What are the midterm elections: Tuesday vote on Trump's second term
The midterm elections are the nationwide US votes held in the middle of a president's term, and the 2026 round takes place on Tuesday. Voters choose the House of Representatives, a third of the Senate and governors, and the results are widely read as a verdict on Donald Trump's second term.
Why it's in the news
Midterm voting takes place Tuesday with Trump's record on the ballot, and Trump's Kansas and Iowa rallies were restored for Sunday after a brief cancellation.
- Midterms — Midterm elections arrive Tuesday with Trump's record on the ballot
Background
A Reuters/Ipsos survey put Democrats ahead 47% to 36% on the generic congressional ballot. Republicans hold a 218–214 margin in the House and a 53–47 lead in the Senate, so a shift of a few seats could change control.
Trump has held dozens of rallies this month. The Republican National Committee first canceled rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Thursday in favor of tele-rallies targeting 19 states, then restored them for Sunday. Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota have competitive Senate races; in Minnesota, Democrat Peggy Flanagan has been polling as little as 3 points ahead of Republican Michele Tafoya.
If Democrats win the House or Senate, they could open investigations into Trump's conduct, his Cabinet and his personal fortune, which Forbes puts at $6.5bn, up from $2.3bn in 2024. The result will also shape the 2028 presidential race.
What people are asking
Midterm elections 2026 date?
The 2026 midterm elections take place on Tuesday, when voters go to the polls across the United States.
Midterm elections 2026 predictions?
Political forecasters widely expect Democrats to make significant gains, possibly taking the House and perhaps the Senate. Opinion polls indicate a rising blue wave.
Midterm elections polls?
A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey gave Democrats 47% against 36% for Republicans on the generic congressional ballot. Trump's approval rating is at record lows for a president before midterms since Harry Truman.