2026 Midterm Overview
What's at Stake in 2026
The 2026 midterms are a referendum on the current administration and will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress heading into the 2028 presidential cycle.
435
House Seats
35
Senate Seats
36
Governor Races
40K+
Total Offices
Note: Candidate information is updated frequently as filing deadlines pass. For the most current candidate lists, visit
Ballotpedia's 2026 Elections page or your state's official election website.
Current Balance of Power
53
Republican Senate
47
Democratic Senate
220
Republican House
215
Democratic House
U.S. Senate Races
35 Senate Seats Up for Election
Class 2 senators face voters in 2026. Democrats are defending more seats but Republicans hold structural disadvantages in several key states. Democrats need a net gain of 4 seats to retake the majority.
Competitiveness ratings are based on pre-filing analysis and historical trends. Ratings will shift as candidates declare and polling emerges.
Full 2026 Senate race tracker →
Key Competitive Races
New Hampshire
Toss-UpOpen Seat
Chris Pappas (D)
Former U.S. Rep, expected
Kelly Ayotte (R)
Former Senator, expected
A purple state that has trended competitive in recent cycles. The open seat makes this the #1 pickup opportunity for Republicans.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Georgia
Toss-UpD Defending
Jon Ossoff (D)
Incumbent Senator
R challenger TBD
Filing opens early 2026
Georgia has become a true battleground. Ossoff faces headwinds in a state that favored Trump by a wider margin in 2024.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Maine
Lean RR Defending
Susan Collins (R)
Incumbent, seeking 5th term
D challenger TBD
Filing opens 2026
Collins has won in tough cycles before (2020 was her closest call). Democrats will need a strong recruit to compete here.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Michigan
Lean DD Defending
Gary Peters (D)
Incumbent Senator
Mike Rogers (R)
Former U.S. Rep, expected
Michigan's Senate race will be closely watched. Trump won Michigan in 2024, putting Peters' seat in play for 2026.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
North Carolina
Lean RR Defending
Thom Tillis (R)
Incumbent Senator
D challenger TBD
Filing opens 2026
Tillis has faced intra-party challenges before. North Carolina has been trending Republican in statewide races recently.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Iowa
Lean RR Defending
Chuck Grassley (R)
Incumbent or potential open seat
D challenger TBD
Filing opens 2026
If Grassley retires, this open seat becomes more competitive. Iowa has moved strongly Republican in recent cycles.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Colorado
Lean DD Defending
Michael Bennet (D)
Incumbent Senator
R challenger TBD
Filing opens 2026
Colorado has trended blue at the federal level, but Republicans will target Bennet if conditions are favorable.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Minnesota
Lean DD Defending
Tina Smith (D)
Incumbent Senator
R challenger TBD
Filing opens 2026
Minnesota has been reliably blue federally. Republicans see an opportunity in a changing political environment.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Governor's Races
36 States Electing Governors
Gubernatorial races determine state-level policy, redistricting power, and control of election administration. Several major states have open seats due to term limits.
Open Seats (due to term limits or retirement) tend to be the most competitive races.
Full 2026 Governor tracker →
Florida
Toss-UpOpen Seat
Florida will be one of the biggest governor's races of 2026. Republicans will fight to hold this large, increasingly red state.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Georgia
Toss-UpOpen Seat
Without Kemp on the ballot, both parties see a chance to flip this seat in a state where presidential margins have been razor-thin.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Ohio
CompetitiveOpen Seat
Ohio's open governor seat is a major battleground. Sherrod Brown's 2024 defeat signals a tough environment for Democrats, but state-level races often break differently.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Michigan
CompetitiveOpen Seat
Michigan is always in play. Democrats will need a strong candidate to hold this seat after Trump's 2024 Michigan victory.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Wisconsin
Lean DD Defending
Evers has survived competitive cycles before. Wisconsin is a swing state where presidential and gubernatorial results frequently diverge.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Arizona
Lean DD Defending
Arizona is one of the most competitive states in the country. Hobbs won narrowly in 2022 and faces a challenging environment in 2026.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Pennsylvania
Lean DD Defending
Shapiro is one of the most popular governors in the country. Republicans will need an extraordinary cycle to defeat him in 2026.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
Texas
Likely RR Defending
Texas remains solidly Republican at the statewide level. Abbott is expected to seek another term; Democrats will need a strong recruit to compete.
Track this race on Ballotpedia →
U.S. House of Representatives
All 435 Seats Up for Election
Democrats need a net gain of just 3 seats to reclaim the House majority. With thin margins in both parties, every competitive district matters.
220
Republicans
215
Democrats
3
Seats Needed (D)
50+
Competitive Districts
House races are hyper-local. The best way to find your specific House race is to look up your congressional district.
Find your representative →
NY-17 (Rockland/Westchester)
Toss-Up
One of the most competitive House seats in the country. Biden won the district in 2020; Trump narrowly won it in 2024.
Track this race →
CA-13 (Central Valley)
Toss-Up
Agricultural, diverse, and competitive. California redistricting keeps this district in play cycle after cycle.
Track this race →
PA-08 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
Competitive
The Scranton area, once Biden country, has shifted Republican. This seat will be a key test of whether Democrats can reverse those trends.
Track this race →
TX-28 (South Texas)
Competitive
Once safely Democratic, this border district could flip or stay competitive depending on immigration policy dynamics heading into 2026.
Track this race →
CO-08 (Denver suburbs)
Competitive
Created after the 2020 census to be competitive, CO-08 has lived up to its billing with close results in both 2022 and 2024.
Track this race →
ME-02 (Northern Maine)
Competitive
Golden's brand of moderation has kept him afloat, but the district voted heavily for Trump. Republicans are targeting this seat seriously.
Track this race →
Voter Resources
Everything You Need to Vote
From registration to research, here are the most trusted and comprehensive voting resources in the country.
Register to Vote
Official U.S. government portal. Register, check your registration status, or update your address before your state's deadline.
vote.gov →
Find Your Polling Place
Enter your address to find your polling location, hours, what's on your ballot, and candidate information for your specific district.
vote411.org →
Research All Candidates
The most comprehensive nonpartisan candidate encyclopedia. Covers races from U.S. Senate to local school board with detailed profiles.
ballotpedia.org →
Candidate Positions & Votes
VoteSmart tracks every vote cast, position stated, and campaign finance filing for candidates at all levels. Know exactly where they stand.
votesmart.org →
Campaign Finance & Donors
Who is funding the campaigns? OpenSecrets tracks every dollar donated and spent in federal races with searchable databases.
opensecrets.org →
Vote by Mail / Absentee
Can't make it to the polls? Request an absentee ballot. Find your state's rules, deadlines, and how to track your mail-in ballot.
usa.gov →
Primary Election Dates
Every state holds primaries on different dates from March through September 2026. Find your state's primary date and registration deadline.
ncsl.org →
Voter ID Requirements
ID requirements vary by state. Check what identification you'll need at the polls so you're prepared on Election Day.
eac.gov →
Watch Congress Live (C-SPAN)
Watch Congress live and access an archive of every floor speech, committee hearing, and press conference from your representatives.
c-span.org →
Bill & Voting Records
Search every bill introduced, every vote cast, and every amendment proposed in the U.S. Congress. The official government source.
congress.gov →
Contact Your Reps
Find phone numbers, email, and office addresses for all your federal and state representatives. Make your voice heard between elections too.
commoncause.org →
How Elections Work
New to voting or want a refresher? USA.gov explains primaries, caucuses, the Electoral College, and the full election process.
usa.gov →
Key Dates
2026 Election Calendar
Mark these critical dates. Many states have strict registration deadlines — check your state's specific cutoff before it's too late.
JANUARY – MARCH 2026
Filing Deadlines Begin
Candidates must file paperwork with their state to appear on the ballot. Most states have filing deadlines in Q1. This is when we learn who is running.
MAR 3, 2026
Arkansas Primary (First in Nation)
Arkansas holds one of the earliest primaries in the country. Senate, House, and Governor's races all begin here.
MAR – MAY 2026
Spring Primaries
Illinois (Mar), Texas (Mar), Ohio (May), Indiana (May), and North Carolina (May) are among the early primary states with competitive races.
MAY 19, 2026
Georgia Primaries
Georgia's high-profile Senate and Governor primaries will set up what are expected to be two of the most competitive races in the cycle.
AUG 4, 2026
Major Battleground Primaries
Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Washington, and multiple other battleground states hold primaries on or around this date. Most registration deadlines are in July.
SEPT – OCT 2026
Voter Registration Deadlines
Most states require voter registration 15–30 days before Election Day. Check your state's deadline at vote.gov. Some states offer same-day registration.
OCT 19, 2026
Estimated Absentee/Mail Ballot Request Deadline
Varies by state, but most mail ballot request deadlines fall in mid-October. Request yours early. Visit vote.gov for your state's specific deadline.
NOV 3, 2026
⭐ GENERAL ELECTION DAY
All 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, 36 Governor's races, and thousands of state & local offices are decided. Polls are typically open 6am–8pm local time.
Guide Library
Explore Focused Voting Guides
These dedicated pages give search engines and voters clearer entry points into the parts of the election they care about most.
Senate
2026 Senate Races Guide
Battleground states, majority math, and the most important Senate contests to watch.
Governors
2026 Governor Races Guide
Open seats, top gubernatorial contests, and why these races shape state election policy.
House
2026 House Races Guide
Control of the House, the most competitive districts, and how to find your race.
Resources
Voter Resources Guide
Registration, polling place lookup, absentee voting, and trusted research tools.
Calendar
2026 Election Calendar
Key deadlines, primaries, and the general-election timeline in one cleaner page.