Midterm Elections 2026
Why it is trending in America today
Early voting under way as midterm ballots take shape for Nov. 3
Midterm Elections 2026 is trending as voters in many states cast ballots ahead of the November 3 election day. Early voting is already underway in Illinois, where a Senate seat, the governor's race and Chicago school board seats are on the ballot.
The background
CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 26 — The 2026 midterm elections are held halfway through a presidential term. Voters choose members of Congress, many governors and state officials. The sources reviewed cover races in several states, including Illinois and Texas, and national Senate polling.
In Illinois, voters will decide who replaces retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy are among the Senate candidates. Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, is seeking a third term against Republican Darren Bailey, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump. Chicago voters will also elect the city's first fully elected school board.
What happens next
Election day is Nov. 3. Polls in Illinois will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What else people are searching
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Key facts
- Election day is Nov. 3, 2026.
- Early voting is already underway in Illinois.
- Illinois voters will choose a successor to retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
- Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term.
- Chicago will elect 20 district school board members and a citywide board president, 21 members in all.
What we don't know yet
The sources do not say what single event caused the broad national search interest, and some sources are headlines only.
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Trend data
Midterm Elections 2026 started trending in the US on Oct 26, 4:30 AM EDT, reaching about 100+ Google searches. 8 news outlets covered it in our feed, including Reuters, The Guardian, CBS News. The earliest report we found came from Reuters at Oct 24, 1:45 PM EDT.
Sources: what the outlets reported
- USA TodayHold your nose: The 8 worst candidates of 2026 midterms | Opinion
- Chicago TribuneIllinois midterm elections: What to know about the key races — and where to vote
- NBC NewsTexas Midterm Elections 2026: Key Races, Candidates and Past Results
- The New York TimesLatest Senate Polls: Midterm Elections 2026
- The GuardianTen days that could shake the world: democratic norms at stake in four pivotal elections
- The GuardianBlanche defends DoJ’s pre-emptive suit to block Alaska Senate results certification
- The GuardianObama throws support behind El-Sayed as early voting begins in Michigan – video
- WSJHow the Supreme Court Is Shaping the Midterm Elections
- CBS NewsCBS News poll finds Democrats still boosted by voters' economic concerns, but many don't think either party has a plan
- The Guardian‘Prairie Populists’ fight to win back rural voters long ceded to Republicans
- ReutersDivided over Israel, Detroit Democrats unite on rising costs for midterm elections
How the story unfolded
- — Reuters: Divided over Israel, Detroit Democrats unite on rising costs for midterm elections
- — The Guardian: ‘Prairie Populists’ fight to win back rural voters long ceded to Republicans
- — CBS News: CBS News poll finds Democrats still boosted by voters' economic concerns, but many don't think either party has a plan
- — WSJ: How the Supreme Court Is Shaping the Midterm Elections
- — The Guardian: Obama throws support behind El-Sayed as early voting begins in Michigan – video
- — The Guardian: Blanche defends DoJ’s pre-emptive suit to block Alaska Senate results certification
- — The Guardian: Ten days that could shake the world: democratic norms at stake in four pivotal elections
- — The New York Times: Latest Senate Polls: Midterm Elections 2026
- — NBC News: Texas Midterm Elections 2026: Key Races, Candidates and Past Results
- — USA Today: Hold your nose: The 8 worst candidates of 2026 midterms | Opinion
- — Chicago Tribune: Illinois midterm elections: What to know about the key races — and where to vote