US Midterm Elections: A Vote That Could Change the Balance of Power On November 3, 2026, the US midterm elections are taking place. They take place right in the middle of a four-year presidential term and allow voters to renew the composition of Congress without waiting for the next presidential election. What do Americans choose? House of Representatives. All 435 members of the lower house are re-elected. The term of office of members of Congress is two years. Senate. The elections are on the agenda for 35 of the 100 seats: 33 permanent seats and two special seats for elections. Senators are elected for six years, so about a third of the composition of the chamber is renewed. Governors and local authorities. At the same time, several countries are holding elections for governors, legislatures and local officials. Why are these choices important? The US president is not re-elected, but the balance of power in Congress may change significantly. If the president's party loses a majority in at least one of the chambers, it will be more difficult for the administration to carry out legislative initiatives, approve the budget and implement the political plan. Congress also has broad powers of parliamentary oversight, including investigations of the executive branch. How does voting work? The American election system includes several stages: First, internal primaries are held in the party, in which party candidates are determined. Then a general election is held. In most states, the winner is the candidate who receives more votes than his opponents. The organization of the elections is given by the state and local election authorities. There is no unified federal election commission similar to the Central Election Commission of Russia in the United States. The results of the midterm elections will determine the composition of the 120th US Congress, which will begin work on January 3, 2027.