WorldPosted at: Nov 2 2026 6:16PM


US midterm elections 2026: What you need to know

Washington, Nov 2 (UNI) On Tuesday, Americans head for the US midterm elections, held halfway through a president’s four-year term. Voters will elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 members, determining which party will control Congress for the next two years.
Although the president’s name will not appear on the ballot, the elections are widely viewed as a referendum on the administration’s performance. Historically, the president’s party has often lost congressional seats in midterm elections, making the vote a significant test of the president’s political standing.
The decision to hold US elections on the first Tuesday of November was largely shaped by the societal customs, agricultural practices, and transportation limitations of the 19th century.
What are the midterms?
The US president serves a four-year term. Halfway through that term, the country holds elections for Congress. These are called the “midterms.” The president’s name is not on the ballot, but the results are widely seen as a verdict on how he is doing.
Congress makes the country’s laws and has two parts:
The House of Representatives: all 435 seats are up for election. Members serve two-year terms.
The Senate: 35 of the 100 seats are up for election. Senators serve six-year terms.
Voters in many states will also choose governors, state lawmakers and local officials. Governor races in California, Florida, Georgia and Michigan are among the most closely watched.
Why does it matter?
Republicans, Trump’s party, control both chambers, but only narrowly. They hold 218 House seats, the minimum needed for a majority, along with one independent who votes with them. In the Senate, they have 53 of 100 seats.
If the opposition Democrats win control of even one chamber, they will be able to block or slow Trump’s laws; influence government spending, hold hearings and investigations into his administration; possibility of reviving talk of impeachment (a political trial that can only remove a president with a two-thirds vote in the Senate)
Trump would remain president, whatever happens, and he would keep his veto power. A divided Congress, however, could limit his plans at home.
What are voters worried about?
Voters are worried due to high prices for fuel, groceries, housing and healthcare. Democrats blame Trump’s tariffs, while inflation has also been pushed up by the Iran war started by the US and Israel in February.
But Republicans say Trump has delivered on his promise to tighten the border and immigration. But there has been widespread criticism of the controversial crackdown.
Another issue that has cropped up this time is Artificial intelligence, and leaders of both parties want it regulated, which puts them at odds with Trump.
Both parties have redrawn district maps to their advantage, making this year’s vote harder to predict.
Historically, voters tend to punish the president’s party in midterms. Polling site Silver Bulletin put Trump’s approval at about 37% in early October, down from just over 50% when his second term began, with 61% disapproving.
Not every seat is competitive, though. CBS News has flagged ten Senate races to watch, including Iowa and New Hampshire, and 42 House races, including Arizona and Ohio. One example is Iowa’s Senate race, where Democrat Josh Turek and Republican Ashley Hinson are in a tight contest.
When will we know the results?
Polls close at different times across the country. The first stations in parts of Indiana and Kentucky close at 6 pm Eastern Time, which is about 4:30 am on November 4 in India.
After the midterms, attention will turn to 2028. Trump cannot run for a third term, so speculation will grow about who might succeed him as the Republican candidate and who the Democrats might choose to face them.
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