Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
US midterms will decide control of Congress
US voters go to the polls on Nov 3 in midterm elections that will decide control of the House and Senate.
The vote is the first nationwide test of President Donald Trump’s presidency since he took office.
Democrats are widely expected to win back the House, while the Senate race is close and could go either way.
The outcome matters because control of Congress affects the president’s ability to advance his agenda and the opposition’s power to investigate his administration.
Voters are also weighing concerns about living costs and the US-led war with Iran, while turnout among key groups could shape close races.
The Senate outcome depends on several close contests, including races in states such as Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Texas.
The results will shape Trump’s final two years in office and could influence both parties’ strategies ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
The November 3 midterm elections will decide control of the US House and could also shift control of the Senate.
Democrats are widely expected to win the House, while the Senate contest is considered less certain.
Races in several closely contested states, including Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, Iowa and Ohio, could determine the Senate balance.
Voter turnout, including among independents, young voters and Latino voters, is a major uncertainty.
The results could limit President Donald Trump’s influence over domestic policy and Senate appointments if Democrats win both chambers.
- Who
- Democratic and Republican candidates are competing for seats in Congress.
- What
- Midterm elections will decide control of the House and Senate.
- When
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Across the United States, with closely contested Senate races in states including Michigan, Texas and North Carolina.
- Why
- The results will determine which party controls Congress and how much power the president has to advance his agenda.
Democrats
Republicans
Control of the House
Democrats
Democrats are widely expected to win back the House.
Republicans
Republicans are seeking to retain their narrow House majority.
Control of the Senate
Democrats
Democrats see opportunities to win Republican-held seats and take control.
Republicans
Republicans are defending their Senate majority; the outcome is uncertain.
Turnout and voter support
Democrats
Democrats are looking to benefit from dissatisfaction with Trump and strong turnout among key groups.
Republicans
Republicans are hoping to mobilize voters, including groups that vote less often in midterms.
The Senate Leadership Fund increased its advertising spending in Iowa by US$20 million over the month.
A polling average cited by tagesschau.de showed 51.8% support for Democratic candidates and 43.2% for Republican candidates.
More than 53 million people had already voted by mail or early, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, as reported by tagesschau.de.
Voters are due to elect all 435 members of the House and one-third of the Senate.
- House seats
- 435 members are being elected.
- Senate seats
- 35 seats are up for election, according to Expansión.
- Current Senate balance
- 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, according to Expansión.
- Michigan Senate poll
- Abdul El-Sayed leads Mike Rogers by 2.6 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average cited by InfoMoney.
- North Carolina Senate poll
- Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley by about 10 percentage points, according to InfoMoney.
5 sources
What people are saying
At the midterms there is an old rule: the president loses, whether he is a Republican or a Democrat, whether he is doing well or badly.
Public opinion polls in the United States indicate that Trump will certainly lose the House and possibly the Senate too. His situation in Congress could become quite complicated.