Voters across the United States went to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, capping a contentious campaign season that serves as the first nationwide referendum on President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda. The high-stakes elections will determine which political party controls the U.S. Congress for the final two years of the presidential term.
The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of economic anxiety, cost-of-living concerns, and intense debate over federal policies. While early voting saw high turnout across major battleground states, poll closures mark the beginning of a vote-counting process that officials note could take days or weeks to provide a complete national picture. Historically, midterm elections pose a challenge for the party occupying the White House, with the president's party having lost House seats in 18 of the past 20 midterm cycles dating back to 1946.
