The Radical Reading Room | 2026 election guide
Midterms 2026: Your Vote, Your Choices
On Tuesday, November 3, Americans choose who will help write our laws, oversee government, and make decisions that affect everyday life.
Written in plain English. Sources are linked below. RRR has a left-leaning editorial focus, but this guide explains choices instead of telling you how to vote.
What are the midterm elections?
Americans elect a president every four years. Two years later, they hold midterm elections. The president is not on the ballot in a regular midterm election, but the people who write federal laws are.
You may also vote for governor, state lawmakers, judges, or local leaders. Your exact ballot depends on where you live.
Why does your vote matter?
Congress makes federal laws, decides how federal money can be spent, and examines what the government is doing. The House and Senate can pass bills, change them, or stop them. They also have a role in checking the president's power.
State and local leaders make decisions about schools, roads, housing rules, public safety, and other services. Even when you do not see these leaders on television, their work can affect your daily life.
Voting is one way to tell elected leaders which ideas you support. You do not have to agree with every position a candidate holds. A vote is a choice between people who may have very different plans.
What do left-wing and right-wing candidates generally support?
Political labels are a starting point, not a full picture. In the United States, Democrats often back liberal or progressive goals. Republicans often back conservative goals. Individual candidates may disagree with their own party, so check their actual records and plans.
Healthcare and prescription drugs
Often emphasized by Democrats and progressives
Broader access to health insurance, support for Medicare and Medicaid, and government action to lower some prescription drug prices.
Often emphasized by Republicans and conservatives
More private-market choices, price competition, and less federal control over parts of the healthcare system. Specific plans vary.
Taxes, wages, and jobs
Democratic and progressive approach
Higher taxes on some high earners and companies, stronger worker protections, and public spending on services and infrastructure.
Republican and conservative approach
Lower taxes, fewer business rules, and policies meant to encourage private investment and domestic production.
Abortion and personal rights
Democratic and progressive approach
Protect access to abortion and contraception, and support broader protections against discrimination.
Republican and conservative approach
Support more limits on abortion in some states and place greater emphasis on religious liberty and state decision-making. Views differ widely.
Energy and climate
Democratic and progressive approach
More clean energy, pollution limits, and government action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Republican and conservative approach
More domestic oil and gas production, fewer energy rules, and a focus on fuel prices and energy supply.
Immigration and the border
Democratic and progressive approach
Border enforcement together with changes to legal immigration, asylum rules, and possible legal status for some long-term residents.
Republican and conservative approach
Stricter border enforcement, more deportations, and tighter rules for entering or staying in the United States.
These are broad descriptions based on national party positions, including their 2024 platforms. They do not tell you what every 2026 candidate supports. Ask candidates for clear plans and check what they have actually done.
How do you decide who to vote for?
Start with the problems you want leaders to work on. You might care most about healthcare, jobs, prices, rights, schools, or government honesty. Then look at the people running in your district and state.
- Find your ballot. Use your state election office to see the offices and candidates in your area.
- Pick your top issues. Write down two or three things that matter most to you.
- Check their positions. Read each candidate's website and look for specific plans, not just slogans.
- Check their record. If they have held office, review votes, laws, public statements, and credible reporting.
- Make your own decision. Choose which positions and record best match what you want from government.
Watch out for claims that sound dramatic but have no sources. A campaign ad is an argument, not proof. Compare it with official records and reporting that shows its evidence.
Get ready to vote
Election Day is November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting, ID rules, and voting by mail are different in each state. Some deadlines may already have passed. Check your state's current rules now.
Find your state's voting and registration information. You can also check your registration status and use your state election office to find your correct polling location and sample ballot.
You do not have to know every fact about every race. Learn what you can, ask questions, and make a choice you understand.
Sources and further reading
- Federal Election Commission — confirms the November 3, 2026 federal election date and explains the role of state election offices.
- USA.gov: Congressional and midterm elections — explains the House, Senate, and election cycle.
- Vote.gov — directs voters to current state voting and registration resources.
- Democratic National Committee: Policy goals — the party's stated priorities. Claims made by a party about opponents are its own claims.
- 2024 Republican Party platform — the party's published positions, archived by the American Presidency Project.
- 2024 Democratic Party platform — longer statement of national policy goals.
Last editorial review: October 25, 2026. This guide describes the election system and national party priorities; it is not a list of candidates on your personal ballot.