Voters across the United States are casting ballots on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in midterm elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress. All 435 House seats and 34 Senate seats are at stake as Republicans attempt to maintain their current majorities and Democrats seek to reclaim control of both chambers. President Donald Trump, whose second term is at the midpoint, campaigned in the weeks leading up to the election with 28 in-person rallies and a series of telerallies.
On the morning of the election, President Trump announced that the U.S. will terminate its annual $4 billion in military aid to Israel at the end of the year. Speaking to "Fox and Friends," Trump stated he had reached this agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu months ago. While the president did not provide specific details regarding the deal, he cited the discontinuation of the aid as a resolution to a previous "talking point." Oil prices decreased following the announcement.
In foreign policy, the U.S. military conducted strikes on Monday night against an Iranian anti-aircraft facility on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump described the operation, which targeted radar detectors and missile launchers, as a "minor attack" rather than a return to war. The administration is reportedly considering additional strikes on Iran following the midterms. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) accused the Trump administration of attempting to suppress global justice through sanctions, a claim delivered by ICC President Tomoko Akane via videoconference due to U.S. sanctions.
Legal challenges regarding election procedures also reached a head on the eve of the vote. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted late Monday to rehear a case en banc. The case involves a Trump administration effort to require states to sequester mail ballots from suspected noncitizens. In a separate matter, the U.S. Justice Department assured a federal judge on Monday that it had taken "reasonable efforts" to ensure that the record number of election monitors deployed to all 50 states do not include sworn law enforcement officers authorized to make arrests.
The economic impact is a central theme, as voters identified the cost of living as a top issue. In several Senate battleground states, the prices for groceries, gas, and housing have reportedly risen faster than the national average. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected an administration request that California sequester up to 20,000 mail-in ballots from suspected noncitizens.
Final results may not be known immediately, as officials in Westchester County, New York, reported technical issues with ballot scanners that could delay tabulations. While initial race projections will begin after polls close, the final determination of congressional majorities could take time. The next major milestone will be the convening of the new Congress in January 2027, following the certification of results across all 50 states.