The 2026 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Some winners will be projected within minutes of polls closing; close races and states that count many mail ballots can take days or longer. Here’s what’s on the ballot, how the night usually unfolds and how to follow results from reliable sources.
What’s on the ballot in the 2026 midterms?
- U.S. House: all 435 seats. A party needs 218 seats for a majority.
- U.S. Senate: 35 seats — 33 regularly scheduled races plus special elections in Florida and Ohio. Before the election, Republicans hold 53 seats, Democrats 45 and independents who caucus with Democrats 2.
- Governors: 36 states elect governors.
- State and local: state legislatures, attorneys general, secretaries of state, mayors, judges and ballot measures.
Election night timeline (Eastern Time)
| Time (ET) | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| 6–7 p.m. | First polls close in Indiana and Kentucky, then Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Vermont at 7 p.m. |
| 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia close. |
| 8 p.m. | Largest wave of closings, including Pennsylvania, Maine, most of Michigan and Texas, Illinois and the Florida Panhandle. |
| 9 p.m. | New York, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Louisiana and others. |
| 10–11 p.m. | Mountain West, then California, Oregon and Washington. |
| 12–1 a.m. | Hawaii and Alaska close. |
See every state’s exact hours in our poll closing times guide.
When will we know which party controls Congress?
It depends on how close the races are. If one party wins clearly, news organizations may project control of the House or Senate late on election night. If control comes down to a handful of tight races, it can take days — in past midterms, final House control was confirmed more than a week after Election Day.
Why do some races take days to count?
- Mail ballots: some states accept ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and arrive later.
- Processing rules: a few states can’t start processing mail ballots until Election Day.
- Provisional ballots and cures: voters may get extra days to fix signature or ID problems.
- Recounts and runoffs: very close races can trigger automatic recounts, and Georgia holds a runoff if no candidate gets a majority.
Senate races to watch
Election analysts track around a dozen competitive Senate contests. Ballotpedia’s list of battlegrounds includes seats in Georgia and Michigan (held by Democrats) and Maine (held by Republicans), along with the special elections in Florida and Ohio. Results in these states will shape which party controls the Senate.
How to follow results reliably
- Your state’s secretary of state or elections website (official counts).
- The Associated Press, which most outlets use for race calls.
- Major networks and newspapers with live results pages.
- Remember: “projections” are not official results; states certify results weeks later.
Key dates after Election Day
- November–December: counties and states certify results.
- Georgia runoff: held about four weeks later if needed.
- January 3, 2027: the new Congress is sworn in.
Before you vote, read our Election Day 2026 guide.
FAQ
When are the 2026 midterm elections?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How many Senate seats are up in 2026?
35 — 33 regular races plus special elections in Florida and Ohio.
When does the new Congress start?
The 120th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027.
