What Are Midterm Elections?

Midterm elections happen halfway through a president's four-year term. They're called "midterms" because they fall in the middle of the presidential cycle. The next midterms are on November 3, 2026.

What's on the Ballot?

• All 435 House seats — Representatives serve 2-year terms, so they're always up
• 33-34 Senate seats — One-third of the Senate is up every 2 years
• Governor races — 36 states elect governors in midterm years
• State legislatures — Thousands of state-level seats
• Ballot measures — Direct votes on state policy issues

The Midterm Effect

Here's a pattern that's held for almost a century: the president's party almost always loses seats in midterm elections.

Why Do Fewer People Vote in Midterms?

Historically, midterm turnout is 20-30% lower than presidential elections. In 2020, about 155 million people voted. In 2022, it was about 113 million. Many people simply don't realize these elections are happening or don't think they matter.

But here's the thing: the laws that affect your daily life — taxes, healthcare, education, infrastructure — are shaped by Congress. Midterms decide who controls Congress.