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Live Data
Party Breakdown of Congress
The current split of every seat in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives — Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and vacancies — computed from live member data.
Data as of September 21, 2026
Quick Answer
- Senate
- 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, 2 Independents — Republicans hold the majority
- House
- 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, 1 Independent, 2 vacant — Republicans hold the majority
- Majority Threshold
- 51 votes in the Senate · 218 votes in the House
- Total Voting Members
- 100 senators + 435 representatives = 535
As of September 21, 2026, the U.S. Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 Independents (the Independents caucus with the Democrats, so the split is usually reported as 53–47), and the U.S. House of Representatives has 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats, 1 Independent, with 2 of its 435 voting seats vacant.
Senate: 53–47
Republicans
53
Majority
Democrats
45
Minority
Independents
2
Caucus with Democrats
Every state elects two senators regardless of population, for six-year terms staggered across three classes. The two Independents currently caucus with the Democrats, which is why the split is usually reported as 53–47. A tied vote is broken by the Vice President — see the VP's tie-breaking role.
House: 218–214 with 2 vacancies
Republicans
218
Majority
Democrats
214
Minority
Independent / Vacant
1 / 2
Vacant seats are filled by special election
The House's 435 voting seats are apportioned among the states by population, and every seat is up for election every two years. Six additional members — delegates from D.C. and the territories, and Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner — serve in the House but cannot vote on final passage, so they are not counted in the totals above.
The House’s one Independent is Kevin Kiley of California’s 3rd district, who left the Republican Party in 2026 but remains a member of the House Republican Conference — so they are seated with a party even without carrying its label. That distinction matters more here than in the Senate: the majority threshold of 218 is met exactly, so a single member’s caucus is the difference between a working majority and not.
What a Majority Actually Means
Controlling a chamber means setting its agenda: the majority party holds the Speakership or the Senate majority leadership, chairs every committee, and decides which bills reach the floor. In the Senate, most legislation additionally needs 60 votes to clear the filibuster, so even the majority party usually needs votes from across the aisle.
How the 2026 Midterms Could Change It
All 435 House seats and 33 Class II Senate seats are on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The paths for each party:
Live on Congress Countdown
Live countdown to the 2026 midterms — when every seat above is on the ballot
Days, hours, and minutes until Election Day, November 3, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Republicans and Democrats are in the Senate right now?
The Senate currently has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats — a 53–47 Republican majority (as of September 21, 2026).
How many Republicans and Democrats are in the House right now?
The House currently has 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats plus 1 Independent, with 2 seats vacant (as of September 21, 2026). Republicans hold the majority; 218 votes are needed to control the chamber.
How many members of Congress are there?
Congress has 535 voting members: 100 senators (two per state) and 435 representatives, apportioned among the states by population. Six more members — delegates from D.C. and the territories and Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner — serve in the House without floor votes.
How many senators are there, and how many per state?
There are 100 U.S. senators — exactly two per state, regardless of population. Senators serve six-year terms, with about one-third of seats up for election every two years.
How many seats does each party need for a majority?
A Senate majority takes 51 of 100 seats (or 50 plus the Vice President’s tie-breaking vote). A House majority takes 218 of 435 seats.
Related Resources
What Is the Senate Voting On?
The Senate’s most recent roll-call votes — question, result and tally — from the official record, refreshed every 15 minutes.
How Many Days Does Congress Work?
Session days for every year since 1995 and every Congress — and whether Congress really works less than it used to.
How Many Laws Has Congress Passed?
Every law this Congress has enacted, the share of bills that make it, and the count for every Congress back to 1951.
All 100 U.S. Senators by State
The complete list of current senators with party, class, term end date, and next election.