When are the 2026 midterms? Key dates and what's at stake

The 2026 midterm elections are rapidly approaching, scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. On Election Day, voters across the United States will head to the polls to elect state and local officials while determining control of Congress. 

Held every four years at the midpoint of a presidential term, midterm elections provide voters with the opportunity to influence the direction of the federal government without electing a new president. 

In 2026, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 U.S. Senate seats, and 36 state governor positions are on the ballot. 

Though Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, the midterms could dramatically reshape the political landscape for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. 

This guide outlines important 2026 midterm election dates, voter registration deadlines, key races, and what traders in Kalshi’s midterm election markets suggest about the potential outcome. 

^{For informational purposes only. Not trading advice. See full disclaimer below.}

In accordance with the Election Act of 1845, the 2026 general midterm will take place on Tuesday, November 3, the Tuesday which follows the first Monday in November.

Though Election Day marks the general election, the broader election process began much earlier. Throughout 2026, individual states have held primary elections that determine which candidates will represent political parties on the November ballot. These contests operate on separate schedules depending on the state. 

Additionally, voters in many states can cast ballots well before November 3 using early in-person voting, or absentee and mail-in voting. Eligible voters should verify the key dates for their respective state elections via their state election offices.

Once the election concludes, newly elected members of Congress will officially begin their terms in January 2027. However, some tightly contested races could take additional time to finalize if there are outstanding ballots or a need for recounts. 

The midterm elections will take place on November 3, but voters should pay attention to other important deadlines in the weeks leading up to Election Day. 

Unlike the general election date, voter registration deadlines, early voting periods, and mail ballot requirements vary depending on individual states. 

There is no official nationwide voter registration deadline for the 2026 midterms. 

Generally, eligible voters must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and meet their state’s residency requirements by Election Day. However, some states may have additional registration requirements. 

Most states allow eligible voters to register online, by mail, or in person. While some states might offer same-day registration, allowing eligible residents to register on Election Day, other states have registration deadlines as early as 30 days before the election. 

Voters should verify their registration status and applicable deadlines via their state’s official election website. 

In some states, early voting has already begun while other polling locations will open later in October. For example, in California some early voting sites began opening on October 5. Meanwhile, early voting in Texas won’t open until October 19. 

Mail-in and absentee voting provide an alternative for eligible voters who cannot or do not wish to vote in person on November 3. 

Some states automatically mail ballots to registered voters, while others require individuals to submit an application or maintain other eligibility requirements for absentee voting. 

As such, deadlines can vary significantly as well. 

For example, in Pennsylvania voters must request mail ballots by October 27 and ballots must be completed and received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. But in California, mail ballots must only be postmarked by November 3 and can be counted so long as they meet the state’s requirements and are received by November 10. 

The 2026 midterm elections will determine the composition of Congress along with numerous state and local government positions across the country. 

The most consequential federal races though involve the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, where there is a chance that the congressional balance of power could shift between Republicans and Democrats. 

All 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. 

House members serve two-year terms, meaning every congressional district elects a representative each midterm. To secure a majority in a fully seated House, a party generally needs 218 seats.

Some congressional districts will feature modified boundaries after changes to state redistricting maps. These changes could influence which voters participate in individual races and affect the competitiveness of certain districts. 

There are 35 U.S. Senate seats on the ballot in 2026, including 33 regularly scheduled elections and two special elections. 

Unlike the House, senators serve six-year terms with roughly one-third of the chamber facing voters every two years. Consequently, even though fewer Senate seats are contested, a handful of closely fought races could determine which party ultimately controls the chamber. 

Beyond Congress, voters in 36 states will elect governors in November. Additionally, other state legislative seats, judicial positions, and various local government offices may be on the ballot depending on the state. 

These elections can have significant consequences for state governments, regardless of which party wins control of Congress. 

Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress as it stands, meaning a relatively small number of competitive races during the midterms could determine which party controls the federal legislature when new terms begin in 2027. 

Heading into Election Day, the current count of House seats stands at 218 for Republicans, 214 for Democrats, one for an independent, and two vacancies, according to the House Clerk’s office. 

With such a small margin separating the two parties, there is a clear opportunity for Democrats to regain control of the chamber, needing to only flip a small number of districts currently held by Republicans. 

Leading into Election Day, the Cook Political Report identifies 21 House races as toss-ups, with 15 of those races currently held by Republican representatives. Some of those key races include Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, New York’s 17th Congressional District, Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, and Arizona’s 6th Congressional District: all four of which are currently held by Republicans. 

While national polling may help indicate broader political trends, individual congressional races like those above are heavily influenced by local candidates, voter turnout, and issues that are specific to the districts being voted on. 

Republicans also have the edge in the Senate, maintaining 53 Senate seats to the Democrats' 45. However, two other independent senators caucus with the Democrats, giving the Democratic caucus 47 seats.

If those alliances remain unchanged, Democrats would need to net four new seats to establish a majority of 51 Senate seats. Should the parties end with the same amount of seats, the vice president would break ties, giving the Republicans an edge. 

In the 2026 midterms, several races could determine whether Democrats can flip the chamber. In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins faces Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in a competitive contest. 

Furthermore, in North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Alaska, and Michigan there could be tight races that influence the balance of power. 

Cook Political Report’s most recent race rating (Oct. 6) place seven races, including Collins/Jackson in Maine, in the toss-up category. Of those races, six of the seats are currently held by Republicans. 

State leadership could be reshaped in a handful of close gubernatorial races. Competitive elections in Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Ohio are among the most notable. 

With Election Day approaching, prediction markets provide another way to assess expectations surrounding the 2026 midterms. 

On Kalshi’s CFTC-regulated prediction market, traders can buy and sell contracts tied to specific election outcomes, including which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. 

As of October 15, Kalshi traders favor Democrats to win control of both chambers of Congress. 

Current market-implied probabilities include: 

Note: Probabilities fluctuate with trading activity. Last updated October 15. 

These figures suggest that traders currently view a Democratic House majority as substantially more likely than Republican control. As it stands, Kalshi traders are forecasting Democrats to notch 231 seats, an uptick of 17 seats from their current House standing. 

While the Senate remains more competitive in the eyes of the market, traders also favor Democrats to win a majority of the seats in the upper chamber. Of the toss-up races recently identified by Cook Political Report, Kalshi traders provide Democrats the edge in five of the seven, highlighted by edges given to Troy Jackson in Maine, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, and James Talarico in Texas. 

The 2026 midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with control of both chambers of Congress at stake. 

Voters will elect all 435 members of the House, fill 35 Senate seats, and elect a number of gubernatorial, state, and local officials. 

Although Election Day is the same nationwide, voter registration, early voting, and mail ballot deadlines vary by state. Eligible voters should consult Vote.gov or their state election office to verify applicable requirements. 

Leading into the general midterm elections, it's Republicans who maintain a narrow congressional majority, but with many competitive House and Senate races on the ballot, the balance of power could be reshaped in Washington when all the votes are counted. 

As Election Day approaches, readers can explore Kalshi’s 2026 midterm election markets to follow real-time changes in expectations for control of Congress.

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