US midterm elections are held halfway through a president’s four-year term and can significantly shape the direction of the country for the remainder of that presidency. While presidential elections draw global attention, midterms determine which party controls the two chambers of Congress and, in turn, much of the legislative agenda.
The elections focus primarily on the US House of Representatives and the Senate. All 435 House seats are contested because members serve two-year terms. Senators serve six-year terms, with roughly one-third of the Senate’s 100 seats up for election during each midterm.
