Voters across the United States headed to the polls on Tuesday, casting ballots in the 2026 midterm elections to decide the balance of power in Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term. The nationwide vote follows a contentious campaign season centered heavily on economic concerns, living costs, and a referendum on the president's policies. Millions of Americans had already participated through a record-setting early voting surge that outpaced previous midterm cycles in key Senate battlegrounds. Up for decision are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, where Republicans are defending a narrow majority, alongside roughly a third of the Senate. Democrats are looking to pick up seats in both chambers to secure majorities that would enable them to block legislative plans and launch congressional investigations. In addition to federal races, voters are deciding dozens of governorships, state legislative seats, and local ballot measures. While the first polls began closing on Tuesday evening, officials note that determining final outcomes in closely contested races could take days or weeks.