Americans voted in midterm elections marked by widespread frustration with the economy and President Donald Trump. In a large voter survey, 62% blamed Trump’s policies for rising prices, while 37% said they were dissatisfied with the state of the country and 38% said they were angry about it, according to US television reports as the first polling stations closed.

The election will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats. Republicans currently control both chambers. A Democratic majority in either chamber would limit Trump’s ability to advance his agenda, with a loss of control of the Senate particularly significant because senators confirm nominees for key government posts and the federal judiciary.

Republicans hold 53 Senate seats. Democrats would need to reach 51 votes with the support of two allied independent senators to take control. That outcome had been considered unlikely just months earlier, but Democratic candidates gained ground in polls as dissatisfaction grew. In the House, Republicans have only a narrow margin, making a shift in control appear more likely.

The economy was the leading issue for 39% of voters in the survey. Rising fuel prices, which the report links to the Iran war launched by Trump, were a particular concern. Prices rose especially quickly in parts of the country’s interior, sometimes by more than 70%, areas where Republicans traditionally perform better.

Forty percent of respondents described the US economy as “not so good,” while 35% called it bad. Nearly two-thirds said Trump’s import tariffs had harmed the economy. Asked which party they trusted more to get the economy moving, 43% chose Democrats and 38% Republicans. The state of US democracy was the top issue for 32% of voters, followed by immigration at 14% and healthcare at 8%.

The survey, commissioned by a group of major media outlets, included around 100,000 voters, CNN reported. It combined responses from people questioned on election day with online and telephone interviews of early and mail-in voters conducted since October 19. The poll was designed to examine voters’ priorities and motivations.

The timing of a final result remains uncertain. Initial results were expected during the night into Wednesday in Central European time, but counting could take days in some states, including California, and some races could require runoffs. Nearly 61 million voters had cast ballots before election day, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, compared with just under 46 million in the 2022 midterms.

If Democrats gain control of either chamber, they could increase congressional scrutiny of the Trump administration. The majority party appoints committee chairs, who can launch investigations and summon government officials to testify under oath. The House can also initiate impeachment proceedings, although removing a president requires a two-thirds Senate majority.

Trump said last week that he would accept the results if the election were conducted “honestly.” He has continued to reject his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden and claim, without evidence, that fraud cost him the election. On election day, Trump told Fox News he believed the results would be “better than people think.” He followed the vote from the White House.

Sources: Handelsblatt.