Democrats make broad gains in the 2026 US midterm elections

Voters across the United States went to the polls on 3 November 2026 for the midterm elections, held halfway through President Donald Trump's second term. All seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, and a third of the Senate were up for election, along with many state governorships.

Democrats made broad gains against the Republican Party, which had held both chambers of Congress. Early reporting pointed to Democratic wins in a number of competitive districts and in some areas that had previously been considered safe for Republicans. Final tallies and the exact balance of power in each chamber were still being confirmed in the days after the vote.

The result mattered because midterms are widely read as a verdict on the sitting president and his party. Losses for Republicans weaken the administration's ability to pass legislation and give Democrats more power to investigate and to block its agenda. The outcome also set off political fallout inside the administration, including reports that senior officials were weighing their futures, among them Secretary of State Marco Rubio.