US midterms test Trump's presidency as Democrats lead polls

Millions of Americans are voting in midterm elections seen as a decisive test for Donald Trump's second presidency, with polls showing Democrats leading in the House and competitive for the Senate. Trump has framed the vote as the most important in US history, though he privately acknowledged the risk of losing both chambers. Early results from Guam favored Republicans, while over 58.5 million Americans voted early, surpassing the 2022 midterm total. Democrats expressed optimism about turnout among Latino, Black, and young voters who shifted toward Trump in 2024. The Justice Department deployed about 1,000 observers across 126 counties, and five states activated the National Guard for election support. The election coincided with Trump's announcement to end military aid to Israel by year's end and reported plans for potential new attacks on Iran. Tensions over voting irregularities emerged, including scanner issues in New York and bomb threats in Ohio, while ICE announced arrests of foreigners accused of illegal voting.