Hey, hope your week's off to great start and we're glad you're starting it with CNN 10.
I'm Carl Azuz.
Today, Monday, September 17, is exactly 50 days away from the 2018 U. S. midterm elections.
Americans aren't choosing a president this year.
These elections are called midterms because they happen in the middle of a president's four-year term.
What voters are choosing are the representatives in Congress as well as candidates for state and local offices.
Currently, members from President Donald Trump's political party, the Republican Party, control both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In the House, there are 435 voting members, Republicans hold 236 seats, Democrats hold 193, and there are six vacancies that haven't been filled yet.
Since Representatives are elected every two years, that includes the midterms and every one of these seats is up for election this year.
In the Senate, there are 100 members, Republicans hold 51 seats, Democrats hold 47 seats, and independents who usually vote with the Democrats hold two seats.
