Key facts
- Midterm elections occur halfway through a president's four-year term.
- In the 2026 midterms, all 435 House seats, 33 Senate seats, and 36 governorships will be up for election.
- The party controlling the Senate sets the schedule, committee leadership, and confirmation votes for presidential nominees.
- Control of the House requires 218 seats, while Senate control requires 51 seats.
- Race ratings for Senate seats are provided by nonpartisan analysts like The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball.
The U.S. midterm elections, scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, will determine control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as 36 state governorships and numerous state and local offices. These elections are often viewed as a referendum on the sitting president's performance and agenda, with the president's party historically tending to lose seats.
Congressional elections occur every two years. Midterm elections take place halfway through a president's four-year term. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, where members serve two-year terms, are up for election. For the Senate, where senators serve six-year staggered terms, approximately one-third of the 100 seats will be contested in 2026.
Control of Congress is a key outcome, as the majority party sets legislative schedules, controls committee assignments, and decides on the confirmation of presidential nominees for federal judgeships, cabinet positions, and ambassadorships. Winning a House majority requires 218 seats, while a Senate majority requires 51 seats. Several Senate races are considered competitive toss-ups or lean towards one party, with analysts from The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball providing ratings for these contests.