03.11.2026 22:42
Millions of voters in the US went to the polls for historic midterm elections that will determine the political balance in Donald Trump’s second term and the road map for his remaining two years. The elections, taking place across a wide range from who will retain control of Congress to gubernatorial races, have the potential to upend the balance of power in Washington. So how does the system work, and how will the results affect the world? Here are the US elections in numbers...
Millions of voters in the US went to the polls for midterm elections that will determine the political balance in the remaining two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. In the elections, all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 seats of the 100-member Senate, and the governors of 36 states are being determined. So what do the midterms mean in the US, what is the difference between Congress and the Senate, and how will the results affect the Trump administration? Here are the US elections in numbers.
In the midterm elections held in the United States on November 3, 2026, a broad political roster ranging from the country’s federal government to state governments is being reshaped.
At the center of the elections is which party will take control of Congress, the legislative branch of the US.
While the Republican Party wants to preserve its majority in Congress during the remaining two years of President Donald Trump’s term, the Democratic Party aims to increase its oversight power over the administration by winning a majority in at least one chamber.
THE 2026 US MIDTERM ELECTIONS IN NUMBERS
435: The number of seats up for election in the House of Representatives.
100: The total number of members of the US Senate.
35: Senate seats up for grabs in this election.
36: The number of states holding gubernatorial elections.
50: The total number of US states.
218: The number of seats required for a majority in the House of Representatives.
51: The number of seats that provides a majority in the Senate without counting the vice president’s tie-breaking vote.
2 years: The term length of House members.
6 years: The term length of senators.
4 years: The term length of the US president.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONGRESS, THE SENATE, AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?
Congress, the legislative branch in the US, consists of two separate chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives consists of 435 members determined according to the populations of the states. All members are elected by the people every two years.
The Senate consists of 100 members. Each of the 50 US states is represented by two senators, regardless of population.
Because senators serve six-year terms, not all of them are renewed in the same election. Every two years, about one-third of the Senate is up for election.
In the 2026 elections, two special elections in Florida and Ohio are added to the 33 regular Senate races. Thus, votes are cast for a total of 35 Senate seats.
IN THE US, GOVERNORS ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE
One of the important points where US elections differ from Turkey is the governorship system.
In Turkey, governors are appointed by the central government, whereas in the US, state governors take office directly through the votes of the electorate.
In the 2026 midterm elections, gubernatorial races are being held in 36 states.
Governors have significant powers over issues such as the state budget, education, public safety, and the implementation of state laws. For this reason, gubernatorial elections are also closely followed for the country’s political future.
Depending on their state, voters can also vote for state assembly members, attorneys general, some judicial officials, and local administrators.
WHY IS IT CRITICAL FOR TRUMP ?
In midterm elections, the US president is not re-elected. However, the president’s political support in Congress can change.
If Trump’s Republican Party maintains its majority in both chambers, it may be easier for the administration to advance its legislative agenda.
If the Democrats win the House of Representatives, oversight activities by congressional committees, budget negotiations, and investigations into the administration’s policies may gain greater importance.
If the Democrats also gain a majority in the Senate, this could narrow the Trump administration’s room for maneuver, especially regarding high-level federal appointments and the confirmation of judicial nominees.
However, a change in the congressional majority in midterm elections does not mean the president automatically leaves office.
HOW MANY SEATS DO THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO WIN?
Before the election, Republicans hold the majority in the Senate with 53 seats. When the two independent senators who act with the Democrats are included, the opposing bloc has 47 seats.
For the Democrats to gain a majority in the Senate, they need to win a net four seats.
In the House of Representatives, 218 seats are sufficient for a majority. Because of the Republicans’ narrow majority, even a small number of districts changing hands could shift the political balance.
WHEN WILL THE RESULTS COME IN TURKEY TIME?
Because the US is in different time zones, the polls do not close at the same time.
The first poll closings will begin around 02:00 Turkey time on Wednesday, November 4.
After the first results, close races, especially in critical states, will be watched. However, due to mail-in votes and different counting rules in the states, it may take days for some elections to be finalized.
A distinction must be made between the projected winners announced on election night and the results officially certified by state authorities.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY?
The political balance in the US Congress can affect not only the country’s domestic policy but also its foreign policy decisions.
In Turkey–US relations, Congress has significant powers over topics such as the defense industry, sanctions, trade, NATO, the Middle East, and regional security.
In particular, defense budgets, legal processes regarding arms sales, and sanctions regulations can be affected by the political balance in Congress.
Therefore, the 2026 midterm elections are being followed closely not only in terms of the power struggle in Washington but also by countries with close relations with the US, including Turkey.
And the main question of the election is clear: Will American voters give Trump’s Republican Party the chance to preserve its majority in Congress, or will they leave him facing a different legislative balance in the remaining two years of his presidency?