How the 2026 United States Midterm Elections Work

The 2026 United States midterm elections are federal elections held halfway through a president’s four-year term. Voters choose all seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate.

Those contests can change which party controls Congress, affecting what legislation can pass and how lawmakers oversee the executive branch. The 2026 United States midterm elections also include state and local races, with the offices on the ballot varying by location.

• 435 seats House seats up for election
• 35 of 100 seats Senate seats up for election
• 39 gubernatorial elections Governor contests on November 3
• at least 99 new members Expected to join Congress in January 2027

What is actually being elected in the 2026 midterms?

The 2026 midterms will elect every member of the House of Representatives and 35 senators, with voters casting ballots on November 3, 2026.

The House has 435 seats, and each representative serves a two-year term. House members represent congressional districts, so voters choose the representative for the district where they live. Because the terms last two years, all House seats are contested in each midterm election.

The Senate has 100 seats, but only 35 are up for election in 2026. Senators serve six-year terms, and roughly one-third of the seats are contested every two years. Each state has two senators, elected to represent the state as a whole rather than a district.

These different election cycles mean the House turns over as a whole, while the Senate changes in stages. On November 3, voters will decide who represents their House districts and which Senate seats change hands.

What else is on the ballot besides Congress?

The 2026 midterm ballot includes gubernatorial contests as well as races for Congress: 39 gubernatorial elections will take place on 3 November.

Among those contests, 18 incumbent governors are running for re-election, while 21 are term-limited or not seeking re-election. A governor’s race can appear alongside federal contests on your ballot, but the offices voters choose depend on where they live.

Congressional districts differ by location, and state offices differ too. Check your state’s official election notice for the candidates and contests on your ballot, along with the voting procedures that apply where you live.

Why can the 2026 races bring unusually many new members?

Congress is expected to welcome at least 99 new members when it convenes in January 2027 because many current members are leaving and others have already departed during this Congress.

The expected total reflects 83 representatives and senators who have announced they are not seeking re-election in 2026, plus 16 members who resigned or passed away during the current Congress. Those departures mean many voters will choose among candidates without the incumbent on the ballot.

What an open seat means for your district

An open seat is one in which the incumbent is not seeking another term. The contest is therefore not simply a choice between the sitting member and a challenger; voters will decide among candidates competing to fill the seat.

Before you think of your district’s race as an incumbent-versus-challenger contest, check whether your current representative is running again. That distinction changes who is on the ballot and what kind of choice voters face.

How do election administration and campaigns affect what you see?

State and local election authorities administer voting, so registration rules, ballot access and voting arrangements vary across the United States. The federal offices at stake may be the same nationwide, but the steps for casting a ballot are not.

For deadlines, polling locations and ballot details, check your state or local election authority’s official notice. Do not assume that a rule or arrangement in one state applies where you live.

Voting rules and campaign spending

Campaign finance is separate from ballot administration. Campaign spending can affect the race voters see, but it does not determine who is eligible to vote or how election officials count a ballot.

Campaign advertisements are not a substitute for checking who paid for them. For campaign-finance rules and filings, consult the relevant official election information; use your state or local election authority’s notices for voting requirements and arrangements.

What mistake should you avoid when reading the result?

To read the 2026 midterm result correctly, do not treat it as a presidential election: voters choose lawmakers and state officials, not a president.

Congressional control is decided in separate House and Senate races. The president’s party does not automatically retain or gain control after Election Day; check which candidates won in each chamber.

• House: Control depends on the distribution of all 435 seats, not just the races that draw the most attention.
• Senate: Control depends on the seats contested in 2026 together with the rest of the chamber. A party’s performance in this year’s Senate races alone does not settle the question.

Calling a midterm a verdict on the president can describe how voters and commentators interpret the result. It is a political shorthand, not a count of presidential votes. To see what changed, identify the winning candidates and offices, then assess the House and Senate separately.

When does the usual midterm explanation not apply?

The usual midterm explanation does not apply when a statewide Senate contest, an open seat or a local ballot question requires details beyond the national picture.

A Senate race covers a state; a House race covers a district. Each state elects two senators, while House members represent separate districts. A statewide Senate result therefore cannot tell you who represents a particular House district.

An open seat changes the contest. The incumbent is not seeking re-election, whether because of retirement, another run, resignation or death. That affects who may appear on the ballot; check the official election notice for the candidates in your state or district.

What to check

• Your ballot: A national account of congressional control cannot tell you which governor’s race or local voting procedure applies to your address. Check the official state or local election notice.
• Congressional control: Follow House and Senate results separately. A national summary of one chamber does not settle control of the other.

Frequently asked questions