Midterm Turnout Near 49%, Second Highest in a Century; Democrats Have Won 252 House Seats
Voter turnout in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections is estimated at nearly half of all eligible Americans. Preliminary data from the University of Florida Election Lab put national turnout at about 49% of eligible voters, according to reporting by The Washington Post on November 7. If it holds, 2026 would be the second-highest midterm turnout in more than a century, behind only 2018. The estimate is provisional and could change as remaining ballots are counted and participation data are finalized.
The high turnout accompanied a Democratic sweep. The Associated Press's live tally shows Democrats have won 252 of the 435 House seats, leading in nine more; Republicans have won 161, leading in 13 more. In the House popular vote, Democrats received 63,727,803 votes to 48,921,843 for Republicans, a lead of nearly 15 million.
Reuters' analysis of the election identified affordability and frustration over rising prices as central issues. The war with Iran and its economic consequences also contributed to voter dissatisfaction. The new Congress convenes in January 2027, when Democrats will gain control of congressional committees and stronger authority to investigate executive-branch decisions, while Trump retains the presidency and veto power.
Source: The Washington Post
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：选民在华盛顿特区一处投票站登记。Voters check in at a polling station in Washington, DC. (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)
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