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Monday, 5th October 2026
US Midterm Elections: Control of Congress at Stake as Trump’s Second-Term Politics Face Test
06 October 2026 01:10 AM
NEWS DESK
The United States will hold its midterm elections on November 3, with control of Congress at stake and the results likely to have a major impact on the political environment during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s four-year term.
Trump’s name will not appear on the ballot, but the outcome could significantly affect his ability to advance his agenda during the remainder of his presidency.
The elections will determine control of the House of Representatives and Senate. Voters will also elect governors in 36 states and thousands of officials at the state and local levels.
All 435 House seats are up for election, with 218 seats required for a majority.
In the 2024 election, Republicans won 220 House seats, compared with 215 for Democrats. The current breakdown is 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats and one independent member, while two seats are vacant.
As a result, Republicans can lose two seats and still retain their majority. If they lose three seats, however, they would fall below the 218-seat threshold.
Senate Control Also at Stake
Thirty-five of the Senate’s 100 seats will be contested this year, including 33 regular elections and two special elections in Florida and Ohio.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, while Democrats hold 47. Two of the Democratic caucus’s 47 senators are independents who vote with Democrats.
Democrats would therefore need a net gain of four seats to reach 51 and secure a majority. If the Senate ends up tied at 50-50, Vice President JD Vance would have the deciding vote.
Governors will also be elected in 36 states. In addition, voters will choose representatives for 6,139 seats across 88 state legislative chambers.
Democrats Lead in Some Early Polling
A PBS, NPR and Marist poll conducted on September 14 and 15 found that 53 percent of registered voters wanted Democrats to control Congress, while 41 percent preferred Republican control.
Among independent voters, 57 percent said they wanted Democrats to control Congress, compared with 32 percent who preferred Republicans.
Trump’s approval rating ranged from 32 percent to 41 percent in various September polls. A Reuters/Ipsos poll put his approval rating among adults at 32 percent, the lowest level recorded during his presidency.
However, differences in polling samples and methodologies mean that the figures from different surveys cannot be directly compared.
An NBC News poll found that 55 percent of respondents believed Trump’s policies had harmed the economy, while 26 percent said his policies had helped it.
Record Political Spending Expected
Spending on political advertising during this election cycle could approach $12 billion.
AdImpact, which analyses political advertising, estimates total spending could reach $11.6 billion, up significantly from the $8.9 billion spent during the 2022 midterm elections.
The 2026 congressional elections have also attracted a large number of candidates. A total of 2,497 candidates entered the initial stage of the race, the highest figure recorded since at least 2014. Of them, 2,232 were candidates for the House of Representatives.
At least 44 House districts feature rematches between the same two major-party candidates who faced each other in the 2024 election. The number of repeat contests is expected to be considerably higher when state and local races are included.
The November 3 election will therefore serve not only as a contest for congressional seats but also as an important test of the political landscape surrounding Trump’s presidency during the second half of his term.
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