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US mid-term elections 2018: Congress hangs in balance US mid-term elections 2018: Senate slipping from Democratic reach
(35 minutes later)
Early results are being declared in the US mid-term elections, which will determine who runs Congress and shape President Donald Trump's agenda. The Democrats' hopes of winning control of the US Senate have been dealt a blow in the mid-term elections.
Democrats scored early wins in the House of Representatives, flipping two districts in Virginia and Florida. A Donald Trump Republican ally is projected to unseat an incumbent in Indiana, but Democratic senators held on in West Virginia and New Jersey.
But in the Senate, incumbent Indiana Democrat Joe Donnelly looks in trouble, dealing a possible blow to the party's hopes of taking that chamber. Democrats also scored significant gains in the House of Representatives, including two districts seized by the party in Virginia and Florida.
Republicans currently control both legislative chambers.Republicans currently control both legislative chambers.
Mr Trump is not up for re-election until 2020, but Tuesday's poll was widely seen as a referendum on his presidency. President Trump is not up for re-election until 2020, but Tuesday's poll will shape his agenda for the remainder of his two years in office.
What's happening in Senate races?
Republicans look likely now to retain control of the Senate - they currently have a slim 51-49 majority, but only nine of the party's seats were up for grabs, while Democrats were defending 26 seats.
Republican Mike Braun was projected to oust incumbent Joe Donnelly, a moderate Democrat in Indiana.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Mr Trump had "closed the deal" for Mr Braun after holding a rally in the state on Monday night.
Republican Marsha Blackburn won a Senate seat in Tennessee against Democrat Phil Bredesen, who was endorsed by pop star Taylor Swift.
There was some consolation for Democrats as Senators Joe Manchin and Bob Menendez held on to their seats after tough campaigns in West Virginia and New Jersey respectively.
A cliff-hanging vote count in Florida has Republican Rick Scott neck and neck with incumbent Democratic senator Bill Nelson.
There is no result yet from another closely watched Senate race. Republican Ted Cruz is up against a stiff challenge from rising Democratic star Beto O'Rourke.
What's happening in House races?
Democrats are expected to win the 23 seats they need to take over the House of Representatives, and possibly 15 or so extra seats.
Americans voted for all 435 seats in the House.
In suburban Virginia, Democrat Jennifer Wexton ousted incumbent Republican Barbara Comstock, while another Democrat, Donna Shalala, flipped a Florida constituency against Republican Maria Salazar, a news anchor.In suburban Virginia, Democrat Jennifer Wexton ousted incumbent Republican Barbara Comstock, while another Democrat, Donna Shalala, flipped a Florida constituency against Republican Maria Salazar, a news anchor.
Vote counts are too close to call in two important Florida contests. But Democratic candidate Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot, lost against third-term Republican Rep Andy Barr in a Kentucky district, a state Mr Trump won by double figures two years ago.
The Sunshine State's governor race is a toss-up between a left-wing progressive, Andrew Gillum, and a Trumpist conservative, Ron DeSantis.
Another cliffhanging tally in Florida has Republican Rick Scott currently neck and neck with incumbent Democratic senator Bill Nelson.
All 50 states and Washington DC have been voting, and experts say turnout could be the highest for mid-term elections in 50 years.
What's at stake?
Americans are voting for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of 100 seats in the Senate - the two bodies that make up Congress. Governors are also being chosen in 36 out of 50 states.
Pollsters predict Democrats may win the 23 seats they need to take over the House of Representatives, and possibly 15 or so extra seats.
But Republicans have been tipped to retain control of the Senate - they currently have a slim 51-49 majority, but only nine of the party's seats were up for grabs, while Democrats were defending 26 seats.
If Democrats do win the House, they are expected to launch investigations into Mr Trump's administration and business affairs, from tax returns to potential conflicts of interest, while thwarting his legislative agenda.If Democrats do win the House, they are expected to launch investigations into Mr Trump's administration and business affairs, from tax returns to potential conflicts of interest, while thwarting his legislative agenda.
Asked on Monday how he would handle a lower chamber controlled by his political opponents, the president appeared to concede to reporters that it was a risk. What's happening in governors' races?
"We'll just have to work a little bit differently," said Mr Trump. Governors are also being chosen in 36 out of 50 states.
Warning signs in CBS exit poll The Sunshine State's governor race is too close to call between a left-wing progressive, Andrew Gillum, and a Trumpist conservative, Ron DeSantis.
Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams could become the first female African-American governor in the US. Her Republican opponent Brian Kemp's office has been accused of voter suppression.
To add to polling day tensions, broken voting machines led to longer queues and a return to paper ballots in some parts of the state.
Senate door closing on Democrats
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC NewsAnalysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News
Overall, Donald Trump's approval rating among the electorate sits at 44%. If history is any guide, the party of a president with that level of support is in for a rough time in a mid-term election. Democrats always faced an uphill fight in the Senate, with 10 incumbents running in states that Donald Trump carried in 2016. Even though the president won Indiana by 16%, Joe Donnelly was supposed to be one of the endangered candidates with a better chance to hold on.
Perhaps the most striking finding of the poll is that 43% of American mid-term voters named healthcare as the top issue for them. Democrats have campaigned heavily on the topic - attacking Republican attempts last year to repeal Obamacare health insurance reforms. If that's what voters are thinking about, it's an indication that Democrats accurately had the pulse of the electorate. Instead, he was the first to fall.
Immigration, which has been Mr Trump's main focus in the final days of campaigning, is a distant second at 23%. The economy, which traditionally is at the top of voters' minds, is a close third with 21%. Mr Trump barnstormed the critical Senate battleground states in the final days of the campaign, effectively making the contests as much about him as they were about the individual candidates. It appears to have been an effective strategy in places like Indiana and Tennessee.
In West Virginia, however, Joe Manchin continued to defy political gravity by holding on to his seat. And in other previously Trump-friendly 2016 states - Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania - Democratic incumbents breezed to victory. In all it makes for a muddled picture that as much reflects regional identities, demographic differences and specific candidate strengths as it does Mr Trump's political power.
It also, however, nearly closes the door on Democratic hopes to retake the Senate. In a best-case scenario, a political tailwind would push all the at-risk candidates across the finish line. Instead, some survive while others falter.
What you need to know about mid-terms:
How has voting unfolded?How has voting unfolded?
After months of campaigning and billions of dollars in spending on adverts, leaflets and bumper stickers, voters came out in force.After months of campaigning and billions of dollars in spending on adverts, leaflets and bumper stickers, voters came out in force.
Around 40 million people cast early ballots according to the US Elections Project, a University of Florida-based information source. That figure in 2014 was just 27.5 million.Around 40 million people cast early ballots according to the US Elections Project, a University of Florida-based information source. That figure in 2014 was just 27.5 million.
In Texas, early voting exceeded the entire turnout in 2014.In Texas, early voting exceeded the entire turnout in 2014.
Some states showed signs of being overwhelmed by the voter influx, however.Some states showed signs of being overwhelmed by the voter influx, however.
The Associated Press reported a wave of electronic voting machine failures and congested polling stations after voting opened - including in Georgia, Atlanta, Arizona, and New York.The Associated Press reported a wave of electronic voting machine failures and congested polling stations after voting opened - including in Georgia, Atlanta, Arizona, and New York.
Relief at social networks as defences holdRelief at social networks as defences hold
What you need to know about mid-terms:
A Homeland Security official said the department had received "sparse" reports of tech failure, but that there seemed to have been no significant impact on people's ability to vote.A Homeland Security official said the department had received "sparse" reports of tech failure, but that there seemed to have been no significant impact on people's ability to vote.
Four other races to watch
Kentucky's 6th district
Democratic candidate Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot, has surrendered an early lead in the vote count against third-term Republican Rep Andy Barr.
Mr Trump won there by double digits two years ago, so a Democratic victory would be a worrying sign for Republicans.
Georgia's governorship
Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams could become the first female African-American governor in the US. Her Republican opponent Brian Kemp's office has been accused of voter suppression.
To add to poll-day tensions, broken voting machines led to longer queues and a return to paper ballots in some parts of the state.
Texas Senate
This contest has received national media attention, with high-profile Republican Ted Cruz being closely challenged by Democrat Beto O'Rourke.
Mr O'Rourke is viewed as a rising star in the party and, if he wins, would become the first Democratic senator in Texas for more than two decades.
Arizona Senate
This race is as close as they come. Martha McSally, a two-term Republican representative from Arizona, is running against Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
Whoever wins will make history by becoming the first woman to represent the state in the Senate.