Republicans and Democrats Battle for Control of Congress

The Republican Party and Democratic Party are competing for control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats—including 33 regular and two special elections—are being contested.

In the Senate, Republicans entered the election with a 53-47 advantage. Democrats must net four seats to secure a majority, with seven races identified as toss-ups in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. Current polling averages show Democratic candidates leading in six of those seven competitive races.

In the House, Republicans hold a 219-214 majority with two vacancies. Early indicators of the final outcome are expected from bellwether races in Indiana and Kentucky, where polls closed first, followed by Virginia and Florida.

President Donald Trump reacted to the closing of Kentucky polls on Truth Social, stating, "KENTUCKY CLOSING SOON. A BIG DEAL!" Vice President JD Vance defended administration policies on visa fraud and American employment during the election cycle. Early voter data indicates widespread dissatisfaction with Congress, the Supreme Court, and both major political parties, though Democrats hold a slight advantage in trust regarding economic management.