US midterm elections: Democrats lead in polls, early voting surges

Ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, a national poll shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 45%, and over 57 million Americans have already voted. The House race favors Democrats, while the Senate contest is tight.

57 million Americans have already voted in the US midterm elections, and the battle for control of Congress is entering its final stretch. Polls indicate an advantage for Democrats in the House of Representatives, where they need a net gain of just three seats to secure a majority. In the Senate, the picture is more complex: Democrats need four additional seats, but the races are tight. Republicans currently hold a majority in both chambers. Losing control of either chamber would make it harder for Trump to advance legislation, budgets, and appointments, and could lead to investigations against the administration. In a speech last night in Washington, Trump called the vote 'the most important midterm elections of our lives' and urged his supporters to turn out at the polls. Historically, the party of the sitting president tends to lose seats in midterm elections. According to reports, the Trump administration is expected to challenge some of the results in the event of a defeat.