The 2026 US midterm elections have put control of Congress on the line, with the result set to determine the direction of President Donald Trump’s final two years in office.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are being contested, alongside 35 Senate seats. Voters are also choosing governors in 36 states, making the elections a major test of the president’s political standing halfway through his second term.
Republicans currently control both chambers, but Democrats entered election night needing to gain three House seats and four Senate seats to take control of Congress, according to Associated Press projections.
Early results have already produced a significant Senate development in Virginia, where Democratic incumbent Mark Warner won a fourth term against Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa.
2026 US midterm elections put Trump’s agenda at stake
The outcome of the remaining contests will determine whether Mr Trump retains a legislature capable of advancing his programme or faces sustained opposition from Democratic-controlled committees and chambers.
Several races were expected to remain unresolved beyond election night, with narrow margins, counting procedures and possible recounts likely to delay a final decision on control of the House and Senate.
The US Department of Justice said it had deployed about 1,000 monitors and observers across all 50 states in what it described as its largest election-monitoring operation. It was the first time the department had conducted such an effort nationwide.
Polls closed progressively across the country, with results arriving through the night from congressional districts, Senate contests and gubernatorial races. The final balance of power will shape the remainder of Mr Trump’s presidency and determine how much scope his administration has to pass legislation.
