US voters decide control of Congress in midterm elections

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 18:44 · Archive

Americans vote on 3 November to decide whether Republicans keep control of Congress or Democrats seize power.

Americans will vote on 3 November to determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of Donald Trump's presidency. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate's 100 seats are up for election, along with special elections in Florida and Ohio to fill seats vacated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Voters in 36 states will also elect governors.

The House of Representatives is elected every two years, with all seats contested at each congressional election. The Senate has 100 members serving staggered six-year terms, so roughly a third of seats are up every two years. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers.

Midterm elections fall nearly halfway through a president's four-year term and are widely considered a referendum on the sitting president's performance. Trump has actively encouraged this framing, telling voters to "pretend I'm on the ballot". Democrats are hoping to capitalise on discontent to seize control of the House and possibly the Senate. Republicans are fighting to preserve their majorities and prevent what they see as a period of legislative paralysis and investigations into the White House. According to Todd Belt, a professor at George Washington University, the president's party has lost an average of 26.5 House seats in midterm elections since 1946.

How it is being reported

• US midterm elections 2026 in maps and chartsOn November 3, Americans decide which party controls the US Congress for the second half of Donald Trump's presidency.Al Jazeera · 26 Oct, 18:00
• What are the US midterm elections and why do they matter?On 3 November, US citizens will decide whether Republicans will retain control of Congress or whether Democrats will come to power to stymie Trump’s agenda Donald Trump will still be US president on the morning of 4 November. But he could be facing a very different political landscape, depending on the results of the US midterm elections held the previous day. As the name implies, midterm elections fall nearly halfway through a president’s term. They are often a telling referendum on the sitting president’s performance, something Trump is actively encouraging by telling voters “pretend I’m…The Guardian · 26 Oct, 09:00

In this story: Donald Trump · Marco Rubio · JD Vance · United States Congress · Democratic Party · Republican Party

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