Trump's control over Congress begins to loosen, with a major victory for the Democrats in the midterm election preliminary battles.

On November 5, the Democratic Party won the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday, regaining political momentum. Voter unease about the state of the economy during Trump's second term may pave the way for the Democrats to win control of Congress next year. Abigail Spanberger's easy victory in the Virginia gubernatorial race, along with Mikie Sherrill's win in New Jersey, constitute the most significant electoral victories for the Democrats since Trump returned to the White House. AP polls in Virginia and New Jersey show that about 60% of respondents feel “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the current state of the country, with only one-third expressing “enthusiasm” or “satisfaction.” CNN polls indicate that more than half of voters plan to send a message to Trump with their ballots. “Off-year” elections serve as both a national referendum and a political barometer, as well as a roadmap for the future. The American public's reassessment of Trump's performance in office also affects the future viability of his policy agenda. As voting took place, the U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth week, setting a new record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Trump's efforts to cut federal spending have left hundreds of thousands of workers idle and hindered the release of economic data.