Politics: What are the U.S. midterm elections?

Note: The following article was written by Shreyas Sathyaram L6 

Everyone knows about the U.S. presidential election, which takes place every four years. But have you heard of the midterm elections? They take place halfway through a president’s four-year term and decide who represents the public in Congress.

Congress has two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. One of its main responsibilities is to make and pass federal laws, which apply across the country. The midterm results determine which party controls each chamber of Congress and can affect how easily the president can carry out their plans.

Midterm elections are usually held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election. Around one-third of the Senate’s 100 seats are also contested.

Many state and local elections take place at the same time. Thirty-four states elect their governors to four-year terms during midterm years. Vermont and New Hampshire elect governors to two-year terms, so they hold gubernatorial elections in both midterm and presidential election years. As a result, 36 states elect governors during a typical midterm year. Elections for state legislatures, mayors and other local offices may also be held, alongside votes on public initiatives.

The most recent midterm elections took place in 2022. After those elections, the Senate had 51 members in the Democratic caucus, including three independents, and 49 Republicans. The next midterms are scheduled for 3 November 2026. The main issues voters are considering include the war in Iran, inflation, immigration and tariffs.

Midterm results are often seen as a measure of how voters feel about the president’s performance. They can also affect the political landscape ahead of the next presidential election, in 2028. This makes the midterms important for decisions made in the United States and for the country’s role in international affairs.