2026 Midterm Elections Guide: Key Races, Dates and How to Vote in Massachusetts

The 2026 midterm elections take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Voters nationwide will choose all 435 voting members of the U.S. House, 35 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats and 36 governors, and the results will decide which party controls Congress when the new term begins in January 2027. In Massachusetts, the voter registration deadline is Saturday, Oct. 24, and early in-person voting runs through Friday, Oct. 30.

When is Election Day 2026?

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Midterms fall halfway through a president's four-year term, so no presidential race is on the ballot. Federal, state and local offices are.

In Massachusetts, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Elections Division. Voters who are in line at 8 p.m. are allowed to cast a ballot.

What is on the ballot nationally in 2026?

Three groups of high-profile offices are up this year:

U.S. House: All 435 voting seats. The House says its members serve two-year terms and are elected by the voters of a single congressional district, with seats divided among the states by population.
U.S. Senate: 35 seats, according to Reuters. That includes the 33 senators in what the Senate calls Class II, whose six-year terms end on Jan. 3, 2027, plus special elections for seats that changed hands mid-term.
Governors: 36 governorships, according to an elections preview by VoteHub.

Most states also elect legislators, attorneys general and other statewide officers, and many have ballot measures. Massachusetts voters will see nine statewide questions.

How is control of Congress decided?

Each chamber is decided separately.

In the House, a party needs a majority of the 435 voting seats, or at least 218, to control the chamber and elect the speaker. Because every seat is on the ballot, the entire House majority is in play each cycle. Delegates from Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories serve in the House but, per the House's own description, cannot vote when the full House meets.

In the Senate, only about one-third of seats are contested in any election. The Senate explains that its members are divided into three classes with staggered six-year terms, so roughly two-thirds of senators carry over from one Congress to the next.

Reuters reported that Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority and that Democrats would need to gain four seats to take control. The 120th Congress is scheduled to convene in January 2027, when the current Class II terms expire.

What are the key Senate races in 2026?

Reuters identified a set of contests it considers most likely to shape the majority. Several involve open seats created by retirements.

State	Current holder	Why it is watched (per Reuters)
North Carolina	Open (R; Sen. Thom Tillis retiring)	Former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vs. former RNC Chair Michael Whatley (R)
Maine	Sen. Susan Collins (R)	Five-term incumbent in a state Democrats target
Georgia	Sen. Jon Ossoff (D)	Republicans held a crowded May primary to choose a challenger
Michigan	Open (D; Sen. Gary Peters retiring)	Republican Mike Rogers is running for the seat
New Hampshire	Open (D; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen retiring)	Rep. Chris Pappas (D) is running; Republicans held a September primary
Ohio	Sen. Jon Husted (R)	Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is challenging the appointed incumbent
Alaska	Sen. Dan Sullivan (R)	Democrat Mary Peltola entered the race
Texas	Sen. John Cornyn (R)	Contested primaries in both parties
Minnesota	Open (D; Sen. Tina Smith retiring)	Open seat that drew contested primaries

Because Democrats would need a net gain to win the chamber, Reuters noted they must both hold the seats they are defending and flip Republican-held seats. Candidates' standing in polls shifts through the fall, so readers should check current, attributed polling averages before Election Day.

Which governor races are on the ballot?

Of the 36 governorships up in 2026, VoteHub's preview flagged several in closely divided states:

Arizona: Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is seeking another term.
Georgia: Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, leaving an open seat.
Michigan: VoteHub expected a three-way contest that includes independent candidate Mike Duggan.
Nevada: Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is seeking reelection.
Pennsylvania: Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is seeking reelection.
Wisconsin: Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is not seeking a third term.

Massachusetts also elects a governor and lieutenant governor this year, who appear on the ballot as a joint ticket in the general election.

What are the key dates for the 2026 midterms?

Date	What happens
Sept. 1, 2026	Massachusetts state primary (already held)
Oct. 17–30, 2026	Massachusetts early in-person voting
Oct. 20, 2026	Recommended date to apply online for a Massachusetts mail ballot
Oct. 24, 2026	Massachusetts voter registration deadline
Oct. 27, 2026, 5 p.m.	Deadline for Massachusetts mail ballot applications to be received
Nov. 3, 2026	Election Day; Massachusetts polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Jan. 3, 2027	Current Class II Senate terms expire

Dates and deadlines differ by state. Voters outside Massachusetts should confirm rules with their state or local election office.

Massachusetts voters: what you need to know

Who and what is on the Massachusetts ballot?

According to the Elections Division's 2026 candidate guide, Massachusetts voters will choose:

Federal: U.S. senator and U.S. representative
Statewide: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, treasurer and auditor
District: Governor's Council, state senator, state representative and district attorney
County: register of probate, county commissioner and county treasurer in applicable counties, plus a Franklin County sheriff vacancy

Voters will also decide nine binding statewide ballot questions, and some districts have additional non-binding questions.

What is the deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts?

The deadline is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. The Elections Division says voters can register online until 11:59 p.m. that day, by a mail form postmarked by Oct. 24, or in person at a local election office by 5 p.m.

Massachusetts driver's license holders can register online at VoteInMA.com. Others can use a paper form by mail or in person.

When is early voting in Massachusetts?

Early in-person voting runs from Saturday, Oct. 17, through Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. State officials say every city and town must offer early voting hours on both weekends of that period, though many communities offer limited or no hours on Fridays. Local schedules are posted at VoteInMA.com.

How do I vote by mail in Massachusetts?

Any registered voter may vote by mail without giving a reason. The state mailed applications to registered voters earlier in the year, and voters can also apply online or print a form.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, but the Elections Division recommends applying online by Oct. 20 to leave time for the ballot to travel by mail.

Completed ballots can be returned:

by mail
in a secure drop box in your city or town
at an early voting location in your community during early voting
at your local election office

If a ballot has not been mailed within a week of Election Day, state officials strongly advise using a drop box or returning it in person.

Frequently asked questions

What time do polls close in Massachusetts on Election Day?

Polls in Massachusetts are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2026. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. may still vote, according to the Elections Division.

How many Senate seats are up in 2026?

Reuters reported that 35 of the Senate's 100 seats are on the ballot. That figure includes the 33 regularly scheduled Class II seats plus special elections.

How many seats does a party need to control the House?

A party needs at least 218 of the 435 voting seats for a majority. All House seats are elected every two years.

Can I register to vote on Election Day in Massachusetts?

Not under current law. The registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 24, although Question 4 on this year's ballot asks voters whether to allow Election Day registration starting in 2028.

What is the last day to request a mail ballot in Massachusetts?

Applications must reach your local election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2026. The state recommends applying earlier, by Oct. 20 online, so the ballot can be returned in time.

Where can I check my Massachusetts voter registration?

Voters can check or update their registration at VoteInMA.com, the Secretary of the Commonwealth's voter website. The Elections Division also takes questions at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683).