2026 Midterm Election Preview: Key Races in Congress and Texas

The 2026 midterm elections will determine control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, alongside numerous state-level races including in Texas. CBS News reported that nine Senate races and 42 House races have been identified as competitive contests likely to influence which party holds the majority in Congress, though the outlet noted these designations could shift as the campaign progresses. Separately, The Texas Tribune reported that Texas voters will decide a full slate of statewide offices in the November 2026 election, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, and comptroller. The Texas ballot will also include congressional, state legislative, State Board of Education, and judicial seats. These two reports cover distinct aspects of the midterm cycle—national congressional battlegrounds versus Texas's statewide ballot—without independent corroboration of specific race names or numbers between the two sources. As of the reporting dates in mid-September 2026, the general election remains scheduled for November 2026. Specific candidates, primary outcomes, and final competitive race designations were not detailed in the available reporting and remain unresolved pending further campaign developments.