by Sarah Surak, AWC Hamburg
Midterm elections occur two years after each presidential election. On November 3, 2026, US citizens at home and abroad will elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 33 Senators.
Citizens will also elect non-voting members to the US House from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands, along with the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
Do the midterms matter? Should I vote? FAWCO says YES!
Absolutely! While voter turnout is typically lower in midterm elections, the midterms in 2020 and 2022 saw some of the highest levels in recent history. The midterms generally receive less attention than presidential elections, but they can significantly affect how the government operates.
Historically, the party of the president loses seats in Congress in the midterms. As in the recent past, the current party majorities in Congress are slim.
- In the US Senate (100 seats), there are 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats.
- In the House of Representatives (435 seats), there are 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats and 3 vacancies.
Curious about the likelihood of the House or Senate changing leadership? “270 to Win” provides an interactive tool that shows how individual elections will affect control in the Senate and the House. CNN’s election calendar also outlines “primaries to watch,” the results of which could impact the power balance in Congress.
In addition to the federal elections, more than 6,000 state and local elections will be held, determining key issues of local governance.
Influences on outcome
Several factors may affect the results of the 2026 midterms:
- recent redistricting effects in states;
- presidental approval ratings;
- efforts to limit the number of voters who can paticipate.
Recent redistricting efforts may upset many Congressional seats once considered safe. As of February 1, 2026, five states will use new congressional maps for the 2026 election (California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas). New congressional maps are still the subject of ongoing litigation in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and Utah. In addition, Florida, Maryland and Virginia are also discussing the possibility of redistricting. (Redeistricting typically occurs after a new census of the US population; doing it before a new census is made is highly unusual.)
Presidential approval ratings also impact midterm turnout and voting. Approval ratings for the current President can be found on the Gallup website, although Gallup very recently decided to stop measuring this. CNN provides a compilation of the results of more than 20 public opinion polls here. Pew Research Center’s 29 January 2026 polling on confidence in the president can be found here.
Fianlly, Congress is considering the so-called “SAVE America” Act; its adoption would drastically reduce the number of voters taking part in the election, particularly overseas voters. Find out how to fight it, and preserve your rights, here.
What overseas voters should do
The 2026 US elections will have important consequences for all American citizens—and the world. Overseas voters should play their part. Have you prepared your voting plan?