Voters Head to Polls in 2026 US Midterms as Control of Congress Hangs in Balance

Voters across the United States began casting ballots on Tuesday in midterm elections that will decide control of both chambers of Congress for the remaining two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate are on the ballot, along with 36 gubernatorial races and numerous state legislative and ballot measure contests.

Republicans entered Election Day holding narrow majorities in both chambers. In the Senate, the party held a 53-47 edge. In the House, Republicans controlled 219 seats to Democrats’ 214, with a handful of vacancies. Democrats need a net gain of three House seats and four Senate seats to claim majorities. Early voting had already set records in several states, and turnout was expected to be high amid concerns over inflation, the cost of living, and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The elections serve as a clear referendum on Trump’s agenda and approval ratings. Recent polls placed the president’s approval near historic lows for a midterm year, with inflation and economic pressures ranking as top voter concerns. Key Senate battlegrounds include Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. In Michigan, the race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers drew particular attention after Trump referenced it while discussing foreign aid. House races in California, Pennsylvania, New York, and several other states are expected to determine the lower chamber’s majority.

Beyond Congress, voters are deciding ballot measures on abortion access, redistricting processes, voter identification requirements, and restrictions on transgender athletes in school sports. In California, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected an emergency request from the Trump administration to set aside thousands of mail ballots that the administration claimed may have come from noncitizens. The decision left those ballots in place for counting.

Results are expected to begin arriving after the first polls close at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Close races, particularly those involving large volumes of mail-in ballots, may not be called for days. In Georgia, a Senate contest without a majority winner would head to a runoff on December 1. Campaign spending exceeded $11.9 billion, according to Federal Election Commission records, with the bulk going to advertising. Republican-aligned groups spent more than $5.5 billion, while Democratic-aligned groups spent just over $5 billion.

Trump cast the midterms as a test of his second-term record and warned that a Democratic Congress would launch investigations into his administration. Democrats framed the contests as an opportunity to check executive power and address household costs. State-level outcomes will also shape redistricting ahead of the 2028 presidential election and influence the composition of state legislatures that write election laws.

As of early Tuesday, no major races had been called. Analysts cautioned that final tallies in competitive districts could take several days as provisional and absentee ballots are processed. The outcome will set the legislative agenda for the remainder of Trump’s term and determine whether Congress can advance or block major policy proposals on taxes, spending, and foreign affairs.