Americans are voting today, Tuesday, 3 November 2026, in the midterm elections. The results will decide who controls the United States Congress for the next two years, and that will shape what President Donald Trump can and cannot do for the rest of his term.
Quick read
- Americans vote on 3 November 2026 for all 435 House seats, about a third of the Senate and 36 governors.
- Republicans control both chambers now: 53-45 in the Senate and a narrow House majority.
- Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control.
- Results start arriving early Wednesday morning, India time.
US politics can feel far away, but decisions made in Washington touch India in many ways, from visas and trade to tariffs and the dollar. Here is a simple guide.
What are midterm elections?
The US holds a presidential election every four years. Midterms come in between, two years into a president's term. The president is not on the ballot, but Congress is. Think of it as a report card on the party in power.
What's on the ballot
- House of Representatives: all 435 seats. Members serve two-year terms, so every seat is up every time.
- Senate: about a third of the 100 seats. Sources count 33 to 35 races this year, including special elections.
- Governors: 36 states are choosing governors.
- Thousands of state legislature seats, local offices and ballot questions.
Who controls Congress now
Republicans, President Trump's party, currently control both chambers. In the Senate, they hold 53 seats to the Democrats' 45, with two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. In the House, Republicans have a narrow majority, about 218 to 214 with a few vacant seats, according to Ballotpedia.
What Democrats need
To win the Senate, Democrats need a net gain of four seats. To win the House, they need only a handful, because the current majority is so thin.
What history says
Midterms are usually tough for the president's party. Looking at elections from 1934 to 2018, the party holding the White House lost an average of 28 House seats and 4 Senate seats. Voters often use midterms to send a message, and the party out of power is usually more motivated to turn out.
That does not mean the result is decided. Maps have changed in several states, and individual candidates matter.
Races to watch
Analysts are watching Senate races in states including Maine, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Ohio and Alaska. In Maine, veteran Republican Senator Susan Collins faces one of the toughest re-election fights of her long career.
New maps
California, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas are using new congressional maps this year after redrawing district lines in the middle of the decade. Redrawn maps can shift several seats on their own, which makes the House even harder to predict.
Why it matters for India
Visas and jobs
Congress writes immigration law. Decisions on H-1B work visas, student visas and green card backlogs affect hundreds of thousands of Indian families and India's IT industry.
Trade and tariffs
Tariffs and trade deals have been a major issue between India and the US. A Congress controlled by the opposition could push back on the White House's trade policy, while one controlled by the president's party is more likely to back it.
War and oil
With conflict in West Asia and reports that Gulf states are bracing for possible US military action involving Iran, Congress's view on war powers and foreign policy could affect oil prices, and in turn petrol prices and inflation in India.
When will we know?
Polls close on Tuesday evening US time, which is early Wednesday morning in India. Some results will be clear within hours. Close races, especially those with lots of mail-in votes, can take days to call. Wait for official counts and major news agencies rather than early claims on social media.
News Anek will report the results and what they mean for India as they come in.
Quick questions, quick answers
Is Donald Trump on the ballot?
No. Midterms elect members of Congress and state officials, not the president.
Can Indian citizens vote?
No. Only US citizens can vote. Indian-Americans who are US citizens can, and they are a growing and active group of voters.
