The key facts

  • On November 3, all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and the governorships of 36 states are up for election
  • Republicans currently hold 218 seats in the House and 53 in the Senate; Democrats need +4 seats in each chamber for a majority
  • Trump's approval rating has fallen below 60% negative assessments — a historic low

What and when Americans vote for

On November 3, 2026, US citizens will vote in the midterm elections, held midway between presidential elections, which determine the composition of Congress rather than the head of state. As Deutsche Welleexplains, all 435 members of the House of Representatives are up for election (two-year terms), 35 of the 100 senators (six-year terms, with about a third of the chamber renewed every two years), and governors in 36 states. Gubernatorial elections carry independent weight: many decisions — from abortion to education and electoral procedures — are made at the state level.

The balance in Congress

Currently, the Republicans, President Trump's party, hold a narrow majority in both chambers: 218 seats in the House of Representatives versus 214 for the Democrats and one independent who usually votes with the Republicans (two seats are vacant), and 53 seats in the Senate versus 45 Democrats and two independents. In the event of a tie in the Senate, Vice President JD Vance holds the deciding vote. To gain a majority in the House, the Democrats need to take just four seats; in the Senate they also need four. Miles Coleman, an analyst at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, believes it would be a surprise if the Democrats fail to win at least the House of Representatives.

Why the elections matter and what to watch

Although turnout in midterm elections is usually lower than in presidential ones, the outcome will shape policy for years to come: most federal decisions require congressional approval, so a Republican majority in both chambers makes it considerably easier for Trump to advance his agenda, while a Democratic victory in at least one chamber would complicate changes in domestic and foreign policy. Coleman calls the midterms a referendum on the president and the ruling party: Trump's approval rating is now at a historic low, with more than 60% of Americans viewing him negatively. Among the key races is Texas, where, according to polls, Democrat James Talarico is running even with Republican Ken Paxton: no Democrat has won a statewide race there since 1994, and Talarico is backed even by some members of the Bush family. In addition, for the first time in US history, a Black woman could become a state governor: in Minnesota, Republican Lisa DeMuth is competing against Democrat Amy Klobuchar (DeMuth's chances are considered low), while in Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is, according to polls, neck and neck with Republican Rick Jackson and has a real chance of winning.