Reference
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 2026-08-01
Quick Answer
- Senate
- 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, 2 Independents — Republicans hold the majority
- House
- 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, 1 Independent, 4 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
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: 218–212 with 4 vacancies
Republicans
218
Majority
Democrats
212
Minority
Independent / Vacant
1 / 4
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.
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 2026-08-01).
How many Republicans and Democrats are in the House right now?
The House currently has 218 Republicans and 212 Democrats plus 1 Independent, with 4 seats vacant (as of 2026-08-01). 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.