.