Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
US Midterm Voters Decide Control of Congress
Voters across the United States are casting ballots in midterm elections to choose members of the House and Senate.
The results will determine whether Republicans keep control of Congress or Democrats gain power.
Democrats need to win three Republican-held House seats and four Senate seats while defending their own to take control of both chambers.
Polls favor Democrats in the House, but winning the Senate is a harder challenge.
Control of Congress could shape how much of Trump’s agenda advances during the final two years of his term.
The first polling places close at 6 p.m.
Eastern, but close races may take days or weeks to decide.
Millions of voters are casting ballots across the United States in midterm elections that will decide control of the House and Senate.
The election is also a nationwide test of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
Democrats are widely favored to win the House, while their chances of taking the Senate are less certain.
Democrats need to flip four Republican-held Senate seats and defend their own to gain control of that chamber.
Early voting has surpassed recent midterm totals, and political advertising spending has reached its highest level for a midterm since at least 2018.
- Who
- Voters across the United States, including candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties.
- What
- Voters are deciding control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
- When
- Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The first polls close at 6 p.m. Eastern.
- Where
- Across the United States.
- Why
- The results will determine control of Congress and offer a nationwide verdict on President Trump’s second term.
Democrats
Republicans
Economic concerns
Democrats
Democrats blame Trump and his policies for making it harder for Americans to make ends meet.
Republicans
Republicans have tried to frame the election as a choice between their party and Democratic opponents they describe as radical, far-left activists.
Control of Congress
Democrats
Democrats seek to take control of the House and Senate, which would let them push back against Trump’s agenda.
Republicans
Republicans seek to retain control of Congress and support Trump’s policies.
Campaign focus
Democrats
Democrats have emphasized Trump’s poor approval rating, dissatisfaction with the war in Iran and affordability concerns.
Republicans
Republicans have focused on social issues, while Trump has made himself central to the midterms.
Early voting surpassed recent midterm totals, with tens of millions of ballots cast.
Voters went to the polls across the United States to decide control of Congress.
The first polls were scheduled to close.
The full results could take days or weeks to become known, particularly if many races are close.
- Senate seats to flip
- Democrats must win four Republican-held seats to take control of the Senate.
- House seats to flip
- Democrats must win three seats to take control of the House, according to PBS.
- First polls close
- 6 p.m. Eastern
- Early voting
- Tens of millions of ballots had already been cast.
- Political advertising
- Spending was the highest for a midterm election since at least 2018, according to AdImpact.
3 sources
What people are saying
And I do not want to go through what we went through before with the Senate and the House fighting against the man, rather than fighting for what they should be doing — representing us as citizens.
I'm extremely upset with what's happening in Washington with President Trump's policies.
And I want to see Congress change.
Trump really frustrated me with the tariffs and some of his economic stuff.
Posts on X
My office is monitoring this issue with scanners in Westchester and is in touch with the state and local Boards of Elections as they work on a solution. Westchester voters can still safely fill out and turn in their ballots at their polling locations. Your votes will count.
There is a problem with every ballot scanner in Westchester County. We do not yet know the exact cause of the issue, whether it is the ballot or the machine. The Board of Elections is working with their vendors to resolve it. However, every ballot will be counted. Stay on line
Westchester! There are technical issues with ballot scanners in Westchester, but don't worry: you can still vote and every vote is being counted! Don't be dissuaded and have your voice heard. The issue is being worked on diligently by the Board of Elections in a bipartisan