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US mid-terms 2018: Democrats take control of US House

US MID-TERMS | Democrats have returned to power in the House, Donald Trump calling to congratulate Nancy Pelosi.

Cameron StewartCameron Stewart
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi with DCCC Chair Ben Ray Luján. Picture: AP
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi with DCCC Chair Ben Ray Luján. Picture: AP
31 min read
12:55PMNovember 07, 2018.
Updated 10:10PMNovember 07, 2018

Americans have turned out in record numbers for the crucial mid-terms, widely seen as a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency. The Republicans have held the US Senate, while the Democrats have taken control in the House. See how it all unfolded below.

8.31pm: Wrap-up of today’s events

Democrats tried Tuesday to fight their way back to power in state capitals across the country by reclaiming governor’s seats in several key states, marking significant steps in their nationwide strategy to reverse years of Republican gains in state capitals.

Still, their victories in Illinois, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, were balanced by Republicans holding on to one of the top prizes, Florida, and the governor’s offices in Ohio and Arizona. All three states will figure prominently in the presidential map in two years.

The nation’s other closely watched governor’s race, in Georgia, remained too close to call Tuesday night.

Democrats’ toppling of Republican Scott Walker in Wisconsin completed a sweep for the party in the upper Midwest. Walker was a top target of Democrats and a polarising figure in his state, sweeping into office during the tea party wave of 2010 and gaining national attention by leading a rollback of union rights that led to protests inside the state Capitol. He survived a recall attempt before falling short in a bid for the Republican presidential nomination. The win by Democrat Tony Evers gives his party a chance to undo some of Walker’s accomplishments, including a strict voter ID law and the law that effectively ended collective bargaining for public workers.

Likewise, Democrats hope their victories signal a resurgence for their party in America’s heartland, where President Donald Trump romped in 2016. “I think the message is a simple one. A candidate with a moderate tone but progressive in thinking can win in the heartland,” former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, said. “Winning the governorships is huge in beginning the process of changing the direction of our politics.” In Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer defeated Republican Bill Schuette, up-ending years of Republican control in the state. The former legislative leader will become the second female governor in a state where Democrats heavily targeted other statewide and legislative offices.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in Illinois lost his bid for a second term to Democrat J.B. Pritzker. The billionaire appears to have capitalised not only on Rauner’s lack of popularity but broader dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump. In Kansas, Democratic state lawmaker Laura Kelly defeated Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a close ally of Trump.

New Mexico also tipped into the Democratic column, as did Maine, where Democratic Attorney-General Janet Mills won the race to succeed combative Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who was term-limited after eight years in office. Democrats Andrew Cuomo in New York and Tom Wolf in Pennsylvania easily won re- election, as did two Republicans in Democratic-leaning states - Larry Hogan in Maryland and Charlie Baker in Massachusetts.

In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds broke the Democrats’ run of Midwest success by being elected to a full term. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a former Republican presidential candidate and Trump ally, was seeking a third term in a race that remained too close to call.

In all, voters were choosing 36 governors and 6,089 state legislators in general and special elections that have attracted record amounts of spending from national Democratic and Republican groups.

Republicans are in control more often than not in state capitals across the country, but Democrats were trying to pull a little closer in Tuesday’s elections.

The political parties are trying not only to win now, but also to put themselves in strong position for the elections two years from now that will determine which party will have the upper hand in redrawing congressional and state legislative districts.

Voters in Colorado, Michigan and Missouri approved ballot measures Tuesday overhauling the redistricting process in ways that are intended to reduce the likelihood of partisan gerrymandering by either major party. A redistricting ballot measure also was on the ballot in Utah.

Republicans entered Tuesday’s election with a sizeable advantage, controlling two-thirds of the 99 state legislative chambers and 33 governors’ offices. The GOP held a trifecta of power in 25 states, compared with just eight for Democrats.

Democrats likely will gain full control in Illinois and New Mexico by winning the governor’s races. The Democratic victories in Kansas and Michigan will break up Republican trifectas.

Republicans were largely on defence but also were angling for gains in a few traditionally Democratic states, such Connecticut.

The governor’s races have extra emphasis in 28 states where the winners will serve four-year terms with the potential power to approve or reject district boundaries drawn for Congress or state legislatures.

The Democratic Governors Association had focused on nine swing states - Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - where it believes the governorships could be pivotal in congressional redistricting.

As of mid-October, the Democratic Governors Association and its affiliated entities had raised $122 million during the past two years - a record outdone only by the Republican Governors Association’s new high mark of at least $156 million.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and Republican State Leadership Committee, which focus on state races, also set record fundraising targets. The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, led by former Obama administration Attorney-General Eric Holder, has pumped additional money into state races viewed as critical in future redistricting decisions.

Although most state lawmakers responsible for redistricting will be elected in 2020, voters on Tuesday were electing more than 800 state lawmakers in about two dozen states to four-year terms where they could play a role in approving new congressional or state legislative districts.

AAP

7.20pm: Sisolak new Nevada governor

Republican Adam Laxalt has conceded the Nevada governor’s race to Democrat Steve Sisolak.

CNN has called the race, which was one of Democrats’ top targets for flipping control. Republican Governor Brian Sandoval was term-limited. Sisolak repeatedly campaigned on a pledge to stand up to US President Donald Trump, who supported Laxalt.

Steve Sisolak. Picture: AFP
Steve Sisolak. Picture: AFP

Sisolak chairs the Clark County Commission, which oversees the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding areas. He rose to prominence following the 2017 mass shooting on the Strip, starting an online fundraiser that amassed millions of dollars for victims.

AP

7.04pm: ‘History has repeated itself’

House Speaker Paul Ryan, has issued a statement following the midterm elections. He noted that the US didn’t “need an election to know we are a divided nation, and now we have a divided Washington”.

Mr Ryan did not seek re-election.

“Tonight history has repeated itself. A party in power always faces tough odds in its first midterm election,” he said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan. Picture: AP
House Speaker Paul Ryan. Picture: AP

“I congratulate Democrats on a new House majority and Senate Republicans for maintaining theirs.

“As a country and a government we must find a way to come together to find common ground and build on the successes of this Congress. It has been an incredible honour to lead the House over the past three years.

“We have made an enduring contribution to the strength and prosperity of this country, and for that I will always remain proud.”

6.40pm: Walker downed in Wisconsin

Democrat Tony Evers has defeated Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, denying the polarising Republican and one-time presidential candidate a third term. Evers’ win is a huge victory for Democrats, who couldn’t find the recipe to take out Walker in three previous elections, including a 2012 recall. Evers campaigned on the promise of cutting middle-class income taxes, eliminating a tax credit program for manufacturers and possibly raising the gas tax to pay for roads.

Tony Evers. Picture: AFP
Tony Evers. Picture: AFP

Evers is a former teacher who’s been state schools superintendent since 2009. He turned his understated personality to his advantage in the campaign, arguing that voters were tired of divisiveness and yearned for more collegial politics.

6.13pm: Front pages from around the US

5.46pm: Abrams refuses to concede

Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams has refused to concede in the Georgia governor race. Ms Abrams would be the first female African-American governor in US history, but is behind in the count.

5.27pm: First woman elected governor in South Dakota

Republicans have kept control of the governors’ offices in Idaho and South Dakota by winning elections to succeed departing GOP incumbents. Kristi Noem turned back an unusually strong challenge from Democratic state Senator Billie Sutton to win South Dakota’s gubernatorial race. She will become the first female governor in state history and will succeed term-limited Governor Dennis Daugaard.

In Idaho, Governor Brad Little defeated former Democratic state lawmaker Paulette Jordon to become the next governor. Little will succeed retiring Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, who has been in office since 2007.

AP

5.00pm: Australian scandal fails to sink US congressman

Republican congressman Chris Collins has narrowly retained his seat in the US midterm elections despite being indicted on insider trading charges involving shares in an Australian biotechnology company.

Collins faces a hefty jail sentence if convicted.

That did not deter enough voters in his traditional Republican stronghold electorate on Tuesday in upstate New York from sending him back to Washington DC for his fourth term in the House of Representatives.

“I am innocent until proven guilty even though the press convicted me, dismembered me and burned me at the stake,” a defiant Collins told reporters after his Democrat opponent Nate McMurray conceded.

Collins, a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, was indicted in August in New York for allegedly participating in a scheme to commit insider trading of securities in Australian Stock Exchange-listed Innate Immunotherapeutics.

Chris Collins. Picture: AP
Chris Collins. Picture: AP
Democratic Congressional candidate Nate McMurray makes his concession speech. Picture: AP
Democratic Congressional candidate Nate McMurray makes his concession speech. Picture: AP

He initially suspended his re-election campaign before deciding to seek a fourth term.

Collins sat on the board of Innate and, along with family members, was a major shareholder.

Prosecutors allege Collins was at a picnic at the White House on June 22 last year when Innate’s chief executive sent a highly-confidential email to Collins confirming the company’s multiple sclerosis drug had failed a critical trial. Collins was obligated to keep the trial results secret until Innate publicly released them, but he allegedly tipped off his son Cameron Collins who was also a substantial shareholder.

Cameron Collins, who also faces charges, allegedly tipped off his father-in-law Stephen Zarsky and others who sold shares before the information went public and the stock value crashed.

Prosecutors allege the trades allowed Christoper and Cameron Collins, Zarsky and others to avoid over $US768,000 ($A1.07 million) in losses. The three have entered not guilty pleas to securities and wire fraud charges that carry maximum 20-year jail sentences.

The trial is scheduled for 2020.

Collins, who was also accused of airing a racist ad during the campaign, managed just 49.5 per cent of the vote on Tuesday compared to McMurray’s 48.4 per cent with about 94 per cent of ballots counted.

It was a contrast to Collins’ 2016 third term win when he claimed 67 per cent of the vote.

AAP

4.33pm: Record-breaking mid-terms for women

Women will break the current record of 84 serving at the same time in the US House.

With ballots still being counted across the country, women have won 75 seats and are assured of victory in nine districts where women are the only major-party candidates.

More than 230 women, many of them first-time candidates, were on the general-election ballots in House races.

Despite the gains, men will continue to hold the vast majority of House seats.

AP

4.12pm: Trump calls as Democrats take US House

It’s official: Democrats have taken control of the US House of Representatives, seizing on voters’ worries about health care to deliver a rebuke to President Trump eight years after Republicans did the same to President Barack Obama.

The party rode a surge of suburban discontent with Mr Trump in districts clustered around major cities, capturing seats from Republicans in districts near Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia and Washington.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi celebrates a Democratic Party takeover of the House of Representatives. Picture: AFP
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi celebrates a Democratic Party takeover of the House of Representatives. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump called House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California to congratulate her on the Democrats’ victory, an aide to Ms. Pelosi said.

Shortly after midnight, the Associated Press has called 25 GOP-held seats for Democrats, giving Democrats the majority in the House.

The Wall Street Journal

4.02pm: ‘Tomorrow will be a new day in America’

US Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi vowed to impose new “checks and balances” on Donald Trump’s administration — but also signalled it would not be all-out war with Republicans after her party seized the lower house of Congress.

“Today is more than about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about restoring the constitution’s checks and balances to the Trump administration,” Pelosi told a news conference after the House of Representatives flipped to the Democrats in the midterm elections.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Representative Ben Ray Lujan. Picture: AFP
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Representative Ben Ray Lujan. Picture: AFP

But she went on to promise that “a Democratic Congress will work for solutions that bring us together, because we have all had enough of division.”

“The American people want peace. They want results. Tomorrow will be a new day in America.”

AFP

3.54pm: Analysis: Trump did what he needed to do in US mid-terms

The Wall Street Journal’s Gerald F. Seib says Donald Trump has done what he needed to do: avoid disaster. Read his full analysis here.

3.50pm: Democrat Kelly wins Kansas governor’s race

Democrat Laura Kelly has defeated a prominent ally of President Donald Trump to win the Kansas governor’s race.

Kelly defeated Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach to flip the governor’s office from red to blue.

It was at least the fourth Democratic pick-up, along with wins in the Illinois, Michigan and New Mexico governors’ races.

Laura Kelly. Picture: AP
Laura Kelly. Picture: AP

Kobach had built a national profile as an advocate of tough immigration policies and strict voter photo ID laws. He served as vice chairman of Trump’s now- defunct commission on voter fraud.

Kelly will be Kansas’ third governor in a year.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback resigned in January to accept a position in Trump’s administration. He was succeeded by Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, whom Kobach defeated in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

AP

3.44pm: Two Native American women break ground

Democrat candidates Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland broke new ground, becoming the first Native American women elected to Congress, US networks projected.

Sharice Davids. Picture: AFP
Sharice Davids. Picture: AFP

Davids, 38, of Kansas, is an attorney by training and a former mixed martial arts fighter. She is also openly lesbian, in a state that is traditionally conservative. She defeated Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder.

Haaland, 57, of New Mexico, beat Janice Arnold-Jones, a Republican, and Lloyd Princeton, a Libertarian.

The two women were among a record number of Native Americans who ran in the midterm elections for congressional seats, governor’s offices, state legislatures and other elected posts.

AFP

3.36pm: Gillum concedes in close Florida governor’s race

Democrat Andrew Gillum, the African-American mayor of Florida state capital Tallahassee, conceded Tuesday in his acrimonious battle for governor with Ron DeSantis, a member of the House of Representatives and ardent supporter of President Donald Trump.

“We could not be more thankful for the support that was shown by each and every one of you all the way along this path. We recognise that, you know, we didn’t win it tonight,” he told supporters.

“Earlier this evening I called Mr Ron DeSantis and congratulated him on what we expect will be him as the next governor of the great state of Florida.

Andrew Gillum gives his concession speech. Picture: AP
Andrew Gillum gives his concession speech. Picture: AP

“But I want you to know, I want you to know, I want you to know that in spite of our congratulating him on his victory this evening, nothing that we believe in is compromised.” The race was among the most watched in the US midterms, with Trump throwing his weight behind DeSantis and Gillum endorsed by former Democratic president Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

In the dying days of the campaign, Trump branded Gillum a “thief” and accused him of running a corrupt city, without presenting evidence for his attack.

The FBI has been conducting a probe of alleged public corruption in Tallahassee, and while Gillum has said he has been told he is not the target, Republicans used the investigation as a cudgel against him.

DeSantis himself has been widely criticised for urging Florida voters not to “monkey this up” by electing Gillum, a comment denounced as racist.

AFP

3.19pm: Trump hails ‘tremendous success’

US President Donald Trump won’t speak tonight after the Republicans held the Senate, but were unsuccessful in the House.

However, as he often does, the Mr Trump has taken to Twitter, labelling the result a “tremendous success”.

3.01pm: Democrats retake US House: projections

Control of Congress will be divided next year, as Democrats won back the House of Representatives but President Donald Trump’s Republicans maintained their Senate majority in crucial midterms, US networks projected.

Democrats will pick up the 23 seats necessary to win a House majority, Fox and NBC reported, as they knocked off Republicans in swing states like Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Colorado in elections seen as the first nationwide referendum on Trump’s performance.

But Republicans struck back in the 100-member Senate, where they ousted at least two Democrats, in Indiana and North Dakota, and held on to at-risk seats in Tennessee and Texas.

AFP

2.45pm: Romney elected to Senate

Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney elected to Senate in Utah, defeating Democrat Jenny Wilson.

2.39pm: Democrats need just nine more

It’s looking more and more likely the House will go the way of the Democrats, now needing just nine more Republican-held seats to win control.

Projections indicate Susan Wild will win in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, Colin Allred will win in Texas’ 32nd District, and Elaine Luria will win in Virginia’s 2nd District.

Republican Guy Reschenthaler is projected to win in Pennsylvania’s 14th District.

2.30pm: Republicans maintain control of Senate

2.17pm: Cruz holds on in Texas

Republican Ted Cruz fended off rising-star Democrat Beto O’Rourke to win re-election in a much-watched Texas race that began as a cakewalk but needed a visit from President Donald Trump to help push the incumbent over the top.

Cruz finished a surprising second in the 2016 Republican presidential primary and began the Senate race as a prohibitive favourite.

Ted Cruz. Picture: AP
Ted Cruz. Picture: AP

But O’Rourke visited fiercely conservative parts of the state that his party had long since given up on, while shattering fundraising records despite shunning donations from outside political groups and pollster advice. Cruz argued that his opponent’s support for gun control and universal health care were too liberal for Texas.

Trump and Cruz were bitter 2016 rivals, but the president visited Houston late last month to solidify the senator’s win.

Read more on this battle from Cameron Stewart here.

AP

2.06pm: Historic results

More history has been made, with projections showing Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar will become the first ever Muslim women elected to the House.

Meanwhile, Jared Polis’ likely victory in Colorado means he will be the first openly gay man to be elected as a US governor.

2.02pm: Democrats need 15 more for majority

CNN is projecting that the Democrats have taken four more seats in the House:
Haley Stevens, in Michigan’s 11th District, Jason Crow in Colorado’s 6th District, Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey’s 11th District and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Florida’s 26th District.

As it stands, the Democrats need just 15 more seats held by the GOP to win the House majority.

1.55pm: Democrats flip Colorado, Florida

The Democrats have flipped seats in Colorado and Florida, bringing the seats they now need to take the House down to 17.

Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell defeated GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo in a Democratic-leaning Florida district that voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. The AP just declared Ms. Mucarsel-Powell the winner.

1.50pm: Youngest woman ever elected

New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be the youngest woman ever in Congress after easily winning New York, as predicted. Ms Ocasio-Cortez, 29, defeated the Democrats’ incumbent Joe Crowley incumbent earlier this year.

1.45pm: Two more House seats for Democrats

CNN is projecting that the Democrats will pick up two more House seats with Pennsylvania’s5th and 17th districts. They are on course to take control of the House now.

1.40pm: ‘We feel good’

Sarah Huckerbee-Sanders says the White House is positive about the results. “”So far we feel good about where we are,” she says.

It looks as though the Democrats probably will win control of the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years, but the blue wave they had hoped for isn’t eventuating. The Republicans are on course to hold the Senate.

1.30pm: Tennessee elects first female senator

Tennessee has just elected its first female senator, Republican Marsha Blackburn, who defeated Democrat Phil Bredesen.

Marsha Blackburn (L) has won Tennessee from the Democrat incumbent. Picture: AP.
Marsha Blackburn (L) has won Tennessee from the Democrat incumbent. Picture: AP.

1.27pm: GOP takes Indiana Senate seat

Fox News is projecting Republican Mike Braun to defeat incumbent Senator Joe Donnelly in the Indiana Senate race. This will end Democrat hopes to take the Senate as they needed to hold all their seats and take two more.

Cameron Stewart 1.25pm: Early surprise in Texas

Signs for Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz in El Paso, Texas. Picture: AFP.
Signs for Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz in El Paso, Texas. Picture: AFP.

One of the early surprises in counting has been the close Senate battle in Texas between 45 year old Democrat Beto O’Rourke his Republican opponent Ted Cruz.

Reliably red Texas which, has not elected a Democrat Senator since 1988, was expected to elect Senator Cruz after a close campaign.

Mr O’Rourke’s platform is remarkably liberal for a conservative state - in fact Senator Cruz describes it as “un-Texan”. The Democrat believes in new gun laws, universal health care and loosening laws on marijuana. He has become the most watched Democrat candidate in the country, literally, by live streaming much of his campaign, with 161,000 people having already watched him skateboard through a parking lot.

His popularly party reflected demography changes in Texas with a rise in the number of Democrat-leaning Hispanics and strong support in the suburbs of large Texas cities.

But Senator Cruz steadied his campaign in the past two weeks and was expected to win relatively comfortably.

With 59 per cent of the vote counted O’Rourke and Cruz are neck and neck.

1.20pm: Markets rally as blue wave recedes

Financial markets are reversing course, with U.S. stock futures breaking out into positive territory and the 10-year Treasury yield hitting a session high of 3.237% compared with a close of 3.214% Tuesday afternoon.

Gold, which has risen earlier in the evening, is edging lower, and the Japanese yen--often thought of as a haven--has lost its gain against the U.S. dollar.

The message from the markets? Traders are feeling “risk on”--although it’s difficult to get a sense of what exactly is spurring the swings so far.

One theory: Republicans have now started to look more likely to hold onto control of the House, which “seems like the scenario that’d be most bullish for stocks,” said Tom di Galoma, managing director and head of Treasury trading at Seaport Global Holdings in New York. A Democratic sweep across Congress could potentially result in some undoing of Republican-led policies like tax cuts and deregulation, he notes, putting pressure on assets like stocks and the dollar.

But right now, “the blue wave just doesn’t look it’s happening,” he said.

“If the Republicans hold the House, the dollar would do well, and if the Republicans lose the House it could fall,” said Alan Ruskin, global co-head of FX strategy at Deutsche Bank.

A Republican victory could also increase the odds of additional fiscal stimulus in the form of tax cuts, Mr Ruskin said. “Potentially the equity market goes up, and that pulls yields up,” he said.

The Wall St Journal

1.10pm: Republicans keep Kentucky District 6

Republican Andy Barr has won re-election in Kentucky’s crucial 6th District, beating Marine pilot Amy McGrath

In the West Virginia Senate, incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin has won re-election.

But with the majority of the vote in for the Florida Senate seat, Republican Rick Scott is narrowly ahead of Democrat Bill Nelson.

Meanwhile Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who was briefly jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses, lost her bid for re-election to a Democrat.

1.05pm: GOP hope for Indiana Senate seat

In Indiana, the Republican Senate challenger Mike Braun has been ahead all night of Democrat Joe Donnelly and could well take the seat from him, cruelling the Democrats’ chances to take the Senate.

12.50pm: Democrats expected to flip more seats

Polls are about to close in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York and Wisconsin.

Fox News is reporting that Democrats are expected to flip a host of seats in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and, to a lesser degree, upstate New York. It’s a good sign for Republicans if Claudia Tenney holds her New York seat.

Four races in Minnesota are a bellwether for control of the House. Both parties agree that if Democrats win in three of these four districts, it would be a bad sign for the GOP elsewhere in the country.

12.40pm: Senate starts to take shape

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke is in a race against Ted Cruz. Picture: AFP.
Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke is in a race against Ted Cruz. Picture: AFP.

With polls closed across nearly half of the country, we are starting to get a better picture of the Senate races.

The Senate race in Florida is neck-and-neck, with 65% of precincts reporting, GOP candidate Gov. Rick Scott is leading incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson by less than a point.

Elsewhere, so far, Democratic senators in Virginia and Pennsylvania and Ohio are holding their seats, as expected.

In West Virginia, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin has a lead over Patrick Morrisey, but just a few precincts have reported. In New Jersey, Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has a comfortable lead as well.

Two signs that the night is still early and the numbers are set to change:

In Tennessee, where Republican Marsha Blackburn is fighting against former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen for an open Senate seat, Ms. Blackburn is leading Mr Bredesen by more than 30 points. We expect the race to be closer, though Ms. Blackburn is favoured to win.

Initial numbers from Texas show Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke with a lead over incumbent GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. Mr Cruz is favoured to win in a close race and we could see it toggle back and forth throughout the night.

The Wall St Journal

12.25pm: Another seat flip for Democrats

Hillary Clinton joins Donna Shalala during a campaign stop. Picture: AP.
Hillary Clinton joins Donna Shalala during a campaign stop. Picture: AP.

Democrat Donna Shalala has taken Florida’s 27th district from Republican incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar. It is the first time in three decades that this district will be represented by a Democrat. and means the Democrats now need 21 seats to take the House of Representatives. Meanwhile in Texas, with a third of the vote in, Democrat Beto O’Rourke is still in the lead over Ted Cruz.

12.20pm: Race projections

AP has projected a flurry of wins, with the Republicans Vern Buchanan and Mario Diaz-Balart winning Florida Districts 16 and 25, and Democrat Sherrod Brown winning the Ohio Senate race.

12.10pm: More polls close

Polls have closed in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

The races to watch here are in:

Kansas, where there are two potential House upsets. GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder’s seat in the third House district is at risk of falling into the Democratic column, as the race now leans in favour of challenger Sharice Davids. There is also a toss-up race for an open seat in the state’s second congressional district, where Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a Republican, is retiring.

Missouri: Where Democrat Claire McCaskill faces state Attorney-General Josh Hawley. Donald Trump made two trips to the state in the final days to try to knock off Ms. McCaskill.

New Jersey: Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who escaped conviction in a corruption trial last year is unpopular in a state that leans Democratic. He faces GOP businessman Bob Hugin. If Republicans can defeat Mr Menendez, it would bode well for their ability to maintain control of the Senate.

Pennsylvania: There are four competitive US House races in Pennsylvania, all of them pick-up opportunities for the Democrats, and they are looking here to make a strong down payment on their path toward a majority. Republicans have called this “ground zero” in the battle for House control.

Tennessee: The open Senate seat in Tennessee—Republican Sen. Bob Corker is retiring—is critical to Democrats if they have any hope of gaining ground in the chamber. Former Gov. Phil Bredesen, who was endorsed by singer Taylor Swift, is challenging Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who benefited from a Trump endorsement.

Texas: Can Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke topple GOP Sen. Ted Cruz in a deep-red state? It would be one of the biggest political upsets in the history of the Senate, and a signal that the Lone Star state could be in play during the 2020 presidential race.

Also in Texas, Democrats are targeting Republican Reps. Pete Sessions in a district outside Dallas and John Culberson of Houston, both in toss-up races. A defeat of Rep. Will Hurd, who is facing Democrat Gina Ortiz-Jones, would signal a difficult night for Republicans.

The Wall St Journal

12.05pm: O’Rourke pulls ahead in Texas

Democrat Beto O’Rourke has pulled significantly ahead of Ted Cruz in Texas in a potentially crucial result. If Mr O’Rourke defeats Mr Cruz here, it will have serious implications for the 2020 presidential election.

12.00pm: Democrat holds Florida seat

Democrat Stephanie Murphy will hold onto her seat in Florida, beating Republican challenger Mike Miller.

Ms. Murphy’s win in 2016 was a surprise and the race was seen as competitive this year, although Ms. Murphy was favoured to win. The re-election win will likely solidify Ms. Murphy’s hold on a district that Republicans had held for 24 years.

11.50am: Democrats win Virginia

Jennifer Wexton has beaten Republican Barbara Comstock in Virginia. Picture: AP.
Jennifer Wexton has beaten Republican Barbara Comstock in Virginia. Picture: AP.

CNN and AP project that Democrat Jennifer Wexton will win in Virginia’s 10th district, beating the Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock with 58.8 per cent of the vote. This means that the Democrats now need 22 seats to take the House of Representatives. Disapproval of Donald Trump was seen as an important drag on Ms Comstock’s vote here.

With Bernie Sanders holding his Senate seat in Vermont, the Democrats are now in the lead in two key races.

11.45am: Polls close in three states

Polls have now closed in three states: North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.

Ohio: The governor’s race in Ohio is nationally watched because 2016 GOP presidential candidate John Kasich is leaving the governor’s mansion due to term limits. Republican Mike DeWine faces Democrat Richard Cordray in the race to follow Mr Kasich.

A rematch in Ohio’s 12th congressional district in suburban Columbus could also be telling. Rep. Troy Balderson won a special election there this year—but just barely beating Democrat Danny O’Connor—signalling the GOP’s weakening grip in suburbia.

West Virginia: Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s state voted for President Trump in 2016 by 42 percentage points. Yet, Mr Manchin is leading attorney general Patrick Morrisey in public polling, and a victory would demonstrate that a candidate’s personal brand can outweigh party affiliation.

The Wall St Journal

11.25am: Beyonce intervenes in Texas

Hours before polls closed in one of the most closely watched Senate races, pop superstar Beyonce lent her support to Beto O’Rourke, the Texas Democratic candidate hoping to unseat Republican Ted Cruz.

Beyonce, a Houston native, posted a series of self-portraits that showed her sporting a cap with the slogan “Beto for Senate” and the message: “Every vote counts.” “Every race matters,” the queen of pop wrote. “We can’t voice our frustrations and complain about what’s wrong without voting and exercising our power to make it right.

“We need you.”

Mr O’Rourke - a charismatic three-time congressman and former punk band member - tweeted his thanks to Beyonce, who in the past has thrown her star power behind Barack Obama and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

11.10am: First House winner

AP has made its first call of the night: Republican Hal Rogers of Kentucky’s fifth district has won re-election, with about 80% of the 7,000 votes counted so far. His seat wasn’t considered competitive.

11.01am: Sanders keeps seat

Bernie Sanders has held his Senate seat in Vermont, easily defeating Republican Lawrence Zupan. CNN has also called for Senator Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate who has won re-election in Virginia..

Bernie Sanders poses for a photograph with Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist in Saint Albans, Vermont. Picture: AP.
Bernie Sanders poses for a photograph with Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist in Saint Albans, Vermont. Picture: AP.

11.00am: Key polls close

Polls are about to close in four key states: Virginia, Georgia, Florida and also Indiana, where a last batch of polls close in a state that is in two time zones. Polls also close in South Carolina.

Virginia will be closely watched as there are several opportunities for House Democrats to pick up seats. Rep. Barbara Comstock, an incumbent in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, is considered among the most vulnerable Republicans as she squares off against Democrat Jennifer Wexton.

A more significant bellwether could be in Virginia’s second congressional district, where GOP Rep. Scott Taylor faces a stiff challenge from Democratic businesswoman Elaine Luria. And Republican Rep. Dave Brat, who ousted Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a 2014 primary, is now in danger of losing his seat to Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

Georgia’s sixth congressional district, home of a special election last year that launched this year’s fierce fight for control of the chamber, where Rep. Karen Handel is facing Democrat Lucy McBath, is also one to watch. The race illustrates how both parties this year have battled over suburban, educated women. The other is Georgia’s seventh congressional district, where GOP Rep. Rob Woodall faces a tight race with Democratic challenger Carolyn Bourdeaux.

The Wall St Journal

10.45am: Kentucky’s sixth neck and neck

Very early results from Kentucky’s all important sixth district shows Democrat Amy McGrath and Republican incumbent Andy Barr are almost neck and neck. The result is expected to be very tight, whichever way it goes. The Republicans need to hold this seat to maintain its House majority.

10.40am: Rain on Democrat’s parade (tent)

In Florida, where polls close in 20 minutes, heavy rain has started to pour into the press tent for Democrat candidate Andrew Gillum, forcing reporters to evacuate.

10.30am: Comey campaigns for Democrats

Former FBI director James Comey has been out and about campaigning for Democrats. The Washington Post reports Mr Comey has been knocking on doors for Democrat candidate Jennifer Wexton in North Virginia.

“This is beyond Democrats or Republicans or Independents, this is about the values of our country, and I thank you for what you’re doing today … we will be okay because of people like you,” Mr Comey told volunteers.

10.20am: Doing the math on House, Senate

The Wall St Journal has broken down the math in the House and Senate so you don’t have to.

In the House: Democrats need to win a net 23 seats to take the majority from Republicans.

A breakdown: All of the House Democratic politicians are up for-re-election, as they are every two years. Cook Political rates five GOP-held seats as likely to go to the Democrats and 13 GOP-held seats as leaning toward a Democratic advantage. There are also 47 GOP-held seats ranked as “toss-ups,” meaning the race is the most competitive and either party has a good chance of winning. Only three Democratic seats are ranked as toss-ups and two are rated as likely to go for Republicans.

In the Senate: Republicans hold a narrow 51-49 seat majority and are hoping to hold their majority and even pick up a few seats.

A breakdown: Democrats are defending 26 Senate seats. Ten of those are in states Donald Trump won in 2016. Of the red state Democrats, the Cook Political gives Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer in North Dakota an advantage over Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and rates the seats in Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana and New Jersey as “toss-ups”

10.05am: First result in Indiana

Indiana Senate: In very early results, Republican Mike Braun is ahead of incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly by 10 per cent, with Mr Braun at 52pc and Mr Donnelly at 42pc. Mr Donnelly will have to hold the seat for the Democrats to have any chance at taking the Senate which the GOP holds by 51 - 49 pc.

10.00am: Gun shares rise

Shares of gun makers rose ahead of the US midterm elections, as investors tried to anticipate how gun control laws could change.

As voters headed to the polls, American Outdoor Brands closed up 4.7 per cent, Sturm, Ruger & Co. rose 3.7 per cent, and Vista Outdoor advanced 2.1 per cent.

Read the story in full here.

9.55am: Health, immigration top issues

Health care and immigration are the top issues on voters’ minds according to a wide-ranging survey by The Associated Press.

AP VoteCast also shows a majority of voters considered Donald Trump a factor in their votes.

A majority of voters overall say the country is headed in the wrong direction but about two-thirds say the economy is good.

9.35am: East Coast races early indicators

The first polls will be closing in half an hour, at 10am AEDT. Kentucky and Indiana will be closing then, with Kentucky’s district of Lexington one to watch: this is where Republican Andy Barr is facing retired Marine pilot Amy McGrath.

An hour later, at 11am, polls will start to close in four key states: Virginia, Georgia, Florida and also Indiana, where a last batch of polls close in a state that is in two time zones. Polls also close in South Carolina.

9.22am: Still voting after 79 years

Laura Wooten is 98 and hasn't missed an election in 79 years. Picture; CNN.
Laura Wooten is 98 and hasn't missed an election in 79 years. Picture; CNN.

This poll worker in New Jersey is 98 years old and hasn’t missed an election in 79 years.

Laura Wooten has taken a day off from her job at Princeton University, where she checks student IDs at the cafeteria, to serve at her local poll booth, CNN reports.

Ms Wooten hasn’t missed an election since Franklin Roosevelt was president.

This includes last year, when her brother died a day before Election Day and she was unable to get a ride to the polls. She walked to get there.

Cameron Stewart 9.05am: 55 per cent ‘disapprove of Trump’

Very preliminary exit polls being reported by CNN show two thirds of voters believe the mid-terms are all about Donald Trump. The poll shows 55 per cent of voters today said they disapproved of Donald Trump compared to 44 per cent who approved of his performance.

Of these 47 per cent strongly disapproved of Trump while 31 per cent strongly approved.

56 per cent said the country was on the wrong track while 41 per cent said the US was moving in the right direction.

Democratic Congressional candidate Katie Hill fills out her ballot in American flag shoes in California's 25th Congressional district. Picture: AFP.
Democratic Congressional candidate Katie Hill fills out her ballot in American flag shoes in California's 25th Congressional district. Picture: AFP.

8.55am: Facebook removes false ICE posts

Facebook says it has removed posts falsely claiming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were patrolling polling locations looking for undocumented immigrants, CNN reports.

The rumour had previously been confirmed to be false by ICE. The agency tweeted last month and again on Tuesday: “ICE does not patrol or conduct enforcement operations at polling locations. Any flyers or advertisements claiming otherwise are false.”

Facebook says it has also removed posts telling members of both parties the wrong day to vote.

Facebook also said it blocked 115 accounts for suspected “co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour” linked to foreign groups attempting to interfere in the elections.

The company shut down 30 Facebook accounts and 85 Instagram accounts and is investigating them in more detail, it said in a blog post late Monday.

Facebook acted after being tipped off Sunday by U.S. law enforcement officials. Authorities notified the company about recently discovered online activity “they believe may be linked to foreign entities,” Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, wrote in the post .

8.45am: Voting problems in Georgia

Democratic lawyers in Washington are closely monitoring election system problems in Georgia, a state that has already seen controversy over voter issues ahead of today’s midterm elections.

The problems forced election officials in Gwinnett County to extend voting in one precinct, an elementary school, by 25 minutes to account for a delay in officials giving provisional paper ballots until a replacement machine arrived. But some voters had already given up on long lines.

Aside from technical difficulties with voting equipment, election officials across the country were contending Tuesday with long lines brought on by historically heavy voter turnout.

Other problems were being reported in other states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona. Georgia, though, was drawing the most attention: It features a tight race for governor in which the Republican candidate, Secretary of State Brian Kemp is also the state’s chief election official.

The Wall St Journal

Georgia Republican candidate Brian Kemp speaks to reporters after voting in Winterville, Georgia. Kemp is in a close race with Democrat Stacey Abrams. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia Republican candidate Brian Kemp speaks to reporters after voting in Winterville, Georgia. Kemp is in a close race with Democrat Stacey Abrams. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

8.40am: Exit polls due

The first exit polls will come thorugh in 20 minutes, at 9am AEDT.

Voters wait to get a ballot at a polling station in Hillsboro, Virginia. Picture: AFP.
Voters wait to get a ballot at a polling station in Hillsboro, Virginia. Picture: AFP.

8.25am: Stocks slide

Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic slid over trepidation at the mid-terms.

The toll on share prices was, however, limited, with key European markets falling by less than one per cent on the day and Wall Street just a tick lower at the opening bell.

Earlier, Asian indices had mostly ended higher.

8.00am: ‘Some deliberate misinformation’

The Department of Homeland Security says there have been some “intentional misinformation campaigns” involving today’s election, but that the national election infrastructure was safe.

At a press conference, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen called the midterms “the most secure election in the modern era,” and offered a warning for any outside parties wishing to interfere in the elections: “Do not try. Our democracy is not a tool to be used against us and we will not tolerate any attempts to interfere in our elections.”

Christopher Krebs, under secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate, said: “We do see information, misinformation issues. Some are accidental - poor timing on text messages for get-out-the-vote efforts. But also, we do see some intentional misinformation campaigns. And we have seen our private sector partners in the social media space actively take down those messages.”

Campaign workers across the street from a polling station in Middleburg, Virginia. Picture: AFP/.
Campaign workers across the street from a polling station in Middleburg, Virginia. Picture: AFP/.

7.45am: Early voting over 38m

Early voting has reached over 38 million, compared with fewer than 20 million in 2014 helping make the turnout for these mid-terms the highest ever.

7.30am: Kentucky early race to watch

The first polls to close at Kentucky and Indiana, at 6pm Eastern time, 10am AEDT. Thek ey race to watch is Kentucky’s sixth congressional district in Lexington. The seat is held by Repblican Andy Barr, and this area typically does well for the GOP but he is up against a Marine pilot Amy McGrath, the first American woman to fly an F/A-18 fighter jet in combat. Ms McGrath has been put forward by the Democrats in a campaign strategy that they say combines patriotism with progressive bona fides - enlisting military veterans.

Democratic congressional candidate Amy McGrath greets a supporter while waiting to vote in Georgetown, Kentucky. Picture: AP.
Democratic congressional candidate Amy McGrath greets a supporter while waiting to vote in Georgetown, Kentucky. Picture: AP.

7.20am: Texas to turn blue?

One of the most closely watched contests is that in Texas, where popular Democrat Beta O’Rourke may just pull off the upset of the year and defeat Senator Ted Cruz. If Mr O’Rourke does win in this deep red state, his victory may have serious implications for the 2020 elections.

Cameron Stewart 7.10am: Women may give Democrats control

If the Democrats win the House, it may be women voters who make it happen. Polls show that women have moved away from Trump as his presidency has progressed, ­especially women in former Rep­ublican-leaning suburbs. The latest CNN poll finds women favour Democrat candidates in their district by 62 per cent compared with 35 per cent who back Republicans. By contrast, men are almost ­evenly split between the parties.

Cameron Stewart 7.00am: Toss-up seats crucial

The ability of the Democrats to win the 23 extra seats they need to retake the House of Representatives will depend on how they fare in the 30-odd seats that are rated as toss-ups. Polls show an un­usually large number of these seats — about 20 of them — are within only two percentage points, far less than the usual margin of error, which means any outcome is still possible. But the Democrats need to win only about seven of these 30 toss-up seats to gain the 23 seats required to take the House so the maths is not the side of the Republicans. Polls on average suggest the Democrats will win back about 30 seats all up, enough to give them a modest majority in the House — a result which would be consistent with post-war midterm elections.

6.45am: ‘Don’t let the rain stop you’

Ivanka Trump has made a nonpartisan appeal to vote midday Tuesday, urging people not to be deterred by the rain.

“One of the great privileges of being an American is having your voice heard,” Ms Trump said in a video posted on Twitter. “Get out and vote. Don’t let the rain stop you.”

Ms Trump has been seen only rarely during the campaign but appeared at a rally in Indiana to spruik her father’s economic record.

“It’s never been a better time to be an American worker, and that can’t stop,” she told supporters.

Cameron Stewart 6.30am: Trump defiant

Donald Trump has predicted ­Republicans will defy history and do “very well” in today’s midterm elections despite new polls pointing to a Democrat victory in the House of Representatives.

Mr Trump said yesterday he was “willing to accept” that the polls were largely about him, but he was confident that Republicans would defy both history and the polls to do well.

Read the article in full here.

Voters wait to get a ballot at a polling station in Hillsboro, Virginia. Picture: AFP.
Voters wait to get a ballot at a polling station in Hillsboro, Virginia. Picture: AFP.

Janet Albrechtsen 6.15am: Trump surfs symptoms of crisis

Regardless of the outcome of the US midterm elections, a few things will remain the same. ­Debates about a crisis of democracy will gather pace for so long as Donald Trump is US President. Opining about this crisis coincides with not getting your way at the previous election. The other certainty is the focus will remain on superficial symptoms rather than the deeper causes of why democracy is under threat.

Read the article in full here.

Illustration: Eric Lobbecke
Illustration: Eric Lobbecke

6.00am: East Coast races key to result

A string of East Coast races could be early indicators on which party will win the battle for control of the US House, while the fight for the US Senate runs through a slate of toss-up states that are in later time zones.

Read the article in full here.

More Coverage

Trump surfing ‘wave’ of crisis
Janet Albrechtsen
Read related topics:Donald Trump
Cameron Stewart
Cameron StewartChief International Correspondent

Cameron Stewart is the Chief International Correspondent at The Australian, combining investigative reporting on foreign affairs, defence and national security with feature writing for the Weekend Australian Magazine. He was previously the paper's Washington Correspondent covering North America from 2017 until early 2021. He was also the New York correspondent during the late 1990s. Cameron is a former winner of the Graham Perkin Award for Australian Journalist of the Year.

Cameron Stewart

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/world/us-midterms-2018-america-goes-to-the-polls-for-referendum-on-trump/news-story/526d00613465a312f0acc1d2b05eebcb