Why do the US midterms matter for Trump and Congress?

The United States midterms on November 3 are dominating national and international headlines. The stakes of the election are high. The midterm race will determine which party controls the US Congress, and in turn, shape the direction of Trump’s final two years in office. It will also decide key state and local positions. But notching big wins in the midterm election may not be enough to shake up the balance of power in Washington, DC. To understand the implications of this year’s midterm election and what may come next, Al Jazeera has put together this simple primer. Midterm elections fall at the halfway point of a president’s term, meaning the executive office will not be on the ballot. Front and centre will be the battle for control of Congress.