On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Americans head to the polls for the midterm elections. There is no presidential race on the ballot this time, yet the results will decide who controls Congress for the next two years, along with dozens of governors, state lawmakers and local officials.
If you have ever wondered what "midterms" actually means, which seats are up, or why these elections matter so much, this simple, nonpartisan guide explains how the 2026 midterm elections work.
What Are Midterm Elections?
US presidents serve four-year terms. Midterm elections are the national elections held in the middle of that term, two years after a presidential election. The name simply means "middle of the term."
The president is not on the ballot in a midterm year. Instead, voters choose members of Congress, and in many states, governors and other state and local officials. Midterms always fall in even-numbered years that are not presidential years, such as 2018, 2022 and 2026.
When Is the 2026 Midterm Election?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Federal law sets the date for congressional elections as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That rule means Election Day can fall anywhere from November 2 to November 8, but never on November 1. (Curious why it's a Tuesday at all? We explain the horse-and-buggy reason in why Americans vote on a Tuesday.)
Many states also allow early voting or voting by mail for weeks before Election Day. The rules, deadlines and polling hours are different in every state, so the safest place to check is your state or county election office. The official site vote.gov, run by the US government, links to each state's registration and voting information.
What's on the Ballot in 2026?
The entire House of Representatives
All 435 seats in the US House of Representatives are up for election. House members serve two-year terms, so every seat is on the ballot every two years. The number of seats each state gets depends on its population, as counted in the census every ten years.
About one-third of the Senate
Senators serve six-year terms, and the terms are staggered so that only about a third of the Senate is elected every two years. In 2026, 35 of the 100 Senate seats are being contested: 33 regular elections plus two special elections in Ohio and Florida to fill seats left open when senators left for other jobs in the federal government.
Governors and state offices
Thirty-six states elect governors in 2026, and three US territories hold governor races too. Voters will also choose many attorneys general, secretaries of state, state legislators, mayors, judges and school board members, and they will vote on ballot measures that can change state laws or constitutions.
When do the winners take office?
New members of Congress are sworn in on January 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress begins. Governors and state officials take office on dates set by each state, usually in January.
Why Midterm Elections Matter
The president does not make laws alone. Laws must pass both the House and the Senate, and Congress controls federal spending. Whichever party holds a majority in each chamber chooses its leaders, such as the Speaker of the House, runs the committees and decides which bills get a vote.
The Senate also has special powers. It confirms (or rejects) the president's nominees for the Cabinet, federal judges and the Supreme Court, and it approves treaties. So the balance of power in Congress after a midterm shapes what a president can get done in the second half of the term.
State elections matter too. Governors and state legislatures make decisions on schools, roads, taxes and many other everyday issues, and in many states they also draw the maps for congressional districts.
A Historical Pattern: The Midterm "Penalty"
One of the most reliable patterns in American politics is that the president's party usually loses seats in Congress in midterm elections. Since World War II, the party holding the White House has lost House seats in the large majority of midterms.
Political scientists have several explanations. Voters who are unhappy with the direction of the country are often more motivated to vote than satisfied ones. A president who won with strong turnout among casual voters may not have them on the ballot two years later. And some voters like the idea of a "check" on whoever is in power.
There have been exceptions. In 1998 and 2002, the president's party actually gained House seats. History is a pattern, not a prediction, and every election is decided by the voters who show up.
Why Is Turnout Lower in Midterms?
Fewer people vote in midterms than in presidential elections. Without a race for the White House at the top of the ticket, there is usually less news coverage and less excitement. For decades, midterm turnout hovered around 40 percent of eligible voters. That changed recently: according to the University of Florida's Election Lab, about 50 percent of eligible Americans voted in 2018, the highest midterm turnout in more than a century, and about 46 percent voted in 2022.
Because turnout is lower, every vote carries more weight in a midterm, and many House races are decided by small margins.
How Election Night Works
Polls close at different times across the country, because the US spans six time zones from the East Coast to Hawaii. (Our article on why the US has time zones tells how railroads created them.) Results usually start coming in from eastern states first, and Western states report later in the night.
Keep in mind that news organizations "call" races based on projections. The official results come later, after election officials count every valid ballot, including mail and provisional ballots, and certify the totals. In close races, that can take days or even weeks.
How to Get Ready to Vote
- Check your registration. Registration deadlines vary, and some states allow same-day registration.
- Find your polling place. It may have changed since the last election.
- Know the ID rules. Some states require a photo ID, others do not.
- Look at a sample ballot. Many counties publish one online so you can research every race and measure in advance.
- Plan your time. Decide whether to vote early, by mail or in person on November 3.
Election Day is followed closely by another national date with deep roots: Veterans Day on November 11, which marks the end of the fighting in World War I at 11 a.m.
Also read: How Are Votes Counted? Why Election Results Take Days.
What happens if a race ends dead even? Also read: What Happens If an Election Is a Tie? Coin Tosses and More.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 midterm elections?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Many states also offer early voting and mail voting before that date.
Why are they called midterm elections?
Because they happen in the middle of the president's four-year term, two years after the presidential election.
How many seats are up in the 2026 midterms?
All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats, plus 36 state governorships and many state and local offices.
Is the president on the ballot in a midterm?
No. The next presidential election is in November 2028.
When does the new Congress start?
The 120th Congress begins on January 3, 2027, when newly elected members are sworn in.
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