Voters across the United States went to the polls in the 2026 midterm elections, casting ballots in a closely watched referendum that will determine control of both chambers of Congress and serve as the first major nationwide verdict on President Donald Trump’s second term.
As election returns rolled in, Democrats secured several crucial congressional contests. Key Senate victories were notched by Democrats including Roy Cooper, Jon Ossoff, and Chris Pappas. Meanwhile, Republicans also claimed important state and federal victories, with Ashley Moody prevailing in Florida's Senate race and Byron Donalds winning the state's gubernatorial contest.
The elections encompass all 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives, where Republicans have been defending a narrow majority, alongside roughly a third of the 100 seats in the Senate. Because close margins and varying state counting procedures govern the process, final control of Congress may take days or weeks to determine.
