Americans vote in midterms that could reshape control of Congress
Voters across the United States cast ballots on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, in midterm elections that will decide which party controls the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate. Midterms fall nearly halfway through a president's term, and they are often seen as a referendum on how the sitting president is performing.
Entering the vote, Republicans held a 218-214 edge in the House and a 53-47 majority in the Senate, according to Reuters. Democrats hoped to take the House and possibly the Senate, while Republicans were fighting to keep their congressional majorities. Polls and analysts favoured Democrats to win the House, but Reuters reported that control of the Senate was uncertain.
President Donald Trump's standing with voters was a central theme. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released ahead of the election put his job approval at 32 percent, near a record low. On the generic congressional ballot, which asks voters which party they would back without naming candidates, respondents favoured Democrats 46 to 38. Trump made a final pitch to voters on 2 November, telling them to “pretend I'm on the ballot.”
Several Senate contests are closely watched. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faced Republican Mike Rogers for an open seat. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff held a healthy poll lead over Republican Mike Collins. In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins sought to hold her seat against Democrat Troy Jackson. Democrat Kamala Harris won Maine in the 2024 presidential election.
Other races drew attention in states that lean toward one party. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico faced Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general. Republicans spent about $210 million supporting Paxton, and no Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994. Donald Trump won Texas by nearly 14 points in 2024. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown sought to return to the Senate against Republican Jon Husted. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola challenged Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan. A judge dismissed a lawsuit backed by Trump that sought to block certification of the Alaska Senate results if Sullivan lost. Certification is the formal confirmation of results.
Senate contests in Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina and New Hampshire could also help decide which party holds the chamber. The election also included governor races in 39 states. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an independent, bipartisan body that supports election officials, had urged Americans in January to sign up as poll workers ahead of the midterms.
The Senate's balance carries particular weight. If the chamber ends in a 50-50 split, Vice President JD Vance, a Republican, would cast the tiebreaking vote.
