Voter turnout surges in election that will determine direction of Congress – as it happened

Americans turned out in large numbers for midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and shape the final years of Donald Trump’s presidency. With the economy and cost of living prominent concerns, the contests were widely seen as a referendum on his second term, and voter dissatisfaction made some traditionally Republican states competitive.

Polls were due to close first in most of Kentucky and Indiana at 6pm ET. Unofficial early results from Guam showed Republicans winning the governorship while Democrats gained the territory’s non-voting congressional delegate seat. The administration’s deployment of election monitors in all 50 states, alongside disputes over Alaska’s Senate race and California ballots, raised concerns about possible federal interference.