US midterm elections: what is at stake in the Senate, House and governor races
US midterm congressional elections are under way, deciding all House seats, part of the Senate and 36 state governorships. Democrats need 218 House seats for control, while Republicans are defending their majority.
Voters across the United States are taking part in midterm elections, choosing a new Congress and the leaders of many states. The results will determine whether the Democratic or Republican party controls the legislature for the rest of the presidential term. The first results are expected after 18.00 Eastern time (23.00 GMT), with winners called by the Associated Press news agency.
House of Representatives
The US Congress has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 435 seats, all contested every two years. Republicans are currently defending a majority, while Democrats hold 212 seats and need 218 for control. According to the Cook Political Report, a political analysis publication, Democrats are now favoured in enough seats to take the chamber even without winning any of the 18 "toss-up" seats. Republicans are favoured in 195 seats; to win, they would have to take all 18 toss-ups and flip five more seats that lean Democratic.
Senate
The Senate has 100 members serving six-year terms. This year 33 senators are being elected in regular contests, alongside two special elections in Florida and Ohio, held because Marco Rubio and JD Vance resigned to join the executive branch after the 2024 presidential election. Republicans held the majority before the vote. Cook classifies six Senate races as genuine toss-ups, and Democrats need to win at least three of them.
Governors
Governor elections are taking place in 36 states and three territories. Before the vote, Republicans and Democrats each held 18 of these state governorships, and three incumbent governors are retiring.
Special voting rules
Some states use different procedures. Georgia and Louisiana require the winner to receive 50% of votes, otherwise a runoff is held. Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting, in which voters rank candidates by preference.
