The Midterm Elections: Everything you need to know

By Chiara Santopietro

MIDTERM elections happen every two years in the United States, halfway through a

president’s term. November 3rd, 2026 marks the midterm election for President Trump’s second presidency, and voting is more important than ever. Midterms decide who gets a seat in Congress and many other state offices.

During midterms, all seats in the House of Representatives and about a third of the seats in the Senate are up for election. Many states also elect their governors in the midterm elections, and this year, California will be electing a new governor. Because current governor Gavin Newsom’s term is up, the state will be voting for a different governor. It is incredibly important to vote for this position, as the governor has a major impact on California’s laws and public policy.

Why vote?

To many people, midterms seem less important than the general presidential election.

However, this simply isn’t true. Midterms can shift the power balance in Congress, which

directly affects how the president’s agenda unfolds. In addition, as mentioned above, states like California are directly affected by who gets a seat in a state office. These offices affect things such as state budgets, which contribute to many issues citizens care about, such as homelessness.

By voting for a state seat, you are directly voting for or against the issues that matter the most to you. Because significantly fewer people vote in midterms than in presidential elections, each vote has notably more influence. Turnout on election day is crucial.

How to vote

If you’re confused in wondering when you’re supposed to vote, you’re not alone. The

primary election, when candidates are narrowed down, is on June 2nd, 2026. Then, the general election, when final decisions are made, is on November 3rd, 2026.

If you want to learn more, you can find a basic guide to midterms at https://www.usa.gov/midterm-elections.

If you need to register to vote, or just want to check your registration status, you can visit https://registertovote.ca.gov/.

For more California-based resources, check out https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections or https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures.

See you at the voting booth!