TFK Explains: Midterm Elections

On November 3, Americans will vote in midterm elections. Here’s why these elections are important, and why voters are eager to head to the polls.

What is a midterm election?

Midterms are held almost halfway through a president’s four-year term. They’re held in order to elect members of the United States Congress. This year, there are 470 congressional seats up for election. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are on the ballot, as well as 35 of 100 Senate seats. Voters in many states will choose governors and other state officials too. They will also vote on local issues and laws.

What’s at stake?

Midterm elections decide which political party has the majority in Congress. The party with the most seats in the House or Senate has an advantage when deciding which bills to consider and pass. Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress. Democrats hope to change that.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, is serving his second term. The results of the 2026 midterm elections will help determine how much support his plans get from Congress during the remaining two years of his term.

How many people will vote?

Presidential elections typically bring out more voters than midterm elections do. In the 2022 midterms, voter turnout reached about 46%. The highest voter turnout on record for a midterm election was in 2018, at 50%. In comparison, voter turnout reached about 64% in the 2024 presidential election.

What is early voting?

Election Day is November 3. But in most states, people can vote before then, either in person or by mail. Early voting gives voters flexibility about when they can cast their ballot. It also helps shorten lines at polling places on Election Day.

What’s the biggest issue in the 2026 midterm elections?

The biggest issue is the economy. This includes the cost of everyday items, such as food, gas, and housing. In a recent survey about the midterm elections, published October 8, the Pew Research Center found that 84% of registered voters say economic issues are “very important” to how they will cast their vote. The study’s authors called the economy “the top voting issue.”

Stop and Think!

WHAT numbers do you see in this article? How do numbers help us understand elections? Which other numbers would you like to see?