Donald Trump faces a major test in the US midterm elections as Republicans fight to retain control (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Americans are preparing to head to the polls in an election that could have huge consequences for the remainder of Donald Trump’s second term. The US midterms are approaching with the political stakes high and Republicans and Democrats battling for power in Washington. Although Mr Trump will not be directly facing voters, the elections are widely seen as a major test of his presidency so far. The President himself has warned that he could be impeached if Republicans lose control of Congress. The vote also comes at a pivotal moment for both parties as they begin looking beyond the current presidency.
With the elections now just days away, here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 midterms, who is being elected, what the results could mean for Mr Trump and the race for the White House in 2028, amid his repeated suggestions he could seek a third term.
The US Capitol is home to Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
What are the Midterm elections?
The US midterm elections are held halfway through a president’s four-year term in office. Americans use the elections to decide the make-up of Congress, which consists of two chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congress plays a key role in the US political system, including creating and passing federal laws that apply across the country.
Elections to Congress take place every two years, with those falling in the middle of a presidential term known as the “midterms”.
The results influence which political party controls Congress and can therefore have a major impact on how easily a president can pursue their political agenda.
Midterms are also widely regarded as a measure of how voters feel about the sitting president’s performance halfway through their term.
Mr Trump is not personally up for election this year, but the outcome will help determine how much political power he has for the remainder of his presidency.
When are the Midterm elections?
The 2026 US midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3.
Tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots through early voting ahead of election day.
Polls will close at different times across the country, beginning at 6pm Eastern Time in parts of Kentucky and Indiana.
The final polls will not close until 1am Eastern Time in parts of Alaska.
While many results are expected to emerge within hours of polls closing, close contests could take considerably longer to call.
Different states have their own procedures for counting and reporting ballots, meaning the overall balance of power may not immediately be clear on election night.
House of Representatives chamber, where all 435 seats are being contested in the 2026 US midterms (Image: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Who is being elected in the Midterms?
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, are being contested in the midterms because members serve two-year terms.
Another 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are also up for grabs, with senators serving staggered six-year terms.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but their majority in the House is extremely narrow.
Democrats need a net gain of three seats at the election to take control of the House.
Taking the Senate is a tougher task, with Democrats requiring a net gain of four seats to secure control of the upper chamber.
Voters will also choose politicians at state level, with several closely watched gubernatorial elections taking place across the country.
Vice President JD Vance could emerge as a potential successor to Mr Trump in the 2028 election (Image: Kyle Mazza – Pool via CNP/Shutterstock)
What does the result of the Midterms mean for the 2028 presidential election?
The midterm results will provide an important indication of the political mood in America ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Although the president’s name is not on the ballot, the outcome is likely to be interpreted as a verdict on the direction of the country under Donald Trump.
Mr Trump is constitutionally barred from being elected for a third term, although he has repeatedly floated the prospect of running again in 2028.
The results could therefore influence the direction the Republican Party takes and whether prospective candidates choose to closely align themselves with Mr Trump’s political agenda.
They could also help shape the Democrats’ approach to the next presidential contest, with the performance of different candidates providing clues about which messages are resonating with voters.
After the midterms, attention is expected to increasingly turn towards who could become the Republican and Democratic nominees for the White House in 2028.
The POTUS faces a major test in the midterms, which could reshape the rest of his presidency (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
What is at stake for Trump?
Although Donald Trump is not on the ballot, the outcome of the midterms could have a major impact on the final two years of his presidency.
If Democrats take control of either the House or Senate, Mr Trump could find it significantly harder to get legislation and budgets through Congress.
Democratic control could also expose his administration to greater scrutiny, with congressional committees able to launch investigations, call people to testify and demand documents.
There is also debate among Democrats about whether to try and impeach Mr Trump.
If Republicans retain control of Congress, however, Mr Trump would be in a much stronger position to continue pursuing his agenda for the remainder of his time in office.
