Polling places opened across the United States on Nov. 3, 2026, as voters cast ballots in midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and dozens of governorships. (Foto: Instagram)
Polling places opened across all 50 states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. Vermont, in the East, received the first vote at 7:15 a.m. Brasilia time. The election will determine all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats, along with 36 governorships. Voters are also deciding ballot measures on issues including election administration and abortion access.
The vote comes as President Donald Trump faces mounting pressure over the cost of living and the extended war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. His approval has fallen amid those concerns. More than 58 million early votes had been recorded nationwide, according to an analysis by the University of Florida—a sharp increase compared with the early-vote total in the 2022 midterms.
Democrats are seeking control of both chambers of Congress. They need at least 218 House seats to take the majority and four additional Senate seats to reach 51. Republicans currently hold 218 seats in the House, compared with 214 for Democrats. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats, while Democrats and independents aligned with them hold 47. The contest is expected to be close, particularly in Senate races, while Democrats are considered better positioned to retake the House. Election projections cited in the report give Democrats more than a 90% chance of winning a House majority; projections also favor them in the Senate, though by a narrower margin.
Republicans face criticism over several Trump administration policies, including the effects of the Iran war on household costs, a broad trade conflict and a forceful immigration crackdown. The crackdown has resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents, according to the report. The economy is a major voter concern, with prices for fuel, food, health care and housing rising. Democrats blame tariffs for making goods more expensive, while Republicans point to stricter immigration policies as a government achievement. Regulation of artificial intelligence has also become part of the campaign debate.
On Monday, Nov. 2, Trump made a roughly 50-minute speech at the reflecting pool by the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, urging voters to help Republicans retain control of Congress. He called the election the most important of their lives and described the Democratic candidates as “the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history.” He also accused Democrats of supporting open borders, higher taxes, gun restrictions and policies that, he said, would raise energy costs and increase immigration. Trump said the country was experiencing a “golden age,” touted his administration’s economic record and urged supporters to vote as if he himself were on the ballot. Some Republican strategists have expressed concern that he has focused on renovation projects and monuments in Washington while voters struggle with living costs.
A Democratic win in either chamber could shift the balance between Congress and the White House. If Democrats take the House, they would lead its committees and gain tools to subpoena administration officials, request documents and open investigations. The government could also face scrutiny over contracts, potential conflicts of interest and actions taken through presidential orders. Democrats could pursue impeachment charges in the House; the Senate would conduct any trial, and conviction would require support from two-thirds of senators. A Democratic Senate majority could also make it harder for Trump to win confirmation of nominees for senior government posts, ambassadorships and federal courts, including any Supreme Court vacancies. Trump could still use executive orders, but face greater institutional resistance to his agenda. The results are also expected to shape preparations for the 2028 presidential election, which Trump cannot contest because he has already served two terms.
