Voters cast ballots in 2026 midterms as 435 House seats go to the polls

Polling stations in Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, and Kentucky began accepting votes on Tuesday morning.

These states were among the first to open for the 2026 midterm elections. Each state sets its own voting hours, so election day voting is starting across other jurisdictions as well.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs. Thirty-five of the 100 Senate seats are also contested. Voters in 36 states will select governors.

Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate and a four-seat advantage in the House. Democrats and independent allies hold 47 Senate seats.

Democratic campaigns focused on the cost-of-living crisis and President Trump's conflict with Iran. They sought to secure historic gains that would alter the balance of power in the president's final two years.

Republican campaigns aimed to counter the typical midterm loss for the president's party. They relied on the loyalty of conservative voters and skepticism of progressive politics.

President Trump's approval ratings sit near record lows. Conservative candidates believe these factors will help them hold their ground.

Haley Stevens, who lost the Michigan Democratic Senate primary in August, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday.

More than 57 million Americans submitted early ballots before Tuesday. Heaviest early voting occurred in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.