US voters will go to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide which party controls Congress. All 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate are up for election. Republicans currently control both chambers, and losing even one would make it harder for President Donald Trump to pass laws and budgets. Trump's approval rating, around 37 per cent, is expected to influence the result, as presidents' parties typically lose House seats at midterms. Results may come in on Wednesday, November 4, Australian time, though close races could take days to call.
Senators Ron Wyden and Adam Schiff say the Trump administration is illegally withholding a secret court ruling from Congress. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court objected to search filters that let analysts pull Americans' messages from intercepted data without required approvals, yet approved another year of surveillance. The administration's own 180-day release deadline passed in September. The senators have demanded an explanation and the names of responsible officials by November 6. Section 702 lapsed in June, though collection continues under the court's March approval.
Elon Musk has become the biggest known donor for this US midterm cycle, giving about $US442 million to Republican groups while staying off the campaign trail. Forecasters say Democrats are likely to win the House of Representatives, and control of the Senate is a toss-up. If Democrats gain power in Congress, they have said they will pursue investigations into Mr Musk's dealings, including the restriction of Starlink and Starshield services to Ukraine. Mr Musk could be called to testify or produce documents, and Congress could limit government contracts with his companies.
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US authorities carried out a pre-dawn search of the Washington-area home of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. A person familiar with the investigation said it relates to alleged immigration fraud, including paperwork her late father completed when she was a child. A Justice Department spokesperson said the search was part of an ongoing federal investigation. Omar called the search an attempt to target political enemies. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accused President Donald Trump of abusing his power weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
