Americans are heading to the polls on Election Day 2026 to decide control of the U.S. House and Senate for the next two years. Republicans are working to maintain their narrow congressional majorities, though President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about the GOP holding both chambers.

"We're going to win and let's make the next two years bigger and better and stronger than ever before," Trump told supporters at a recent rally in Kansas. However, the party in power historically loses seats during midterm elections, and the current political climate is shaped by persistent inflation and President Trump's approval ratings.

Early voting has seen record numbers, with over 54 million ballots cast, exceeding the previous midterm election record by nearly nine million. While early voting has traditionally favored Democrats, Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters stated, "If our voters turn out, we win," emphasizing the importance of Election Day turnout.

President Trump has been actively campaigning, holding numerous rallies to energize the GOP base. The upcoming elections are crucial not only for congressional control but also for gubernatorial races in 36 states and legislative elections in nearly all states, alongside 145 statewide ballot measures.

The Fox News Power Rankings, along with other nonpartisan handicappers, suggest Democrats are favored to retake the House, while the Senate remains a toss-up. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin highlighted the potential for Democrats to "flip the House, take back the Senate, and stop Trump’s harmful agenda."

Senate Control

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to secure the majority. Republicans aim to hold at least 50 seats, with Vice President JD Vance providing a tie-breaking vote if needed. Several states, including Kansas, Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas, are considered toss-ups or lean Republican, while Democrats are defending seats in Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire.

House Control

The GOP's majority in the House is precarious, requiring a net gain of just three seats for Democrats to achieve the 218 needed for control. Projections suggest Democrats could reach up to 240 seats, while a strong performance by Republicans could still leave them short of a majority but capable of impeding a Democratic speaker.

Gubernatorial Races

With 26 Republican and 24 Democratic governors currently in office, this election cycle features gubernatorial races in 36 states. Key states like Alaska, Nevada, Georgia, and Wisconsin are rated as toss-ups, while others such as Florida, Kansas, and Texas lean Republican, and Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Oregon lean Democrat.

Ballot Measures

A variety of ballot measures are also being decided across the country. These include voter identification requirements, bans on noncitizen voting, and potential changes to voting systems in states like Alaska. California's Proposition 40 proposes a wealth tax on billionaires, while other states are voting on issues ranging from income taxes to transgender participation in sports and abortion rights.

Polls are set to close starting at 6 p.m. ET, with the final polls closing at 1 a.m. ET across various time zones.