Millions of Americans are heading to the polls on Tuesday, 3 November, for the 2026 US midterm elections.
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Millions → head → elections
The vote will determine which party controls Congress for the next two years and how much power President Donald Trump will have to advance his political agenda.
But what exactly are the midterms, when will the results be known and why do they matter?
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they → determine → agenda
Midterm elections take place halfway through a US president's four-year term.
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elections → take → term
They give voters an opportunity to elect new members of Congress and decide which party will control the legislative branch of government.
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party → give → government
Unlike presidential elections, Americans are not voting for a president.
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Americans → vote → president
Donald Trump will remain in the White House regardless of the outcome.
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Trump → remain → outcome
Instead, voters will elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 members of the 100-seat Senate.
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voters → elect → Senate
Elections for governors in 36 states are also taking place, alongside thousands of state and local contests.
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Elections → take → contests
When will we know the results?
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we → know → results
Voting takes place on Tuesday, 3 November, but the results will not come in all at once.
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results → take → Tuesday
Polling stations close at different times across the country, depending on the state.
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stations → close → state
The first results are expected after polls close on the East Coast, while voting continues further west.
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voting → expect → Coast
For European viewers, the first results should start arriving during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
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results → arrive → Tuesday
The biggest question is whether Republicans can retain control of both chambers of Congress.
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Republicans → retain → Congress
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in the House and Senate.
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Republicans → hold → House
Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber to take control.
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Democrats → need → control
If Republicans retain their majorities, the president will have a clearer path to passing legislation and advancing his domestic agenda.
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president → retain → agenda
Which states could decide the outcome?
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states → decide → outcome
Several closely contested Senate races could determine which party controls the chamber.
Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and Georgia are among the key states to watch.
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Maine → contest → states
Republicans are also defending seats in other competitive states, while Democrats face the challenge of protecting some of their own vulnerable seats.
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Democrats → defend → seats
All 435 seats are contested, with control potentially coming down to a small number of closely fought congressional districts.
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control → contest → districts
More than a congressional vote
The midterms are also widely seen as a referendum on the president's first two years in office.
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midterms → see → office
Voters' concerns about the cost of living, the economy, immigration and foreign policy could shape the outcome.
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concerns → shape → outcome
The results will offer an indication of public support for Trump's policies and help determine the political landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
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results → offer → election
The Aporia
