The United States is holding its 2026 midterm elections today, with voters deciding the balance of power in Congress and several state governments halfway through President Donald Trump’s four-year term.
Because of the time difference, it is still the evening of November 2 in Washington at 9 am Nepal time. New York’s polls open at 6 am Eastern Time, about 4:45 pm in Nepal, and close at 9 pm. Hours vary by state.
Midterms do not decide the presidency, and Trump is not on the ballot. The results will nonetheless be read as a national verdict on his administration’s first two years of the second term.
What is at stake
All 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives are being contested, along with 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats, made up of 33 regular elections and two special elections for seats formerly held by Marco Rubio in Florida and JD Vance in Ohio.
Voters will also choose governors in 39 contests, according to the National Governors Association, and state legislators in 46 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Statewide ballot measures are also on the ballot, with the NCSL counting 146 and Ballotpedia 145, because the two use different tracking methods.
Republicans enter with narrow majorities. The House stands at 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats and two vacancies. The Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber for a majority.
Control matters for committee agendas, investigations and oversight of the administration. The Senate also confirms judges and senior officials. Even if Democrats win a chamber, Trump remains president with veto power, and a change in control would not cancel executive actions. Many Senate bills also still need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.
Races to watch
Closely watched Senate contests include Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Maine and North Carolina.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988. In Michigan, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over her party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, in a dispute tied to divisions over Israel.
Issues
The cost of living has dominated the campaign, including groceries, housing, healthcare and fuel. An AP-NORC poll found only 17 percent of US adults approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living and 26 percent of his overall handling of the economy.
Democrats have also criticised tariffs and the eight-month war with Iran, while Republicans defend their economic and border policies.
Immigration enforcement is another central dispute, with Democrats raising concerns about detention and due process and Republicans backing stricter controls.
Abortion measures are on ballots in states including Idaho, Missouri, Nevada and Virginia.
Early voting
More than 57 million ballots had been cast by Monday in 47 states and Washington, DC, compared with fewer than 44.5 million early ballots in 49 states and DC in 2022.
What it means for Nepali in US
Students, skilled workers and families from Nepal in the US are affected by student visa, H-1B, green card and enforcement policies. Congress can pass immigration laws, fund agencies and hold oversight hearings, while the president and agencies largely control implementation. A change in control would not automatically alter any existing visa or application.
It could also influence debate on foreign assistance and trade, though it would not by itself change US policy towards Nepal.
