Polls Open in US Midterms With Congress Control and Iran War Policy in Play

Voting in the US midterm elections began on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (12 Aban 1405) in several states, including Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut and Kentucky. According to Al Jazeera, all 435 House seats and 35 of the Senate's 100 seats are being contested, and 36 states are also electing governors. More than 57 million Americans have already cast early ballots.

Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and a four-seat House majority. Al Jazeera reports that Democrats have campaigned on addressing the cost-of-living crisis and ending Trump's war on Iran, and are eyeing historic gains; it also cites a poll putting Trump's approval rating near a record low. The first results are expected after polls begin to close at 23:00 GMT, which is 02:30 Tehran time on Wednesday, November 4 (13 Aban), and final results could take days.