US Midterm Elections Determine Control of 120th Congress
Millions of Americans voted on November 3 to decide control of the US House and Senate, serving as a referendum on Donald Trump's second term.
The United States held midterm elections on November 3, 2026, to determine the balance of power in the 120th Congress. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested, alongside 36 governorships. The elections served as a referendum on the presidency of Donald Trump, whose approval ratings hit record lows in the 30s due to high inflation and a military conflict with Iran that spiked fuel prices.
Democrats entered the election with a lead in national generic ballot polling, focusing their campaign on affordability and government corruption. Republicans, supported by significant funding from billionaire Elon Musk, emphasized culture-war issues and border security. While Democrats were widely projected to reclaim the House of Representatives, the Senate remained a tighter contest, with key battlegrounds in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Maine, and Alaska.
The cycle was marked by intense legal battles. The Trump administration attempted to restrict mail-in voting and challenge voter rolls in multiple states, but the Supreme Court of the United States and various federal judges blocked efforts to sequester thousands of ballots in California and delay certification in Alaska.
Final results are expected to emerge gradually as polls close across time zones. Determination of congressional control may be delayed by high volumes of mail-in ballots in California and the use of ranked-choice voting in Alaska and Maine. A Democratic victory would grant the party subpoena power to investigate the administration and the ability to block judicial nominees, while a Republican hold would shield the president's legislative agenda.
