US Midterm Elections Open as Supreme Court Rejects Trump Bid on California Ballots

Voters across the United States cast ballots on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, in midterm elections that will determine which party controls the House of Representatives and the Senate for the second half of President Donald Trump's term. All 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats including special elections in Florida and Ohio, 39 governorships and thousands of state and local offices are on the ballot.

On Monday evening the Supreme Court turned down an emergency request from the Trump administration to force California to sequester about 20,000 mail ballots that federal officials alleged had been cast by non-citizens. The Court issued a brief, unsigned order with no noted dissents. It did not ask California for a response, a step that often signals the justices are considering an emergency case seriously.

The California Ballot Dispute

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed the request on Monday morning. He argued that federal law bars non-citizens from voting in federal elections and that California had no way to retrieve the ballots once they were processed and commingled. A federal district judge in California, David Carter, had earlier rejected the request for a temporary order, questioning the credibility of the administration's list of alleged non-citizens. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals also denied emergency relief on Friday.

State officials had told courts that a large share of a sample drawn from the federal list consisted of verified U.S. citizens. The administration did not publicly explain the methodology used to compile the list of more than 20,000 names. California is the most populous state and a Democratic stronghold; the ballots in question could affect local races but were not expected to decide statewide contests.

Stakes for Control of Congress

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and a narrow edge in the House. Democrats need a net gain of three House seats and four Senate seats to take both chambers. Early voting has already set a midterm record: more than 51 million Americans cast ballots before Election Day, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab, compared with nearly 46 million in 2022.

Control of Congress will shape the final two years of Trump's presidency. Key issues on the ballot include abortion rights in several states, redistricting measures, and voter identification requirements. In Alaska a federal probe into the Senate race has drawn attention, while California Governor Gavin Newsom warned judges that the Justice Department might seek warrants related to ballots.

Timing and Aftermath

The Supreme Court's rejection came hours after the filing and one day before polls opened. Once California processes the challenged ballots they cannot be separated later. Results from the midterms are expected to trickle in over the coming days; some close races may remain unresolved for weeks. The outcome will determine the legislative agenda on spending, immigration, energy and foreign policy for the remainder of Trump's term.