We will update this article throughout the night as more data becomes available, so keep checking back. DW follows the Associated Press (AP) for when a seat is called for Republicans or Democrats.
In the 2026 midterms, Americans voted on all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 members of the Senate. Before election night, Republicans held the majority in both Congress chambers, if only by a hair. In 36 US states, voters also decided on who will become the next governor.
Midterm elections are held every four years. The results will influence US politics for the next few years. Despite the significant executive power delegated to the presidency according to the US Constitution, the majority of federal political decisions have to be approved by Congress before they can be implemented. If the Democrats win the majority in one or both chambers of Congress, it will be harder for President Donald Trump to govern as he chooses.
Live election results
Polling stations in several eastern states closed at 1 a.m. local time. For more updates, go to our US midterms live blog.
In the US Senate, Democrats retained several of their seats on the East Coast, with Virginia being the first to be called. North Carolina was the first Senate seat Democrats were able to flip, with Roy Cooper winning the election. Republicans have so far retained three seats in Florida, West Virginia and Wyoming.
In the House of Representatives, all 435 seats are up for election.
How did Americans vote: a look at demographics and attitudes
The data on voter demographics and attitudes is based on a representative survey of more than 75,000 verified voters conducted by survey and market research firm SSRS on behalf of AP and other news organizations. It builds on interviews of both early and mail-in voters as well as exit polls of in-person voters on Election Day. Where percentages of Republican and Democratic voters don't add up to 100%, the remaining percent were voters who voted for third-party candidates.
It's the economy, stupid
One of the most important factors in this year's midterms is the economy. Prices for gas have increased significantly since the start of the Iran war, and everyday goods have become more and more expensive across the country as well. Almost half of all Americans say their family's financial situation is worse than two years ago.
That sentiment is not the same across the board though. Among those saying their family is better off than two years ago, 75% voted Republican and 23% Democrat. Among those saying they are worse off, only 24% voted Republican and 72% Democrat. President Trump has been saying that the country is on the upswing.
Immigration, economy, the state of democracy: What's the biggest issue for voters?
On the question of which issue facing the country is most crucial, voters are divided among party lines. Of those who said immigration is the most important issue, 89% voted Republican and only 9% voted Democrat. Anti-immigrant rhetoric has been a mainstay of Trump's speeches. He promised to ramp up deportations at the start of his second term. Many states have seen a sharp increase in activity from federal immigration agencies. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents have been arresting immigrants off the street, even people who have ongoing asylum application processes, for example. Trump and his supporters say these actions are necessary to make the US safer.
Among those who say that the state of democracy is the most pressing issue in the US, 77% voted Democrat. Congressional Democrats and their supporters have been saying they are concerned about how Trump ignores direct judicial orders, for example to halt deportations, or Congressional resolutions. Among those saying the economy is the most important issue, there's an almost even split of Republican and Democratic voters.
Low approval ratings for Trump
Trump is not on the ballot, but the midterms are considered a referendum on how he and his Republicans governed the country for the past two years. Most recently, Trump's approval ratings have fallen to the lowest he has ever had, with just under 30% of Americans saying they think he is doing a good job.
In recent history, only George W. Bush has fared worse, with 25% at the end of his second term. During the 2006 midterm election, Bush's Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress.
Exit polls showed that half of voters saw the 2026 midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke the president. Three-quarters of US voters said they are "angry" or "dissatisfied" with the way the country is headed.
According to the AP Voter Poll, dissatisfaction was very high in Democratic-leaning states such as California and Massachusetts. However, even in Republican-leaning states, a majority of voters were at least "dissatisfied."
Can the Democrats flip Congress?
Before Tuesday's election, Republicans (and independents who caucus with them) held 53 of 100 seats in the Senate and 220 of 435 seats in the House. That means they only held two more seats than the 218 required for a majority. In recent years, such razor-thin majorities have been the lay of the land, especially in the House of Representatives.