2026 Elections
Who Controls Congress After the 2026 Midterms?
Every seat in the U.S. House and 33 Senate seats are on the ballot on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This page tracks the balance of power — what each party holds now, what it would take to change it, and where the results stand once counting begins.
Seat data as of 2026-09-07
Election Day · November 3, 2026
Quick Answer
- Senate Now
- 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, 2 Independents
- House Now
- 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, 2 vacant
- Senate Seats Up
- 33 — 20 held by Republicans, 13 by Democrats
- To Win the Senate
- Democrats need 17 of the 33; Republicans need 18
- To Win the House
- 218 of 435 seats
The Senate Map
67 Senate seats are not on the ballot in 2026 — 34 held by Democrats and the two Independents who caucus with them, 33 by Republicans. That means Democrats need 17 of the 33 seats up to reach 51, while Republicans need 18. Republicans are defending more ground this cycle: 20 of the seats up are theirs, against 13 Democratic-held.
The House
All 435 voting seats in the House are on the ballot, as they are every two years. 218 seats are needed for a majority. Going into the election the chamber stood at 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats, with 2 seats vacant.
We track the House in aggregate rather than race by race — the networks and wire services own individual House calls, and this page is not trying to beat them on speed. For the paths each party has to 218, see how Democrats could win the House and how Republicans could hold it.
When Will We Know Who Controls Congress?
Usually not on election night. In 2022, control of the Senate was not settled until the Saturday after Election Day, and the House was not called until the following Wednesday — eight days after polls closed. Close races in states that count mail ballots slowly, plus any runoff, can extend it further.
Two states with Senate races on the ballot require an outright majority to win: Georgia and Mississippi, both of which hold runoffs on December 1, 2026 if no candidate clears 50%. Louisiana moved to closed party primaries this cycle, so its Senate runoff already happened in June — its November race is settled on the day. If a Georgia or Mississippi race is close enough to matter, control of the Senate could remain unresolved into December. See how Senate runoffs work.
What Happens After the Results
Winners do not take office immediately. The outgoing Congress returns for a lame-duck session, party caucuses elect their leaders in November, and the 120th Congress convenes on January 3, 2027, when the House holds its first order of business — the election of the Speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who controls Congress after the 2026 midterms?
Control is decided by the November 3, 2026 election. Going in, Republicans hold the Senate 53–47 and the House 218–214. Democrats need 17 of the 33 Senate seats on the ballot to reach 51, and 218 House seats for a majority.
How many Senate seats are up for election in 2026?
33 Senate seats are on the ballot in 2026 — the Class II seats. Republicans hold 20 of them and Democrats hold 13, so Republicans are defending more seats than Democrats this cycle. The other 67 seats are not up until 2028 or 2030.
How many seats do Democrats need to take the Senate?
Democrats need 17 of the 33 seats on the ballot to reach the 51 needed for a majority, because they and the two Independents who caucus with them already hold 34 seats that are not up this cycle. Republicans need 18 of the seats up to stay at 51.
How many seats are needed for a majority in the House?
218 of the 435 voting seats. All House seats are contested every two years, so the entire chamber is decided in each election.
When will we know who won the 2026 midterms?
Probably not on election night. In 2022 the Senate was not settled until four days after Election Day and the House not until eight days after. Georgia and Mississippi both require a majority to win a Senate seat and hold runoffs on December 1, 2026, so a close race in either state could push a final answer into December.
When do the winners of the 2026 election take office?
The 120th Congress convenes at noon on January 3, 2027, when members-elect are sworn in. Between the election and that date the outgoing Congress can still act, in what is known as the lame-duck session.