How the midterms could change Trump’s presidency

The 2026 US midterm elections are less than two weeks away, and although Donald Trump's name is not on the ballot, the outcome could reshape the final stretch of his presidency, Al Jazeera reports.

On November 3, Americans will vote for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly a third of the Senate. Republicans currently control both chambers, which has helped Trump advance his agenda with lawmakers from his own party. But history suggests the balance of power matters: after Democrats took the House in 2018, Trump faced congressional investigations and impeachment.

If Democrats retake the House this time, much of the president's legislative agenda could stall. Passing new immigration laws, changing taxes or approving major spending all require Congress, and a Democratic majority could block such plans before they become law.

Democrats could also use a House majority to launch investigations, demand documents and call administration officials to testify. Some Democrats are already discussing what they would investigate, with one quoted in the report vowing to expose what they described as corruption and to act against it once back in power.

Control of the Senate would matter too. If Democrats flip the chamber, they could block presidential nominees, including federal judges.

Despite the national stakes, the election may be decided in a relatively small number of districts: of the 435 House seats up for grabs, only a few dozen races - estimated at 40 to 50 - are considered competitive.