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US midterms 2026 LIVE updates: Polls begin to open across America with key states threatening President Trump, Republican majority; ‘Blue wave’ predicted for Democrats in House and Senate

Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) •
November 03, 2026 • 01:02 PM
• By Josefine Ganko
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Follow our live coverage of the US midterm elections, where several critical races could have major consequences for Donald Trump’s presidency.

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Welcome to our live coverage of the US midterm elections, where several critical races could have major consequences for US politics and Donald Trump’s presidency.

With polls opening across the country, here’s what you need to know ahead of election night.

It’s the morning of November 3 in the United States, and polls are open in 27 states. For our Australian readers, polls will start to close from 10am on Wednesday, and continue to close from East to West until 4pm.

Here are the first images of Americans heading out to cast their votes.

Americans are heading to the polls for midterm elections that could have big ramifications for the second half of Donald Trump’s presidency.

They are held midway between presidential elections to determine the make-up of Congress, which comprises both the House of Representatives (which has two-year terms) and the Senate (six-year terms).

All seats in the US House of Representatives and a third of those in the Senate are up for grabs.

The results will determine whether the Democrats can neuter Trump’s agenda or if he will maintain his grip on America until the presidential election in November 2028.

The Republican Party currently controls both the House and the Senate.

Read our quick guide to the midterms here.

Welcome to our live coverage of the US midterm elections, where several critical races could have major consequences for US politics and Donald Trump’s presidency.

With polls opening across the country, here’s what you need to know ahead of election night.

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