Election Day update — Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Results will be added as races are called.
All 435 seats are on the ballot today, and the House races 2026 could flip control of the chamber with a gain of just a few seats. Republicans have the narrowest of majorities, and Democrats need a net gain of three seats to win back the House. Here are the House races 2026 to watch tonight, the bellwether districts that will tell you early which way the night is going, and how redistricting changed the map.
House races 2026 at a glance
- Seats on the ballot: all 435
- Majority: 218 seats
- Current House: 218 Republicans plus one independent who votes with them, 214 Democrats, and two vacant seats
- Democrats need: a net gain of three seats
- Competitive seats: about 35 races are expected to decide the majority
- History: the president’s party usually loses House seats in a midterm
Key House races 2026 to watch
| District | Republican | Democrat | Rating / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia 1st | Rep. Rob Wittman | Shannon Taylor | Lean D (Crystal Ball) — early bellwether |
| Virginia 2nd | Rep. Jen Kiggans | Elaine Luria | Lean D — 2022 rematch |
| New York 17th | Rep. Mike Lawler | Cait Conley | Lean R — Harris-won GOP seat |
| Michigan 7th | Rep. Tom Barrett | William Lawrence | Lean D — one of the costliest races |
| California 22nd | Rep. David Valadao | Randy Villegas | Top Democratic target |
| California 13th | — | Rep. Adam Gray | Top Republican target |
| Arizona 1st (open) | Jay Feely | Amish Shah | Open GOP seat |
| Ohio 1st | Eric Conroy | Rep. Greg Landsman | Lean D (CBS) |
| Texas 28th | Tano Tijerina | Rep. Henry Cuellar | GOP target in South Texas |
| Washington 3rd | John Braun | Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez | GOP target |
Early bellwethers: Virginia’s 1st and 2nd districts
Virginia’s polls close at 7 p.m. ET, so these two districts are among the first competitive House races 2026 to report — and both parties will treat them as an early signal.
- Virginia 1st: Rep. Rob Wittman faces Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor. The district hasn’t backed a Democrat for Congress since the 1970s, but it narrowly voted for Gov. Abigail Spanberger in 2025.
- Virginia 2nd: Rep. Jen Kiggans faces former Rep. Elaine Luria in a rematch of 2022, when Kiggans won. The Virginia Beach-area seat has flipped parties four times in two decades.
If Democrats win both, it points to a good night for them. If Republicans hold both, the House majority could come down to late-counting West Coast seats.
Other House races to watch
- New York 17th: Rep. Mike Lawler holds one of the few GOP seats Kamala Harris won in 2024. His race against Democrat Cait Conley is among the most expensive in the country.
- Michigan 7th: Rep. Tom Barrett faces Sunrise Movement co-founder William Lawrence — a test of whether a progressive can win a swing district.
- California 22nd and 13th: Republican Rep. David Valadao defends a Central Valley seat Democrats have targeted for years, while Democratic Rep. Adam Gray defends a neighboring district at the top of the GOP list. California counts slowly, so these may not be called for days.
- Arizona 1st: former NFL kicker Jay Feely (R) faces Amish Shah (D) for an open seat.
- Texas 28th and Washington 3rd: Democrats Henry Cuellar and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defend seats Republicans hope to flip.
How redistricting changed the House map
Several Republican-led states redrew their maps before 2026, including Tennessee, Louisiana and North Carolina, each aiming for one or two extra GOP seats. Political scientist Todd Belt says redistricting gives Republicans an edge in about nine additional districts. In Virginia, a Democratic-backed redistricting referendum was struck down by the state Supreme Court. Even so, Belt forecasts Democrats could gain around 15 seats in a strong midterm year.
Who will win the House in 2026?
History favors Democrats: the president’s party has lost House seats in almost every midterm. Polls show Democrats more energized, and early voting topped 54 million ballots, nearly 9 million more than in 2022. Republicans point to redistricting gains and say their voters will turn out on Election Day. RNC Chair Joe Gruters put it simply: “If our voters turn out, we win.”
When will we know who controls the House?
Control may not be clear on election night. East Coast results come first, but close seats in California, Arizona and Washington count mail ballots for days. See our 2026 poll closing times by state and when midterm election results come in. For the other half of Congress, read the Senate races 2026 to watch, and see the 2026 governor races. The new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027 — here’s when the new Congress takes office.
Sources: CBS News, WSLS/NBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News.
See the latest forecasts and betting odds: who will win the midterms 2026.
FAQ
How many House seats are up in 2026?
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
How many seats do Democrats need to flip the House?
A net gain of three seats. A majority is 218 seats.
What are the key House races 2026?
Virginia’s 1st and 2nd, New York’s 17th, Michigan’s 7th, California’s 22nd and 13th, Arizona’s 1st, Ohio’s 1st, Texas’ 28th and Washington’s 3rd are among the most-watched.
When will we know who won the House?
Possibly on election night, but if the majority comes down to West Coast seats, it could take several days of counting.
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