Early returns in the 2026 midterm elections showed Democrats leading in preliminary counts for the House and Senate as votes continued to be tallied. (Foto: Instagram)
Early results in the 2026 midterm elections showed Democrats ahead in races for both chambers of Congress, as voters decided all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats. The first polls began closing at 8 p.m. Brasília time on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the outcome was still being counted.
At the time of the early figures, projections put Democrats at 53 Senate seats and Republicans at 42. In the House, where every seat was up for election, the reported count stood at 214 for Democrats and 123 for Republicans. Democrats also led in gubernatorial races, with 26 governors compared with 18 Republicans. The figures were preliminary, and the final results could take days. In the 2022 and 2024 midterms, control of the House was not determined until eight days of counting had passed.
The election is taking place as President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have fallen amid the prolonged war with Iran and rising living costs. Voters were also deciding 36 gubernatorial contests and ballot measures across the country, covering issues including election administration and abortion access. Midterm elections occur every two years between presidential contests and are often viewed as a measure of public sentiment toward the current administration. There is no presidential candidate on the ballot.
Before the vote, Democrats were seeking control of both chambers. They needed to reach 51 seats in the Senate and at least 218 in the House. The report said Republicans previously held 53 Senate seats, while Democrats and independents aligned with them held 47. In the House, Republicans held 218 seats and Democrats 214. House members serve two-year terms, while senators serve six-year terms. Congress writes and approves federal laws and oversees the executive branch, so a change in party control could make it harder for the White House to pass its priorities.
Trump made a final appeal for Republican votes on Monday, Nov. 2, in a speech of about 50 minutes at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington. He called the election the most important of his supporters’ lives and attacked the Democratic candidates, describing them as “the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history.” He also accused Democrats of supporting open borders, higher taxes, restrictions on gun ownership, and policies that he said would raise energy costs and increase immigration. Trump said the country was experiencing a “golden age,” praised his administration’s economic record, and urged supporters to treat the election as if he were on the ballot.
The results could shape the relationship between Congress and the White House. If Democrats took control of the House, they would lead its committees and could summon administration officials, request documents, and open investigations. The administration could face scrutiny over contracts, conflicts of interest, and actions taken through executive orders. Democrats could also pursue impeachment: the House can bring charges against a president, while the Senate conducts the trial, and conviction requires the support of two-thirds of senators. A Democratic Senate majority could complicate confirmation of presidential nominees to senior government posts, ambassadorships, and federal courts, including any Supreme Court vacancies. The results are also expected to affect political maneuvering ahead of the 2028 presidential election, which Trump cannot contest because he has already served two terms.
