US midterm elections set for November 3 with control of Congress at stake

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 02, 2026

Photo courtesy: Capital.com

Americans will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, in midterm elections that could reshape the balance of power in Washington and determine how much congressional support President Donald Trump will have during the remaining two years of his term.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are up for election, including two special Senate contests. Voters will also elect governors in 36 states, alongside other state and local officials.

The elections come halfway through Trump’s second term, with the cost of living, immigration, trade policies and national security among the issues shaping the final campaign.

Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, holding 53 Senate seats against 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democratic Party. The party also maintains a narrow majority in the House.

Trump, Democrats make final push for votes

With election day approaching, Trump and Republican candidates are campaigning to retain their congressional majorities, emphasizing immigration enforcement, national security and the administration’s economic policies.

Democrats, meanwhile, have focused on household expenses, tariffs and the administration’s handling of the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Former President Barack Obama has also joined Democratic campaign events, urging voters to support the party’s candidates in closely contested races.

The final campaign push comes as both parties seek to mobilize supporters in states and congressional districts where relatively narrow margins could determine the outcome.

House and Senate control on the line

Every seat in the House of Representatives will be contested, making the chamber a central battleground in the midterm elections.

Republicans enter the vote with a narrow House majority. If Democrats secure enough seats to take control, they would gain greater influence over legislation, federal spending and congressional investigations.

In the Senate, 33 seats are up for regularly scheduled elections, while two additional seats are being contested in special elections.

With Republicans holding 53 of the chamber’s 100 seats, Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority, assuming the remaining seats retain their current party alignment.

Senate contests in Georgia, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas are among those drawing national attention.

More than 43 million early votes recorded

Millions of Americans have already voted ahead of election day.

By October 29, more than 43 million people had cast ballots through early in-person voting or returned mail ballots, based on election data compiled from 47 states and Washington, D.C.

The figure was nearly 10 million higher than the comparable period before the 2022 midterm elections.

Early voting increased in several states with closely watched Senate contests, including Texas, Maine and Michigan.

However, the figures do not establish which party has an advantage. Party registration information, where available, does not necessarily indicate which candidates voters supported.

What the results mean for Trump’s presidency

The midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of Trump’s second term.

If Republicans retain both chambers, the administration would continue to have congressional majorities that could support its legislative agenda.

If Democrats gain control of either chamber, they could use their majority to influence federal spending, legislation and congressional oversight.

The Senate’s composition will also affect the confirmation of presidential nominees, including senior administration officials and federal judges.

The elections will not determine who serves as president. Trump will remain in office regardless of the congressional results.

Members elected to the new Congress are scheduled to begin their terms on January 3, 2027.

With voting set for November 3, attention now turns to turnout and the congressional races that will determine control of the House and Senate.

The results of the November 3 elections will decide whether Republicans retain control of Congress or Democrats gain a majority in either chamber.