US Midterm Elections 2026 On November 3: Who Controls Congress Now, What Is At Stake And Why India Is Watching
Americans vote on November 3 to choose members of Congress and 39 governors. Here is a simple guide to what is at stake.
Photo: Martin Falbisoner / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Americans vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in what are called the midterm elections, because they come halfway through a president’s four-year term. With the time difference, results will start coming in here in India on Wednesday, November 4.
Early voting has been going on for weeks already. Up for grabs are seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate, governors’ posts in 39 of the 50 states, and seats in almost every state legislature.
Where things stand
Republicans control both houses of Congress. In the House it’s 218 Republicans to 214 Democrats, with two seats vacant. In the Senate it’s 53 to 47. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber to take control.
What’s riding on it
The real question is who runs Congress for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s term. If Democrats win the House, Hakeem Jeffries would likely become Speaker, and the party could open investigations and push its own agenda on the cost of living. If Republicans hold on, Mike Johnson is likely to stay Speaker and the focus on tax cuts and defence spending would continue.
Around ten Senate races, including Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and Georgia, are expected to decide who controls the upper house. Midterms often end up as a verdict on the sitting president; a Reuters/Ipsos poll in September put Trump’s approval rating at 32%.
It’s also shaping up to be one of the most expensive midterms on record, with $3.8 billion spent on political ads by mid-October. If turnout matches 2022, more than 10 crore Americans could vote.
Why we’re watching from Pune
The US Congress controls the budget and has a big say on trade, immigration and visas. Decisions on H-1B and student visas, tariffs and tech deals land directly on families here, where many people work for American clients or have children studying in the US. A change in either house could shift those debates over the next two years.
Also read: Australia’s new visa rules for Indian applicants. More international news is in our World section.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the US midterm elections in 2026?
The US midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Who controls the US Congress now?
Republicans control both chambers, with 218 seats in the House against 214 for Democrats, and 53 Senate seats against 47.
When will US midterm results come in India?
Because of the time difference, results will begin coming in on Wednesday, November 4, in India.
