Trump warns voters of ‘socialist nightmare’ as midterms get under way
Public’s verdict on Trump still unclear
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump warned of the return of a Democratic “socialist nightmare” in a last-ditch effort to sway the electorate as voters went to the polls in crucial midterm elections.
“If the radical Democrats take power they will take a wrecking ball to our economy and our future,” Trump declared in Cleveland, using the same heated rhetoric that has defined much of his contentious presidency.
In an election that could prove a defining moment for American politics, the Democrats were depending on winning at least one chamber of Congress to remain relevant in the Trump era.
They were laser-focused on healthcare as they predicted victories that would break up the Republican monopoly in Washington and state governments.
“They’ve had two years to find out what it’s like to have an unhinged person in the White House,” said Washington governor Jay Inslee, who leads the Democratic Governors Association. “It’s an awakening of the Democratic Party.”
Democrats could derail Trump’s legislative agenda for the next two years if they win control of the House or the Senate.
They would also claim subpoena power to investigate Trump’s personal and professional conduct, with some Democrats vowing to force the release of his tax returns or pursue impeachment.
POLLSTERS WHO largely failed to predict Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton two years ago were reluctant to commit themselves ahead of today’s midterm election results.
Although much of America has already voted, polls only closed in Alaska – the last of the 50 states – at 6am today.
The elections mark two years since Mr Trump was elected and the results, expected this morning, will be a barometer of how the people of the US think he is faring in the White House.
At stake is the Republicans’ control of US congress – comprising the house of representatives and the upper chamber, the US senate – along with the party’s command of governors’ offices and statehouses throughout the country.
But given Trump’s stunning victory in 2016, few were confident in their predictions.
“I feel less comfortable making a prediction today than I have in two decades,” Republican pollster Frank Luntz said.
The Democrats’ fate depends upon a delicate coalition of infrequent voters, particularly young people and minorities, who traditionally shun midterm elections.
Turnout is typically near 40 per cent, much lower than presidential elections, although there have been forecasts from University of Florida professor Michael McDonald that there could be a record 45 per cent turnout this year – a level not seen in nearly half a century.
However, long queues and malfunctioning machines marred the first hours of voting in some precincts across the US.
Some of the biggest problems were in Georgia, a state with a hotly contested election for governor, where voters reported waiting up to three hours to vote.
Democrat Stacey Abrams will become the first black female US state governor should she be elected in Georgia in a tight race with Brian Kemp, who is the Republican candidate.
Democrats are boasting record diversity on the ballot, with candidates including former state Democratic Party chairwoman Deb Haaland, who is trying to become the first native American woman elected to congress and two candidates – Rashida Tlaibm in Michigan and Minnesota’s Ilham Omar – running to be the first Muslim women in congress.
Two years after Hillary Clinton’s defeat, more women than ever before won major party primaries for governor, senate and house roles this year.
The results could significantly increase the number of women in elected office.
As voting began, Facebook said it had removed 115 accounts from the site and Instagram for suspected “co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour”.
The social network giant said that the accounts had been removed after US law enforcement contacted the firm because they believed they were linked to foreign entities.
Previous investigations carried out in the US found Facebook had been used by Russia to post content that aimed to influence and interfere with the 2016 US presidential election.
Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher said the company’s initial investigation also showed possible links to Russia.
He said they had blocked around 30 Facebook accounts and 85 Instagram accounts “that may be engaged in co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour”.
Facebook said it was informed of the accounts on Sunday evening and would traditionally wait until it had more information before speaking publicly, but Mr Gleicher said the company “wanted to let people know about the action we’ve taken and the facts as we know them today”.
I feel less comfortable making a prediction... than in two decades. Republican pollster Frank Luntz sums up the uncertainty surrounding the election.