By Salma El-Sakka
The outcome of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections may not be known on election night, as control of Congress hinges on vote counting that can extend for days. The Associated Press will call all 435 House races and 35 Senate contests, but the timeline for a final determination remains uncertain.
House and Senate thresholds
Republicans currently hold a 219-216 edge in the House with two vacancies; a majority requires 218 seats. In the Senate, Republicans lead 53-47, but Democrats need 51 seats for control while Republicans need only 50 because Vice President JD Vance can cast a tie-breaking vote.
Timeline from recent elections
In the 2022 midterms, the AP called Senate control four days after Election Day and House control eight days later. The 2024 presidential cycle saw a similar pattern: Senate control was called the day after the election, while the House call came eight days later.
State voting variations
California, the most populous state, counted half its votes after Election Day in 2022 due to mail ballots. Alaska and Maine use ranked-choice voting, which can delay results if no candidate exceeds 50% in the first round. The AP declares a winner only when it determines no scenario allows trailing candidates to close the gap.
