US Holds 2026 Midterm Elections to Decide Control of Congress

The 2026 US midterm elections were held on November 3, with voters deciding the leadership of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and 36 state governorships. The elections are being viewed as a "midterm exam" for President Trump's second term in office.

Congressional and Gubernatorial Contests

Both chambers of the current US Congress are controlled by the Republican Party. To regain a majority, the Democratic Party must gain three seats in the House of Representatives and four seats in the Senate. According to rfi.fr, the Democrats seek to gain these seats to exert greater checks and balances on White House policies during the final two years of the president's term.

Key battlegrounds for Senate seats include Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. In Florida, progressive Democrat Angie Nixon is attempting to unseat Republican incumbent Ashley Moody. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is facing a challenge from Republican congressman Mike Collins. In South Carolina, Darline Graham is seeking a full term after being appointed to serve the remainder of her brother's term.

Regarding gubernatorial elections, Republicans currently control 26 states and Democrats control 24. Democrats could regain a majority of governorships by gaining two more states. Key battleground states for these races include Alaska, Georgia, Ohio, Nevada, and Iowa.

Voter Concerns and Campaign Issues

Economic issues have emerged as a primary concern for voters. According to a recent poll released by Gallup, the top three issues are the economy, healthcare, and the Iran situation. A Gallup poll found that 87% of respondents believe the economy is "extremely important" or "very important."

Other campaign issues include:

• Foreign Policy: Public dissatisfaction with the war in Iran was a focus for the Democratic Party. Additionally, President Trump announced plans to stop approximately $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel starting in 2027, though he stated the US would continue to sell weapons to the nation.
• AI and Infrastructure: The rapid development of AI has driven the construction of large data centers, raising concerns regarding land use, water usage, and power consumption.
• Social Issues: The participation of transgender students in women's sports competitions has been a focus of referendums in multiple states.

Election Day Reports

As of November 2, AP statistics reported that more than 57 million people had voted early, exceeding the number of early voters from the previous midterm election.

Reports of technical and security issues were noted on election day. In New York's Westchester County, an error in updating voting equipment caused some tabulators to temporarily fail to read ballots. In Florida, some polling stations experienced delays due to system failures and flooding. Additionally, a federal prosecutor indicted an Oklahoma man for allegedly sending hundreds of threatening letters containing white powder to government agencies and election offices.

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Sources

• chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese): US Holds 2026 Midterm Elections; Economic Issues Top Voters' Concerns
• rfi.fr (in Chinese): US Midterm Elections Begin; Control of Congress and US-Israel Relations Become Focus
• theguardian.com: US midterm elections 2026 live updates: polls close in some key states as Americans deliver referendum on Trump’s second term

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.