The 2026 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, just 20 days away. Voters will choose all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 senators and 36 governors, deciding who controls Congress for the second half of President Donald Trump's term.

Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, with a 53-47 Senate and a 218-214 House. Early voting is already open or opening in many states, while some registration deadlines have passed. Here is what is on the ballot, the key dates, where control of Congress stands, how to vote and when to expect results.

Detail	Fact
Election Day	Tuesday, November 3, 2026
House	All 435 voting seats; 218 needed for a majority
Senate	35 seats (33 regular, 2 special elections); 51 needed for a majority
Governors	36 states
Current control	Republicans: Senate 53-47, House 218-214

What is on the ballot

Office	Seats up	Notes
U.S. House	All 435	Two-year terms; five of six non-voting delegates are also up
U.S. Senate	35	33 regular Class II seats plus special elections in Florida and Ohio; Republicans hold 22 of the seats, Democrats 13
Governors	36 states	Three territories also choose governors
State and local	Varies	State legislatures, attorneys general, judges and local offices; some states, such as Nevada, also have statewide ballot measures

Because only about a third of the Senate is up each cycle, and most seats are safe for one party, a small number of states decide control. Your ballot will look different from a voter's in another state, so look up your sample ballot before you go.

Key dates and deadlines by state

Every state sets its own deadlines, so the dates below are examples, not a national calendar. Look up yours on Vote.gov or your state election office's website.

State	Registration	Early voting	Mail ballots
Texas	Oct 5	Oct 19 to 30	Request must be received by Oct 23; ballot must arrive by 7 pm on Election Day
Arizona	Oct 5	Through Oct 30	Must be received by 7 pm on Election Day; a postmark is not enough
North Carolina (Mecklenburg County)	Oct 9	Oct 15 to 31	Request by Oct 20; county certification on Nov 13
Massachusetts	Oct 24	Oct 17 to 30	Application deadline Oct 27
Illinois (Chicago)	Online by Oct 18; same-day registration available	Under way, with all wards open from Oct 19	Application deadline Oct 29

Texas polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm on Election Day. In Arizona, officials advise against mailing a ballot at the last minute, because a late-mailed ballot may not arrive in time.

Where the fight for Congress stands

Chamber	Today	To win control	What forecasts say
House	Republicans 218, Democrats 214	218 seats	Democrats favored: about 90% in a Kalshi market and 83% in one forecasting model
Senate	Republicans 53, Democrats 47	Democrats need a net gain of four seats for 51	Sources disagree: one model gives Democrats a 61% chance, while Britannica says the odds favor Republicans keeping control

These are probabilities, not predictions. They also change as polls move, and a 61% chance still means about a 4-in-10 chance of the other outcome.

Historically, the president's party tends to lose seats in midterm elections, though not always: in 2022 Republicans gained the House while Democrats held the Senate. Senate races drawing attention include Michigan and Georgia, where Democrats are defending seats, and Nebraska, where independent Dan Osborn is challenging Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in a race one forecast rates as a toss-up.

How to vote: a quick checklist

Check your registration. Look it up at Vote.gov or on your state election website. Registration deadlines vary, and some states allow same-day registration while others, such as Arizona, do not.
Pick how you will vote. Options are early in person, by mail or on Election Day, depending on your state.
Know your ID rules. Requirements differ by state, so check what you need to bring.
Find your polling place. It can differ from your early-voting site.
Preview your ballot. Many state sites show a sample ballot with every race and measure.
Return mail ballots early. Use a drop box or return it in person if the deadline is close, because ballots that arrive late may not count.
If you are in line when polls close, stay. Voters in line at closing time are generally allowed to vote.

For help or questions, contact your county election office or state election authority.

When will results come in?

Some results will be known on election night, but close races can take days.

Counting speed varies by state. States set their own rules on when mail ballots can be opened and processed. States that start early can report quickly, while those that wait until Election Day take longer.
Mail ballots take longer. Each ballot has an envelope that must be checked and opened, and the paper then scanned, so it is slower than counting in-person votes.
Early numbers can mislead. The share of mail, early and Election Day votes reported first differs by state, so the lead can shift as more ballots are counted.
Projections are not certification. News organizations such as the Associated Press project winners before counting finishes, but results are unofficial until officials certify them. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, for example, certifies on November 13.

If a race is close, expect recounts or late-arriving ballots to delay the outcome. Control of the Senate could depend on a handful of narrow races.

Midterm elections FAQ

When are the 2026 midterm elections? Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

What is on the ballot? All 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, 36 governorships and many state and local offices.

Who controls Congress now? Republicans hold the Senate 53-47 and the House 218-214.

How many seats does each party need? A House majority is 218 seats. For the Senate, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to reach 51.

Can I still register to vote? It depends on your state. Some deadlines have passed, but Massachusetts closes registration on October 24, Illinois offers online registration until October 18 and same-day registration, and some states allow same-day registration at the polls. Check Vote.gov.

When will we know who won? Some races will be called on election night, but close races, especially those with many mail ballots, can take days. Results are official only after certification.

Is the president on the ballot? No. Midterms are held between presidential elections.

Sources

Reporting based on state election offices and forecast data as of October 14, 2026.