Early, incomplete projections from the 2026 midterm elections showed Democrats leading Republicans in races for both the House and Senate, with vote counting still underway. (Foto: Instagram)
Early results from the 2026 midterm elections showed Democrats leading Republicans in races for both the House and Senate, a potentially significant setback for President Donald Trump. The vote will determine all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats, as well as 36 governorships. The first polling places began closing at 8 p.m. Brasília time on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the count was still underway.
Projections cited in the early count gave Democrats 53 Senate seats to Republicans’ 42, while the House tally stood at 214 Democrats to 123 Republicans. The figures were preliminary, and the final result could take days. In the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, control of the House was not determined until eight days of counting had passed. Polls closed at different times across the country, with the last scheduled closures in Alaska at 3 a.m. Wednesday, Brasília time.
The election comes as Trump’s approval has fallen amid the extended war with Iran and rising living costs, according to the report. Midterm elections take place every two years between presidential contests and are often treated as a measure of voters’ satisfaction with the government. No presidential candidate appears on the ballot, but the results can alter the balance of power in Washington. This cycle also includes ballot measures on issues ranging from election administration to abortion access.
Before the election, Republicans held 218 seats in the House, compared with 214 for Democrats. Democrats needed at least 218 seats to take control. In the Senate, Republicans held 53 seats, while Democrats and independents aligned with them held 47; Democrats needed 51 seats for a majority. Senators serve six-year terms, while House members serve two-year terms. Congress writes and approves federal laws and oversees the executive branch, so a change in control could make it harder for the White House to pass its priorities.
On Monday, Nov. 2, Trump made a roughly 50-minute speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, urging voters to help Republicans retain control of Congress. He called the election the most important of their lives and described the Democratic candidates as “the most extremist and dangerous slate in American history.” Trump also accused Democrats of supporting open borders, higher taxes, limits on gun ownership and policies that he said would increase energy costs and immigration. He called the United States’ current period a “golden age,” praised his administration’s economic performance and urged supporters to vote as if he were personally on the ballot.
A Democratic majority in either chamber could lead to greater congressional scrutiny of the administration. If Democrats took control of the House, they would lead its committees and could summon administration officials, request documents and launch investigations. The government could face questions about contracts, conflicts of interest and actions taken through presidential orders. Democrats could also pursue impeachment charges in the House; the Senate would conduct any trial, and conviction would require the support of two-thirds of senators.
A shift in the Senate majority could also complicate confirmation of Trump’s nominees for senior government posts, ambassadorships and federal courts, including any Supreme Court vacancies. Trump could continue using executive orders to carry out parts of his agenda, but would face greater institutional resistance and more difficulty turning proposals into law. The midterm results are also expected to shape political maneuvering ahead of the 2028 presidential election, in which Trump cannot run because he has already served two terms.
