Currently, Republicans control both chambers of Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate. Midterm elections are held halfway through a U.S. president’s four-year term and have a substantial impact on Congress. Across the 50 states, voters elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives, around a third of the Senate and many local officials. The party that controls Congress after the midterms significantly influences how easily the president can pass legislation. Beyond Washington, midterms also impact state and local issues, like housing and public safety.
