US midterm elections 2026: What are they and when will we know the results?

Millions of Americans are heading to the polls on Tuesday, 3 November, for the 2026 US midterm elections. The vote will determine which party controls Congress for the next two years and how much power President Donald Trump will have to advance his political agenda. But what exactly are the midterms, when will the results be known and why do they matter? Midterm elections take place halfway through a US president's four-year term. They give voters an opportunity to elect new members of Congress and decide which party will control the legislative branch of government. Unlike presidential elections, Americans are not voting for a president. Donald Trump will remain in the White House regardless of the outcome.