Americans Go to the Polls With the Balance of Power in Congress Undecided

By EC Assets · Published 26 October 2026 · Updated 26 October 2026

On 3 November, Americans vote in the first nationwide federal election since 2024.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are on the ballot. So are 35 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 governorships, alongside thousands of state and local offices.

The presidency is not. Donald Trump remains in the White House whatever the result. What voters decide is how much room he has to govern for the rest of his term.

Control of both chambers is closely contested. Democrats are seen as modest favourites to retake the House, while Republicans reportedly hold the edge in the Senate. A split result would mean divided government for the second half of the term.

History leans in one direction. The president's party usually loses ground at the midterms.

At EC Assets, the focus is less on individual races than on what each outcome means for the legislative calendar. Spending, taxation, trade and regulation all run through Congress, and a change in either chamber changes what can realistically pass.

Results may also take time. In 2022, control of the House was not called until more than a week after polling day. Close races, recounts and late-counted ballots can stretch the outcome well beyond election night.

For the firm, that makes election week a process rather than a single evening.

The White House is not on the ballot. Almost everything it wants to pass is.