The 2026 U.S. midterm elections will put all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, alongside governors, state legislators, judges, local officials and ballot measures in many states. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Key Points
- Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Every one of the 435 U.S. House seats is up for election.
- Thirty-five Senate seats are being contested in 2026.
- Senate contests drawing particular national attention include North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, Michigan, Iowa, Maine, Texas, Georgia and New Hampshire.
- Thirty-six states are also holding gubernatorial elections.
- State ballots can include governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state legislature, judicial races, local offices and ballot measures, depending on the state.
- The exact ballot differs by state and, in many cases, by congressional district, county or municipality.
What Are the 2026 Midterm Elections?
The midterm elections take place halfway through a U.S. president's four-year term. Unlike presidential elections, there is no presidential race on the 2026 federal ballot.
Instead, voters will elect members of Congress and decide thousands of state and local offices. Every House seat is contested every two years, while roughly one-third of Senate seats are elected during each federal election cycle.
The 2026 election is scheduled for November 3. Federal election records show that states have already conducted their primary elections at different times throughout the year, with general-election contests now moving into the final campaign period.
The Senate Map
The 2026 Senate elections cover 35 seats. The Senate's Class II seats are normally the seats whose terms expire in January 2027, although special elections can also appear on the federal election calendar. The Senate's official records identify the senators whose Class II terms expire at the beginning of the next Congress.
Senate Races Drawing National Attention
North Carolina: The open Senate seat is one of the closely watched contests. Republican Thom Tillis is not seeking another term. Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley are among the candidates competing for the seat.
Ohio: Republican Sen. Jon Husted is defending the seat after entering the Senate through appointment. Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is challenging him in a race that has received significant national attention.
Alaska: Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is seeking another term, while former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola is running against him. The ballot also includes an independent candidate named Dan Sullivan, creating an unusual situation for voters because Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in its general elections.
Michigan: The Senate seat is open following Democratic Sen. Gary Peters' decision not to seek reelection. Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are among the candidates competing for the seat.
Iowa: Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is retiring, creating another open Senate contest. Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek are competing for the seat.
Maine: Republican Sen. Susan Collins is seeking reelection, with Democrat Troy Jackson challenging her. The race is among the Senate contests receiving national attention.
Texas: Republican Sen. John Cornyn lost the Republican primary, and Attorney General Ken Paxton became the Republican nominee. Democrat James Talarico is the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat.
Georgia: Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking another term. Republican Rep. Mike Collins is the Republican nominee, making Georgia another closely watched Senate contest.
New Hampshire: Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring. Republican John Sununu and Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas are competing for the open seat.
The Other Senate States
Senate elections are also taking place in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, in addition to the states discussed above.
The Senate's official Class II records show senators representing many of these states whose terms expire in January 2027. Candidate lineups can change because of withdrawals, appointments, special elections or other developments, so voters should check their state election authority for the final ballot.
What Could Be on Your State Ballot?
The Senate race is only one part of the 2026 ballot. Depending on where a voter lives, the ballot can contain several layers of elections.
U.S. House: All 435 House districts will hold elections. Voters choose the representative for their congressional district.
Governor: Thirty-six states are holding gubernatorial elections in 2026. The governor's race therefore appears on the ballot in many states but not all.
State legislature: State Senate and state House or Assembly seats are being contested across the country. The number of seats and districts varies by state.
Statewide offices: Depending on the state, voters may also choose an attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller or other statewide officials.
Judicial elections: Some states elect judges, while others use different systems for selecting or retaining judges.
Ballot measures: Voters in some states and local jurisdictions will also decide constitutional amendments, initiatives, referendums, bonds, taxes or other propositions.
Why Your Exact Ballot Matters
There is no single national 2026 ballot. Two voters living in the same state can sometimes see different local or congressional races depending on their district or municipality. State election authorities provide the most accurate sample ballot and voting information for each voter.
How Senate Elections Work
Each state has two U.S. senators. Senators serve six-year terms, but the terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the Senate is elected every two years.
Unlike House elections, which are decided within congressional districts, Senate elections are statewide. A voter therefore votes for a Senate candidate representing the entire state.
The 2026 Senate map includes both incumbent reelection contests and open seats created by retirements. Several current senators have announced that they will not seek another term, including Gary Peters in Michigan, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, Joni Ernst in Iowa, Steve Daines in Montana, Cynthia Lummis in Wyoming and Thom Tillis in North Carolina.
House Elections Across America
All 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. Each representative serves a two-year term, making House races a central part of every midterm election.
Redistricting and changes in district boundaries can also affect which candidates appear on a voter's ballot. For that reason, checking the official district information associated with a residential address is important before Election Day.
When Is Election Day?
The 2026 general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early-voting periods and absentee-ballot rules vary by state.
Voters should check their state's official election website for registration status, polling location, early-voting dates, mail-ballot deadlines and the exact list of candidates and measures appearing on their ballot.
What to Check Before Voting
- Confirm that your voter registration is active.
- Check your congressional district.
- Review the official sample ballot for your address.
- Confirm the accepted identification requirements in your state.
- Check early-voting or absentee-ballot deadlines if you plan to vote before Election Day.
- Review the candidates and ballot measures that will actually appear on your ballot.
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