US voters cast 2026 midterm ballots with Congress at stake
Why it matters: The outcome could shift the balance of power in Washington in the first nationwide vote since Donald Trump returned to office.
Voters across the United States headed to the polls Tuesday in the 2026 midterm elections, with control of Congress hanging in the balance. The nationwide vote is set to decide seats in the House and Senate and will shape how much room the next Congress has to advance or block the White House agenda. Images from polling places showed voters lining up and casting ballots in states including Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, California, Connecticut and Minnesota. The election comes amid deep political divisions and intense national attention on turnout, local administration and the first broad electoral test since Donald Trump returned to the presidency.