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Illustrative image: The US flag waves outside the Capitol in Washington, DC, as the November 3, 2026, midterm elections approach, with the results set to influence congressional control, Trump's agenda and the 2028 presidential race.
What to Know About the 2026 US Midterm Elections and Congress
WASHINGTON — October 19, 2026
Millions of Americans are preparing to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress and influence political decisions across the United States. Voters will also choose governors in dozens of states and elect members of state legislatures, making the elections an important test of public support for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
Midterm elections take place halfway through a president's four-year term. Although the president is not on the ballot, the results can affect how easily the administration advances its policies and how Congress oversees the White House. More than 100 million people are expected to vote this year if turnout matches the 2022 midterm elections.
Campaign spending has also reached a record level. By October 12, more than $3.8 billion had been spent on political advertisements that aired during the campaign, according to AdImpact, a firm that tracks political advertising. Some of the biggest spending has focused on competitive Senate races in Texas, Ohio and Michigan. Campaign finance records cited in the supplied report show that Elon Musk alone has spent about $366 million supporting Republicans.
Despite the large expected turnout, midterm elections usually attract fewer voters than presidential contests. More than 155 million votes were cast in the 2024 presidential election, providing a comparison for the scale of national participation.
Control of Congress is the central issue in this year's elections. Republicans currently hold a 218-214 advantage in the House of Representatives, with two vacancies and one independent who caucuses with Republicans. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority.
The Senate is also competitive. Republicans hold 53 of the chamber's 100 seats, compared with 47 held by Democrats. Democrats need to gain four seats to take control, with contests in states including Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and Georgia among those that could determine the outcome.
The results could have significant consequences for Trump's remaining time in office. The party holding the White House often faces losses during midterm elections, as voters use the contests to express approval or frustration with the president's performance. A strong result for Democrats could increase pressure on Trump to adjust his policies and give Democrats greater influence over congressional investigations and legislation.
The elections will also help shape the political debate ahead of the 2028 presidential campaign. Candidates considering a presidential run may study the results to understand which issues matter most to voters and how voters respond to the parties' messages.
Economic concerns are expected to play a major role in many races. A September Reuters/Ipsos poll put Trump's approval rating at 32%, its lowest level of his presidency at the time of the poll. Rising consumer prices could weaken Republican support, while early voting patterns suggest Democrats may be more motivated to participate.
Some Latino voters who supported Trump in 2024 may also be moving back toward the Democrats, according to the supplied report. Frustration over economic conditions and some of the administration's immigration enforcement measures could be contributing to that shift.
However, a major Democratic victory is not guaranteed. Republicans could benefit from their campaign spending advantage, continued doubts among some voters about the Democratic Party and concerns among moderate voters about left-wing candidates who won party primaries. The final outcome will depend on how these competing factors affect turnout and voting choices.
Past elections show how sharply midterms can change the balance of power in Washington. In 2010, Republicans gained 63 House seats during Barack Obama's presidency, taking control of the chamber amid economic concerns and opposition to his healthcare reform law. Democrats nevertheless retained control of the Senate despite losing six seats.
In 2018, during Trump's first presidency, Democrats gained a net 40 seats in the House, taking control of the chamber, but lost a net two seats in the Senate. These results illustrate how voters can limit a president's influence over Congress without necessarily changing control of both chambers.
This year's elections extend beyond Washington. Governors' races are taking place in 39 states, while voters in nearly every state will elect members of their state legislatures. Ballotpedia figures cited in the supplied report show Republicans currently hold 55% of state legislative seats, compared with 43.8% for Democrats.
If Democrats win the House, Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York is likely to become speaker. He currently leads House Democrats and would become the first Black American to hold the position. As speaker, he would have substantial influence over the House agenda and committee investigations into the Trump administration.
Jeffries has said Democrats would focus on lowering the cost of healthcare, groceries, housing, energy and other essential expenses. He has also called for investigations into what he describes as corruption within the administration. A Democratic-controlled House could use its committees and subpoena powers to examine government actions, although the results of those investigations would depend on the evidence and the response of the officials involved.
If Republicans retain the House, the speakership would remain with their party. Current Speaker Mike Johnson could continue in the role, although Republicans could choose another leader if he faced a challenge. Their priorities are likely to include further tax cuts, higher defense spending and reductions in social safety net programs, building on Trump's 2025 tax and spending legislation, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.
Several competitive House contests are attracting particular attention. Republican Representative Mike Lawler is seeking re-election in a New York district that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election. Another closely watched contest is an open seat in a competitive Nebraska district, where higher fuel costs have become an issue for farmers and truckers amid the US war against Iran. Democrats are also targeting two Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania and another in New Jersey.
Election security is another concern as voting approaches. US elections are administered by individual states, and officials have been preparing for possible legal challenges or attempts by the federal administration to intervene. Trump has repeatedly alleged widespread election cheating since 2020, despite a lack of evidence supporting those claims, according to the supplied report.
State election officials and congressional Democrats are preparing for potential disputes over the administration's role in the process. Any such conflict could add to the political tensions surrounding an election that will already determine the balance of power in Congress.
The November 3 vote will therefore shape more than the next two years of congressional leadership. It will influence the administration's ability to advance its priorities, the level of scrutiny it faces from lawmakers and the political strategies of both parties as they prepare for the 2028 presidential election.
