The 2026 US midterm elections are determining seats in the House of Representatives and Senate, along with governorships across 36 states and three territories. The Associated Press is reporting results as votes are counted, and may call a race before every ballot has been counted if the trailing candidate has no path to victory.
Republicans began the election defending their majority in the 435-seat House. Democrats held 212 seats and needed 218 to take control. House members serve two-year terms, with all voting seats contested every two years.
In the Senate, 33 of the 100 seats were regularly up for election, alongside two special elections. Republicans held the chamber’s majority going into the vote. Senators serve six-year terms, with roughly one-third of the seats contested in each two-year election cycle.
The Senate special elections are in Florida and Ohio, following the resignations of Marco Rubio and JD Vance to join the executive branch after the 2024 presidential election.
Governors are being elected in 36 states. Before the election, Republicans and Democrats each held 18 of those governorships, and three incumbent governors were retiring. Governors are chosen by direct vote and generally serve four-year terms, except in Vermont and New Hampshire, where terms last two years.
Most congressional races are decided by the candidate who receives the most votes. Georgia and Louisiana require a candidate to win more than 50%; if no one does, the top two candidates face a runoff. Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting in congressional elections. In some states, top-two primary systems can also result in two candidates from the same party competing in the general election.
The House and Senate have different roles and powers. Most legislation must pass both chambers to become law, while the Senate also considers senior presidential appointments and treaties, and tries impeachment cases referred by the House. The House can initiate revenue bills and impeach federal officials.
The Associated Press provides estimates of the total vote in each state, which are updated as more turnout data becomes available.
Sources: The Guardian World.