Who is on the ballot in the 2026 midterms? All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election on November 3, plus Senate and Governor races too

US midterm elections 2026 are set for November 3, with every seat in the U.S. House up for election and a major group of Senate seats also on the ballot. Several governors’ races are adding to the crowded election calendar. With lawmakers retiring, members of Congress running for other offices and competitive contests taking shape across the country, there is plenty to watch before Election Day, as per a report by UPI.

Who is running for the Senate?

Nine senators have announced plans to leave the chamber in 2026, creating several open-seat races. One of the biggest changes will come in Kentucky, where Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in history, is ending his 40-year career. Four Republicans are retiring, while McConnell’s seat has drawn six Republican candidates and eight Democrats.


Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is leaving the Senate to run for governor. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Michael Bennet of Colorado are also leaving their Senate seats to pursue gubernatorial campaigns.

In Iowa, Sen. Joni Ernst is retiring, leaving an open seat. Republicans are backing Rep. Ashley Hinson, while Democrats have three candidates seeking their party’s nomination: state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek and military veteran Nathan Sage.

North Carolina also has an open Senate race after Sen. Thom Tillis announced his retirement. Former Gov. Roy Cooper is running for Democrats, while former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and Michele Morrow are competing on the Republican side.

Other major Senate races include Ohio, where former Sen. Sherrod Brown is trying to return to the chamber against Sen. Jon Husted, and Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking another term.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins will face a Democratic challenger after that party chooses its nominee. Texas Sen. John Cornyn is also running again but first faces a Republican primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Michigan has an open Senate race following Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ retirement. Republican former congressman Mike Rogers and Democratic candidates including Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow are part of the contest.

Which House races are getting attention?

All 435 House seats are on the November 3 ballot. Several districts are drawing attention because of retirements, party changes and closely watched primaries.

In New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Gabriel Vasquez is facing Republican Greg Cunningham. Arizona’s 6th District is another closely watched contest involving Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democratic candidates JoAnna Mendoza and Chris Donat.

Colorado’s 8th District also has a Republican primary challenge against Rep. Gabe Evans. Former Air Force cadet and current Colorado Army Reserve Capt. Adam DeRito has entered the race, while five Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination.

Michigan has several House races to watch. Republican Rep. Tom Barrett is seeking another term in District 7, where seven Democrats have entered the primary. District 10 will be an open race because Rep. John James is running for governor.

In District 4, Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga is seeking re-election after previously delaying his decision. Four Democrats have filed for the primary, including state Sen. Sean McCann.

Several members of Congress are also leaving the House to seek other offices. Eleven members are running for governor, while 18 House members are retiring, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The 2026 midterms will therefore feature much more than the presidential administration’s national agenda. With every House seat on the ballot, dozens of Senate contests and races for governor across the country, voters will be choosing candidates at several levels of government on November 3.

FAQs

How many House seats are up in 2026?
All 435 U.S. House seats are on the November 3 ballot.

Which Senate races are getting the most attention?
Open-seat races include Kentucky, Iowa, North Carolina and Michigan, while Ohio, Georgia, Maine and Texas also feature closely watched contests.