# Election Day 2026: Congress Battle Intensifies

> Republicans defend House majority as Democrats target Senate flips ahead of 2026 midterms.
- Title: Election Day 2026: Congress Battle Intensifies · Fox News
- Summary: Republicans defend House majority as Democrats target Senate flips ahead of 2026 midterms. Democrats aim to flip U.S. House control while Republicans fight…
- Keywords: election day, congress, house, senate, midterms, 2026, democrats, republicans, fox news, power rankings, ballot measures, governors
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/battle-congress-just-beginning-heres-whats-stake-election-day
- Author: Paul Steinhauser
- Published: 2026-11-02T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: election day, congress, house, senate, midterms, 2026, democrats, republicans, fox news, power rankings, ballot measures, governors
## Election Day 2026
Voters head to polls to determine control of U.S. House and Senate for next two years.
## Trump's Prediction
Trump claims GOP will hold House and Senate for final two years of presidency.

> we're going to win and let's make the next two years bigger and better and stronger than ever before
## Historical Challenge
GOP historically loses seats in midterm elections despite current power in Washington.
## Early Voting Records
Over 54 million ballots cast in early voting, nine million more than 2022 midterms.
## Power Rankings Shift
Kansas Senate race shifts from Lean Republican to Toss-up in Fox News rankings.
## Senate Race Dynamics
Democrats need four net seats to win Senate majority; Republicans need 50 seats to retain control.
## House Race Dynamics
Democrats need three net seats to reach 218 for House majority; GOP hangs on razor-thin majority.
## Governor Races
26 Republican and 24 Democratic governors with three toss-up states for GOP.
## Ballot Measures
145 statewide ballot measures on voting rights and policy in 36 states.
## Key Ballot Issues
California's wealth tax and Washington state's millionaires tax on income over $1 million.
## Poll Closing Timeline
Polls close from 6 p.m. to midnight ET with final closures in Hawaii and Alaska.
## Election Outcome
Democrats aim to flip House control while Republicans fight to retain Senate majorities.
## Key takeaway

Democrats aim to flip U.S. House control while Republicans fight to retain Senate majorities in 2026 midterms.