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President Donald Trump\u2019s record-low popularity, voter frustration over the cost of living and a fierce immigration fight are shaping the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine whether Republicans keep control of Congress or Democrats gain the power to challenge his administration.<\/strong><\/p>\n Republicans hold narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to \u200btake control of each chamber.<\/p>\n The outcome will hinge on a relatively small number of competitive races, but the campaigns are being shaped nationally by Trump himself and voter \u200cconcerns over affordability and immigration.<\/p>\n Here is a look at the three issues defining the election:<\/p>\n DONALD TRUMP<\/strong><\/p>\n The president has put himself front and center in the closing stretch of the campaign cycle despite his record-low popularity, with upcoming rallies in Florida, Iowa, Michigan and Texas. Trump\u2019s approval rating has fallen to an all-time low 31%, according to a Reuters\/Ipsos poll. Yet he has repeatedly urged voters to pretend he\u2019s on the ballot, an effort that could motivate Democrats and independents to \u200brally against his party despite the message being aimed at increasing turnout among Trump\u2019s base.<\/p>\n Democrats have said Trump has broken his campaign promises to lower costs and end wars. They have \u200bvowed to tackle an affordability agenda to reduce Americans\u2019 cost of living and hold the administration accountable for alleged corruption if voters give them control \u2060of either chamber.<\/p>\n AFFORDABILITY<\/strong><\/p>\n Voters have consistently ranked the cost of living as the top issue this election cycle. Half of registered voters surveyed in a recent Reuters\/Ipsos poll cited the cost of living as the most \u200bimportant factor in how they will vote. In the same poll, voters highlighted healthcare, gasoline, food and housing as the top household bills lawmakers should focus on.<\/p>\n Republicans\u2019 top legislative achievement was a tax cut \u200bextension that slashed roughly $1 trillion in spending for Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income Americans, and other health programs. Democrats last year forced a government shutdown over a failed effort to extend expiring health subsidies that benefited 24 million Americans.<\/p>\n Gas prices have spiked since the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in February. The national average price of gas is $4.28 \u2014 $1.20 higher than it was a year ago, according to AAA. The average cost of \u200bdiesel is $6.32 \u2014 a $2.70 increase from a year earlier.<\/p>\n Grocery costs are up 1.8% over the past year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics data on consumer prices. Federal Housing Finance Agency data show \u200bhome prices rose 2.1% over the past year. Congress passed a bipartisan housing bill earlier this year. It became law without Trump\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n IMMIGRATION<\/strong><\/p>\n Preliminary data from the Department of Homeland Security showed a 95% drop in migrants apprehended \u200cat the southwest \u2060border compared to former President Joe Biden\u2019s administration. The agency said there have been no Border Patrol releases the entire fiscal year for the first time ever.<\/p>\n But fatal encounters with federal immigration agents have occurred in Maine, Minnesota and Texas. The backlash to the death of two US citizens in Minnesota pulled many Democrats in competitive primaries to the left this year, with some candidates calling for the impeachment of then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be abolished.<\/p>\n Democrats and Republicans sparred over immigration funding this year in a stalemate that forced Republicans to unilaterally pass a $70 billion \u200bbill to fund ICE and the Border Patrol \u200bfor the remainder of Trump\u2019s presidency. Republicans \u2060counter Democrats\u2019 criticism by saying Democrats support open borders.<\/p>\n Federal immigration officials also raided the Washington home of Democratic US Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota this month, drawing widespread condemnation from Democrats. A person familiar with the case against Omar told Reuters one potential aim of the investigation could be to strip her of US \u200bcitizenship and deport her.<\/p>\n OTHER ISSUES<\/strong><\/p>\n Artificial intelligence and data centers, cryptocurrency, abortion and Israel could also influence voters in individual races. In Ohio\u2019s Senate race, \u200bfor example, Democratic nominee Sherrod \u2060Brown has labeled Republican Senator Jon Husted the face of data centers, and the crypto super PAC Defend American Jobs has spent more than $46 million to reelect Husted over Brown, a former US senator who chaired the chamber\u2019s Banking Committee.<\/p>\n In Maine\u2019s Senate race, Democratic nominee Troy Jackson is hoping voters don\u2019t forget that Republican Senator Susan Collins helped confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which later overturned the federal right to \u2060abortion. Collins is \u200bon the election ballot for the first time since the high court made abortion a state issue rather than a \u200bfederal right.<\/p>\n In Michigan, Republican nominee Mike Rogers has indicated he would accept help from a pro-Israel super PAC that spent more than $30 million backing Democratic US Representative Haley Stevens in her unsuccessful primary against Abdul El-Sayed, who now faces Rogers in the \u200bgeneral election. The group has already spent more than $280,000 on mailers against El-Sayed.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n