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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
David Smith in Washington

What are the US midterm elections and why do they matter?

Floating US states in red and blue colors.
The midterm elections fall nearly halfway through a president’s term and are often a telling referendum on the their performance. Illustration: Ben Denzer/The Guardian

Donald Trump will still be US president on the morning of 4 November. But he could be facing a very different political landscape, depending on the results of the US midterm elections held the previous day.

As the name implies, midterm elections fall nearly halfway through a president’s term. They are often a telling referendum on the sitting president’s performance, something Trump is actively encouraging by telling voters “pretend I’m on the ballot”. In this case, voters will decide whether Trump’s Republican party can retain its grip on Congress.

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