Americans Vote in 2026 Midterms as Trump Faces a Test of Congressional Control

Americans are heading to the polls on November 3, 2026, in midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and test support for President Donald Trump. More than 50 million people had already voted before Election Day, according to The Associated Press .

No general election race calls or vote totals were verified in the reporting available for this article. Early voting figures measure participation, not which candidates are winning, and congressional control may remain unresolved beyond election night.

The latest polling underscores Trump's importance to the contest. A Reuters/Ipsos survey completed November 2 found that 50% of registered independents viewed their congressional vote as a vote against Trump, compared with 13% who saw it as support for him. Another 33% said he was not a factor, according to Reuters reporting .

What is at stake in Congress

Republicans enter the election with a narrow House majority and a 53 to 47 Senate advantage, according to AP. These are the standings before voting, not election results.

All 435 House seats are being contested, with 218 needed for a majority. In the Senate, 35 seats are on the ballot. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to reach 51, while Republicans can retain control with 50 and Vice President JD Vance's deciding vote in a tie.

Democrats have campaigned on affordability and congressional oversight of the administration. Republicans have defended their tax legislation and economic record while seeking to mobilize Trump's supporters, according to Reuters' campaign reporting.

Why the election is a test for Trump

The Reuters/Ipsos poll put Democrats ahead 46% to 38% on the national congressional ballot. That measures voting preferences nationally, not the outcome of individual contests.

An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll conducted October 19 and 20 found that 44% of likely voters described their congressional vote as against Trump, 21% as for him and 35% said he was not a major factor. The opposition figure was a plurality, not a majority.

Marist also found that the cost of living and preserving democracy were almost tied as voters' leading concerns, at 34% and 33%, respectively. Those findings indicate that judgments about Trump overlap with policy concerns rather than establishing a purely personal referendum.

Races and counting to watch

AP reporting highlights Senate contests including Republican Susan Collins against Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine, Republican Ken Paxton against Democrat James Talarico in Texas, and Republican Jon Husted against Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio's special election.

For the House, AP identifies Pennsylvania's 1st District and Virginia's 1st and 2nd districts among contests that could offer early indications of the broader battle.

Legal disputes also remain part of the election picture. On November 2, the Supreme Court rejected the administration's effort to require California to set aside thousands of ballots in a dispute involving alleged noncitizen voters, AP reported.

California's mail ballot count and ranked choice procedures in Maine and Alaska could delay decisive calls. Alaska's ranked choice tabulation is scheduled for November 18 if needed, according to AP. Until verified results emerge, turnout reports and polling cannot establish who will control Congress.