By Islam El-Sakka
Americans voted Tuesday in the 2026 midterm elections for Senate, House, and governor seats across all 50 states, with results beginning to come in after polls closed.
Senate and House Overview
Before the election, Republicans held a Senate majority. Of 35 Senate seats contested, none had been called as of early Wednesday GMT. Democrats held 34 seats, including two independents, and Republicans held 31. In the 435-member House, Democrats need 218 for control; they held 212 seats pre-election. No House races had been called yet.
Battleground Analysis
The Cook Political Report identified six Senate toss-up races, with Democrats needing to win at least three. For the House, Democrats were favored in enough seats to potentially win the majority without capturing any of the 18 toss-up districts, while Republicans would need to sweep all toss-ups and flip five Democratic-leaning seats.
Governor Races
Gubernatorial elections took place in 36 states and three territories. Republicans and Democrats each held 18 governorships before the vote, with three incumbents retiring. Early results showed Republicans leading in eight races and Democrats in six, though none had been formally called.
How the Elections Work
The US Congress comprises the House of Representatives, with 435 two-year seats, and the Senate, with 100 six-year terms staggered so one-third are elected each cycle. Most states use first-past-the-post voting, though Georgia and Louisiana require runoffs if no candidate reaches 50%, and Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting. The Associated Press calls winners when it determines a trailing candidate has no path to victory.
