How US midterms work, in one line: halfway through a president’s four-year term, Americans elect the whole House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate. With Election Day on November 3, here is how the vote works, how it differs from a UK general election, and why it matters beyond America.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats (33 regular and 2 special elections) are on the ballot, plus 39 governor races, according to a European Parliament research briefing.
- The president is not on the ballot and cannot be removed by losing Congress, unlike a UK prime minister who loses the Commons.
- 71 House members are not running again, and at least 99 new members are expected in the next Congress, the European Parliament briefing counts.
US midterms: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
How do the US midterms work?
They are national elections for Congress held two years after a presidential election. The name comes from their timing, in the middle of the president's term. Donald Trump's second term began in January 2025, so these are the first midterms of that term.
Members of the House serve two-year terms, so every seat is up each time. Senators serve six-year terms on a rolling cycle, which means only about a third of them face voters at once. This year, two extra Senate seats are filled by special elections in Ohio and Florida, after appointments to cover vacancies.
How do US midterms work compared with a UK general election?
The biggest difference is that nobody forms a government on election night. In the UK, the 650 MPs elected to the Commons decide who governs, and a prime minister must keep their support. In the US, the president is elected separately and stays in office until January 2029 whatever happens on November 3.
| Feature | US midterms (Nov 3, 2026) | UK general election |
|---|---|---|
| What is elected | All 435 House seats, 35 of 100 Senate seats | All 650 House of Commons seats |
| When | Fixed date, every two years | At least every five years |
| Does the leader change? | No, the president is not on the ballot | It can, if another party wins the most seats |
| Other contests | 39 governors, state laws, ballot measures | Usually none on the same day |
So in practice, this is how the midterms work: they decide how much of the president's agenda can pass. The party that wins each chamber picks its leader, chairs every committee and controls which bills reach a vote.
What changes if the opposition wins Congress?
Quite a lot, but not everything. A European Parliament research briefing, last updated on October 9, sets out the main effects. A Democratic House would run committee agendas and could hold oversight hearings. A Democratic Senate could block the president's nominees, since judges and senior officials need its approval.
However, the president keeps a veto, and overriding it takes a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Executive orders would also keep shaping policy, the briefing notes. On the other side, if Republicans hold both chambers, current policies are likely to continue. Either way, the result shapes US decisions on trade, tariffs and foreign policy that UK and European readers follow closely, as our explainer on the US midterms and Europe sets out.
Who is expected to win the midterms?
Forecasts lean toward the Democrats for the House and give a narrower edge in the Senate. Decision Desk HQ's model, updated on October 28, gave Democrats an 80% chance of winning the House and a 58% chance of winning the Senate. Those are probabilities, not results: Republicans still keep the House in about one simulation in five.
The mood of voters is part of the reason. Trump's approval stood at 39% in a mid-September Fox News poll, and only 16% of Americans approved of Congress in Gallup's September survey, the European Parliament briefing noted. Midterms also tend to go against the party that holds the White House.
New district maps add another layer. The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map in April, and several states redrew their lines mid-decade. As a result, the European Parliament briefing estimates that roughly one American in ten now sits in a new district compared with 2024.
What issues matter most to US voters?
Prices top the list for supporters of both parties. Inflation was the leading concern for 32% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats in Economist polling cited by the European Parliament briefing. After that, the parties' voters split. Republicans put more weight on immigration and taxes, while Democrats rank health care and climate change higher.
When will results come in, UK time?
Later than most British viewers would like. The first polls close at 6 p.m. Eastern time, which is 23:00 GMT, and the last close at 06:00 GMT on Wednesday, November 4. Our guide to poll closing times converts every state, and our UK and US time difference guide explains the clock changes either side of Election Day.
How to watch election night live
From the UK and Europe, our guide to watching the US midterms from the UK and Europe lists the official options, including the BBC News live stream and the Sky News live stream. For American networks, see how to watch the midterm results live and the C-SPAN live stream, which carries coverage without commercial breaks.
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Frequently asked questions
What does midterm mean, and how do midterms work?
It means an election held halfway through a president's four-year term. Voters choose all House members, about a third of senators and many state officials, but not the president.
Can the US midterms remove the president?
No. The president serves a fixed term. Congress can remove a president only through impeachment by the House and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate, which is a separate process.
Why do the US midterms matter to the UK and Europe?
Congress shapes US trade, sanctions and foreign aid, including votes on support for allies. So a change of control can affect tariffs, markets and security policy. See the latest numbers on our midterm election forecast page and in our Elections coverage.
