Dummies’ guide to US midterms

Q What are the midterm elections? A All seats in the House of Representatives and a third of seats in the Senate (the two bodies that make up US Congress) are up for grabs. Q What will it tell us and why does it matter? A It is the first time we really see what voters are thinking about Donald Trump’s presidency. The results could also have an impact on how the next two years play out. Q How might it affect Donald Trump? A Currently the Republicans hold majorities in both the House and the Senate. The Democrats could take the majority in one or both, making it much harder for Trump to pass laws. If that happens, new congressional investigations into the president could also be launched. Q Realistically, how likely is that to happen? A Democrats are very hopeful of taking the House — just a small swing of seats would hand them a majority. However, winning back the Senate is much harder. About threequarters of senators up for re-election this year are aligned to the Democrats, meaning making overall gains is hard. Q Could it change the chance of impeachment? A Yes. Impeachment, the process of removing a president from office, starts in the House — so if the Democrats have the majority, it is more likely to happen. However, few leading Democrats are publicly suggesting such a move.