Ominous signs for Trump, GOP

A hotly contested race in Ohio for a US House of Representatives seat that has gone Republican for more than 30 years remained too close to call yesterday, in an encouraging sign for Democrats and an ominous sign for the president and Republicans ahead of November's midterms.

Republican Troy Balderson led Democrat Danny O'Connor by about 1,700 votes with all precincts reporting, but the final result is likely to be days away as state officials count more than 8,000 provisional and absentee ballots.

Even if Balderson is eventually declared the winner, the narrow margin is little comfort for Republicans as they head into the November vote.

The close Ohio special election has become a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump's leadership and a last chance to gauge Democratic strength ahead of November's midterm election, in which the Republicans are defending majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Tuesday's political battleground, an affluent suburban district which is about 88 percent white, has been in Republican control for more than three decades.

Democrats need to win 23 more seats in the House and two in the Senate to control Congress and put the brakes on Trump's agenda. All 435 House seats, 35 of 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governors' offices are up for grabs in November.