The November 3, 2026 midterm elections will decide which party controls the U.S. House and Senate for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers.
Key Points
- The House has 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, one independent and two vacancies, according to the Office of the Clerk.
- Republicans hold 53 Senate seats to Democrats’ 45, with two independents caucusing with Democrats, according to Congress.gov and Ballotpedia.
- All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot.
- Control of each chamber shapes legislation, oversight investigations and, in the Senate, confirmations.
The current balance of power
| Chamber | Republicans | Democrats | Independents | Vacancies | Majority threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House (435) | 218 | 214 | 1 | 2 | 218 |
| Senate (100) | 53 | 45 | 2 (caucus with Democrats) | 0 | 51, or 50 plus the vice president |
What changes if the House flips
The majority party in the House elects the speaker, sets the floor agenda and controls every committee. A change in control would shift who leads committee investigations and which bills come to a vote. All spending bills must pass the House, so the majority has leverage over government funding.
What changes if the Senate flips
The Senate majority decides which legislation and nominations reach the floor. The Senate alone confirms federal judges, cabinet members and other senior officials, and it votes on treaties. With 35 seats up and Republicans defending 22 of them, the size of each party’s majority will determine how easily the president’s nominees are confirmed. Most legislation still needs 60 votes to end a filibuster. Learn how the Senate passes a bill.
What stays the same
The president remains in office regardless of the result, and keeps veto power. Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
History: the midterm pattern
House control changed hands in four of the last five midterms, in 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2022, according to the Office of the Historian of the House. See our midterm election history page for official figures from 2006 to 2022.
Governors and states
Thirty-six states also elect governors, who shape state laws, budgets and, in many states, election administration. See 2026 governor races.
