The 2026 midterm elections are entering their decisive final stretch, with early voting underway in Texas and voters across the United States preparing to decide control of Congress on November 3.
Texas opened in-person early voting on Monday, October 19, and will continue accepting early ballots through Friday, October 30.
The state’s general election will be held Tuesday, November 3.
The contest is taking place during President Donald Trump’s second term and will determine the balance of power in Washington for the final two years of his current presidency.
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What is at stake in the 2026 midterm elections
The 2026 midterm elections include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the 100-member Senate.
The results will decide which party controls each chamber for the next two years.
Voters will also choose governors, state legislators and local officials in many states.
Ballot contents, registration deadlines and early-voting schedules vary by state, meaning voters must check the rules issued by their own election authority.
Unlike a presidential election, there is no national vote for one executive office.
Instead, the outcome will be determined by hundreds of separate congressional and state-level contests.
Why the final weeks matter
The closing phase of the campaign is bringing increased attention to competitive Senate and House races, where relatively small shifts in turnout could affect the composition of Congress.
Ohio is among the closely watched Senate contests.
A Marist poll released October 20 showed Democrat Sherrod Brown four points ahead of Republican Jon Husted among likely voters, while the poll also found Democrats with an advantage in the state’s gubernatorial race.
Texas is also drawing national attention because Democrat James Talarico is challenging Republican Ken Paxton for a Senate seat in a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide in more than three decades, according to current campaign coverage.
The campaigns are also increasingly focused on turnout rather than persuasion.
Trump has been travelling to Republican-leaning states and urging supporters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his administration, while Democratic candidates are emphasizing issues including household costs, health care and the direction of federal policy.
Texas voters have already begun casting ballots
Texas officials said the state has a record 19 million registered voters for the November election, representing a 2.2 per cent increase from the November 2024 general election and a 2 per cent increase from the March 2026 primary.
The state’s registration deadline was October 5.
Early voting runs from October 19 to October 30, while the deadline to apply for a ballot by mail is October 23.
Texas election officials have also published a detailed calendar covering weekend voting, ballot-by-mail deadlines and Election Day procedures.
Polls are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. local time on November 3, subject to applicable election rules.
Voters elsewhere in the country should not assume that Texas deadlines apply to them.
Some states offer extensive early voting, while others have different rules for absentee ballots, registration and identification.
Election administration remains a major issue
Voting procedures have become a central political issue ahead of the election.
The U.S. Justice Department has taken legal and investigative steps involving alleged non-citizen voting in California, while state and local officials continue to administer elections under their own laws.
Federal courts have also been involved in disputes over mail ballots, voter lists and congressional district maps.
Those cases can affect how ballots are cast or counted in specific jurisdictions, although most voters will continue to receive instructions directly from their state or county election office.
The Federal Election Commission has separately set October 22 as the deadline for monthly filers connected to the 2026 general election to submit their 12-day pre-election reports, providing another snapshot of campaign fundraising before Election Day.
What happens after November 3
Election results may not be final on election night, particularly in close contests where mailed ballots, provisional ballots and recount rules apply.
Once states certify their results, the newly elected members will prepare to take office in January 2027.
The party that controls the House will choose its speaker, while the Senate will organize around its majority leadership and committee structure.
For Canadians, the results will matter beyond U.S. domestic politics.
Congressional control can influence trade legislation, border policy, defence spending, energy policy and the administration’s ability to advance its agenda.
With early voting now underway in Texas and Election Day two weeks away, campaigns are concentrating on turnout operations, last-minute advertising and the battleground states that could decide control of Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 U.S. midterm elections?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state.
Which congressional seats are being contested?
All 435 U.S. House seats and roughly one-third of the U.S. Senate seats are scheduled to be decided.
When does early voting take place in Texas?
Texas early voting runs from Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 30, 2026.
Why are the midterm elections important?
The results determine which party controls the House and Senate and how much influence the president has over legislation.
Will all election results be known on November 3?
Not necessarily. Close races may take longer because of mail ballots, provisional ballots, recount procedures and state certification rules.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, congressional stakes and Texas voting information were checked against U.S. government, Federal Election Commission and Texas Secretary of State information. The temporal wording was updated to reflect that Texas early voting began on October 19, 2026, and that November 3, 2026 is exactly two weeks after October 20, 2026. ([sos.texas.gov](https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Election dates, voting methods and deadlines vary by state, so readers should confirm local requirements with their state or county election authority.