Washington: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries informed reporters on Tuesday evening that Democrats are “are on the verge” of winning back control of the House of Representatives, though he stressed that the party would “take nothing for granted”.

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According to reporting from CBS News, Jeffries said in Washington, D C, “We're going to continue to run through the finish line,” noting that “The early vote numbers were strong, and today's vote numbers all across the country are strong in blue states, in swing states and in red states.”

Americans turned out to cast their ballots on November 3 in critical midterm races that will determine which party holds legislative power in Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term.

Polling sites started shutting down in stages beginning at 6 pm Eastern Time (23 GMT) across parts of Indiana and Kentucky.

The midterms feature contests for all 435 House seats, 35 Senate races and 36 gubernatorial seats across the country.

With Republicans maintaining control of both congressional chambers heading into the vote, Democrats must secure a net gain of three seats in the House and four seats in the Senate to flip control.

Reclaiming a House majority would grant Democrats huge power to block President Trump's legislative priorities and launch oversight inquiries into his administration.

Political observers regard the vote as a crucial referendum on the administration, with voters primarily driven by concerns over inflation, rising living costs and military involvement in Iran.

When asked to estimate potential seat totals, Jeffries avoided giving specific forecasts, remarking that “we're working hard to get to 218, and then to win as many seats as we can on top of that”.

Regarding whether he plans to reach out to President Trump if Democrats win the House, Jeffries noted that “we'll cross that bridge when we get to it”.

CBS News also reported that Jeffries shared that the first individual he plans to reach after election night is “my mother”.

As polls closed, initial CBS News exit polling indicated that President Trump's approval rating stood at 38 percent – the lowest midterms approval figure registered for an active president in recent years.

The survey data reveals that roughly three-quarters of voters feel negative about the country's current direction, with widespread pessimism regarding economic conditions compared to two years prior. A majority of respondents also expressed the view that the U.S. erred by engaging in military actions in Iran.

Facing these head-winds, President Trump prepared for a high-stakes night.

In a phone interview with CBS News before polling places closed, the President brushed off concerns over a potential Democratic takeover of Congress, stating, “I have the ultimate power – it's called veto.”

He suggested that executive power would force congressional Democrats to negotiate, asserting, “Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We've got to make a deal’.”

Earlier in the evening, the President took to Truth Social to express frustration with election coverage on Fox News.

“Watching the Pre-Election Results on FoxNews, but I can't stand Jessica Tarlov's voice – DUMB AS A ROCK, but it's the voice that gets me. Have to go somewhere else until that LOSER is off the air – I'll be back later! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he posted.

As the night progressed, polls officially closed in Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia, along with the remaining areas of Indiana and Kentucky, initiating the first wave of results on a night that will shape the balance of power in Washington and state capitols.

Initial projections brought immediate news, with Fox News projecting that Democratic incumbent Senator Mark Warner will secure re-election in Virginia, defeating Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa, a retired army major general.

ANI