US midterm elections: Exit poll shows 6 in every 10 Americans feel Iran war was a 'wrong decision'

The 2026 US midterm elections saw Americans voting on all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats. Prior to election night, Republicans held a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress. Midterm elections are held every four years, halfway between presidential elections, and their results shape US politics for the following years.

Despite the presidency's significant executive power in the US Constitution, most federal decisions require congressional approval. If Democrats gain control in one or both chambers of Congress, it would make President Donald Trump's governance more challenging.

As the US comprises six time zones, results trickled in over time, starting from the East Coast and moving westward. The Associated Press (AP) confirmed when a seat was called for either Republicans or Democrats.

Democrats won the first contested Senate race in Virginia, and in six other states like Massachusetts, Illinois, and Georgia, they retained their Senate seats. In the House of Representatives, 435 seats were up for election.

The voter demographics and attitudes data came from a survey of over 75,000 verified voters by SSRS, working with AP and other news organizations. This survey incorporated interviews with early and mail-in voters, as well as exit polls of in-person voters on Election Day, November 3.

While not on the ballot, former President Donald Trump significantly influenced the midterms, viewed as a referendum on his two-year governance. His approval ratings fell to their lowest, with only 30% of Americans believing he was doing a good job. Only George W. Bush experienced a worse approval rating during his second term at 25%.

The 2026 midterm elections served as an opportunity for voters to express their dissatisfaction with the president's leadership. In exit polls, half of the voters saw this election as a chance to criticize Trump. Three-quarters of US voters expressed anger or dissatisfaction with the country's direction.

Before Tuesday's election, Republicans (and independents who aligned with them) held 53 of the 100 Senate seats and 220 of the 435 House seats. This means they only needed two more seats to gain a majority, illustrating how thin the Republicans' majority typically is, especially in the House of Representatives.