Will Donald Trump win midterm elections? Latest polls for US midterms

’s name is not on the ballot.

But even the US President himself seems to have admitted these elections are as good as a referendum on his presidency.

Speaking in a conference call on Monday, Mr Trump said: “I’m not on the ballot — in a certain way I am on the ballot.”

He urged people to get out and vote, but not before taking a dig at the media: “If we don’t have a good day they will make it like it’s the end of the world. Don’t worry if we do have a good day they won’t give us any credit.”

But why are these  – so-called as they fall in the middle of a US President’s four-year term – considered a poll on the sitting president?

Largely because the outcome will significantly impact the rest of the US President’s tenure.

The House of Representatives and the Senate – the two chambers of US Congress – pass law.

Currently, both chambers sit with the Republicans, who back Mr Trump.

If either chamber falls to the Democrats, the ability of Mr Trump to make and pass new laws would be notably restricted.

But if the Republicans hold both chambers, it would serve as an endorsement of the Trump administration, and allow him to ramp up on controversial proposals such as the Mexico border wall and abortion law.

What are the polls showing?

Recent polling shows the Democrats have a good chance of taking control of the House.

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All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs, and a party needs 218 to be in control.

If the Democrats want to flip the House of Representatives, they will need to take at least 23 seats from the Republicans.

Polling site FiveThirtyEight gives the Democrats an 87.3 percent chance of this manifesting.

The Senate, however, paints quite a different picture.

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In the Senate, only 35 out of the total 100 are up for grabs, as the duration of sitting senators is staggered.

This year, Democrats have more seats up for re-election (24) than the Republicans (nine), and the majority of these seats are in states that overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Trump in 2016.

In fact, Mr Trump won 10 out of 13 states with close Senate races.

Polling site FiveThirtyEight gives the Republicans an 83.3 percent chance of retaining Senate control.