Politics
The United States will hold midterm elections on November 3, 2026, to elect members of the House of Representatives,
The United States will hold midterm elections on November 3, 2026, to elect members of the House of Representatives, senators and governors in 36 states. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party faces the challenge of retaining its majorities in Congress, while Democrats are seeking to gain control of both chambers. Early voting has been underway for several weeks.
The significance of the elections is reflected in the record $3.8 billion spent on political campaigns by October 12. According to AdImpact, an organisation that tracks political advertising expenditure, billionaire technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has also spent approximately $366 million supporting Republican candidates. If voter turnout matches the level recorded in the 2022 midterm elections, more than 100 million Americans could cast ballots this year. However, that would be fewer than the more than 155 million votes cast in the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans currently hold a narrow advantage in the House of Representatives, with 218 seats compared with 214 held by Democrats. Two seats are vacant, while one independent member aligns with Republicans. Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to take control of the House. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47. Democrats would also need to gain four additional seats to secure a majority.
Approximately 10 competitive Senate races, including those in Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and Georgia, could help determine control of the chamber. If Democrats win the House, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries could become speaker. He would be the first Black American to hold the position and could play a central role in launching congressional investigations into the Trump administration.
According to a September poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos, Trump’s approval rating had fallen to 32 percent. Inflation, rising prices of essential goods and the administration’s immigration policies could influence the election results. Some analysts suggest that Latino voters who supported Trump in 2024 could shift towards Democrats because of economic pressures and concerns about immigration policies. However, a clear Democratic advantage is not assured. Republicans could benefit from higher campaign spending, reservations among some voters about Democrats and political disputes surrounding the nomination of left-wing candidates.
In U.S. political history, midterm elections have often presented challenges for the party controlling the White House. In 2010, during Barack Obama’s presidency, Republicans gained 63 seats in the House of Representatives, taking the majority from Democrats. In 2018, during Trump’s first presidential term, Democrats recorded a net gain of 40 House seats. Voters will also elect members of state legislatures in contests across nearly all states. State authorities are responsible for administering elections. However, Trump’s repeated claims of election fraud have prompted discussion about potential legal disputes and concerns over possible federal intervention. If Republicans retain their congressional majorities, Speaker Mike Johnson or another Republican could remain in the position. The party could continue to focus on further tax cuts, increased defence spending and reductions in social welfare programs.
U.S. President Donald Trump was forced to pause his speech briefly after disorder and a physical altercation broke out during a campaign rally in Clemson, South Carolina, held in support of Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. According to details of the incident, Trump was addressing a rally at Clemson University’s T. Ed Garrison Arena when several protesters in the audience began chanting slogans against him.
Tensions escalated when an argument broke out between a Trump supporter and protesters who were being removed by security personnel. During the confrontation, one supporter punched a protester. Security officers responded immediately restrained the alleged assailant and escorted the protesters out of the venue. Trump paused his speech as he watched the incident unfold from the stage. He praised the supporter who threw the punch, saying sarcastically, “That was amazing. I loved it.” He also asked whether those involved were safe and instructed police to remove the protesters from the venue. The incident occurred amid heightened political activity and tensions in the run-up to the November midterm elections. Similar confrontations and exchanges of hostile slogans between protesters and supporters have also been reported at several previous Trump campaign rallies.
