The next US midterm elections take place in November 2026, midway through the presidential term. Midterms decide control of the House of Representatives and a portion of the Senate, making them consequential for legislation, committee leadership and oversight.
Every House seat is on the ballot
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are elected every two years. Each member represents a congressional district, and the number of districts in a state reflects its population. House control is decided by which party wins a majority of those seats, not by a national popular-vote total.
House candidates must meet constitutional eligibility requirements, but ballot deadlines and primary rules are run by states. Voters should use their state or local election authority for registration, polling-place and ballot information.
The Senate works on a different cycle
The Senate has 100 members, each serving a six-year term. Only roughly one-third of Senate seats are contested in a normal federal election cycle, so 2026 will not elect all senators. That staggered system is why a party can defend a very different set of states from one midterm to the next.
The Senate's role includes confirming many presidential nominees and ratifying treaties, while the House begins revenue bills. Both chambers must pass the same legislative text before it goes to the president.
State and local contests matter too
Federal midterms share the ballot with many state and local elections. Governors, legislatures, mayors, judges and ballot measures depend on the jurisdiction. A national guide can explain Congress, but a voter's own ballot is set by the relevant election office.
Follow official voting information
Campaign coverage can make a close race look like the whole election. The fuller picture includes House districts, Senate contests, state offices and local ballot measures. USAGov directs voters to state election offices for official registration and voting information.
Photo: Capitol at Dusk 2, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Source: USAGov guide to congressional and midterm elections.
