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US midterm elections on November 3, 2026 will decide control of Congress

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, mostly left-leaning (67%).

4 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

US voters go to the polls on November 3, 2026, in midterm elections for the House of Representatives, the Senate and governors, with early voting already under way. Donald Trump is not on the ballot, and the central contest is whether Democrats can win majorities from Republicans in Congress. According to AdImpact, a record $11.6 billion had been spent on political advertising for the 2025–26 cycle as of October 30, with the top spending in Senate races in Texas, Ohio and Michigan. Campaign finance records show Elon Musk alone has spent $442 million to support Republicans. Turnout above 100 million is possible, based on the 2022 midterm.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. The midterm elections are held on November 3, 2026, and voters choose members of the House and Senate.

    One side only: the leftReported byLeft2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Independent, The Guardian

  2. Voters will also choose governors in 36 of the 50 states.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

  3. Democrats are trying to win majorities in Congress from Republicans, with the House and possibly the Senate at stake.

    Reported byLeft2Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Independent, The Guardian
    Center
    Financial Times

  4. Early voting is already underway across the country ahead of Election Day.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

  5. More than 100 million people are likely to vote, if turnout matches the 2022 midterm.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. According to AdImpact, a record $11.6 billion had been spent on political advertising for the 2025–26 cycle as of October 30.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

  2. According to campaign finance records, Elon Musk alone has spent $442 million to support Republicans.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side present reports that the November 3, 2026 midterms will decide control of Congress, with Democrats seeking gains against Republicans. Left outlets stress what is at stake for Trump, record spending and Musk's donations, while the Financial Times centers the key races and a possible blue wave.

  • the left

    2 outlets

    Left headlines frame the vote as explainers on what is at stake for Trump and Congress, with the Guardian asking why the races matter.

    The 2026 midterms, explained: What’s at stake for Trump, Congress, and the balance of power
    The IndependentLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The Financial Times headline points to the key races that will decide the midterms, framing the vote around a possible Democratic blue wave.

    Key races that will decide the US midterm elections
    Financial TimesCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    No coverage yet

    No right-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left1

    rise up to stymie Trump’s agenda

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right

    Has not covered this story.

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    rise up to stymie Trump’s agendaMore neutral: seek to win control and limit Trump’s agenda

    The phrase frames Democrats' aim as a rebellion against the president rather than describing the electoral contest neutrally.

    …Republicans will retain control of Congress or whether Democrats will rise up to stymie Trump’s agenda Donald Trump will still be US president on the morning of 4 November.

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

2 outlets

Leads with

  • What is at stake for Trump's presidency
  • Control of Congress
  • Record spending and Musk's donations
See the 2 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • Key races deciding the midterms
  • Possible Democratic blue wave
  • President as a lame duck
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

0 outlets

No right-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    The Independent, Nov 1, 12:39 PM EST

  • Center

    1 day 2 hr later

    Its first report, Nov 2, 3:12 PM EST

  • Right

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The IndependentLeftNov 1, 12:39 PM EST
  2. The GuardianLeftNov 2, 12:37 PM EST
  3. Financial TimesCenterNov 2, 3:12 PM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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