US midterm elections 2026 live: Americans go to the polls to decide control of Congress

Key Points:

• The 2026 US midterm elections will decide control of all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats (including two special elections), 39 governorships, and numerous state and local offices, impacting federal legislation and local policymaking on issues like abortion, taxes, and voting rights.
• Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress and governorships, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats in both the House and Senate to take control; historically, the president’s party tends to lose seats in midterms.
• Early results from Guam showed Republicans winning the governorship and state senate majority, while Democrats flipped the nonvoting delegate seat, signaling a potentially competitive election cycle.
• Voter turnout has surged compared to 2022 midterms, with strong early voting reported in key battleground states such as Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina; voters cite concerns including the war in Iran, inflation, abortion rights, and government integrity.
• Notable campaign dynamics include controversies in Alaska’s Senate race, voter anxieties around federal law enforcement presence, and internal Republican tensions highlighted by Ron DeSantis’s critical comments on the Iran war and gas prices, which he links to challenges for GOP success.