US midterms put control of Congress at stake

Voters across the United States are choosing members of Congress on November 3 in midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans retain narrow majorities in the House and Senate or Democrats gain control of either chamber. No results are reported yet. The ballot includes all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats. Voting was underway on Tuesday, according to a report published that day. The elections also include contests for governor in 36 states, according to one account. Republicans currently hold 218 seats in the House, with one independent who generally votes with them, compared with 214 Democrats; two seats are vacant. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats, while 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with them make up the other side. The House majority threshold is 218 seats. Democrats would need a net gain of three House seats and four Senate seats to take control, according to the reported chamber breakdowns. Forecasts published before and during voting gave Democrats an advantage in the House and a slight edge in the Senate. Those projections are not results, and several races were described as close. A Cook...