US voters head to polls for midterm elections on 3 Nov
Voting for the US midterm elections takes place on 3 November 2026, with every seat in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats up for election, along with many governorships and state and local offices. Nearly 27 million Americans had already cast ballots by 25 October through early voting or mail-in ballots. Voters will decide which party controls both chambers of Congress for the next two years, and Republicans currently hold both. Pennsylvania is described as a key swing state. Rising living costs and healthcare weigh on voters, according to reporting.
Key facts
- Donald Trump is not on the ballot in these midterm elections.
- The president has described the vote as a referendum on his presidency.
- The median existing home price was $417,500 in September 2026, per the National Association of Realtors.
- 66% of US adults say they are very concerned about housing costs, per a Pew Research Center survey.
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Why it matters
The result will determine which party controls Congress for the next two years and shape the final stretch of the current president's term.
What changed
First published from The Guardian, Daily Maverick, Al Jazeera English, ABC News (Australia) and CNBC