Read Time: 3 min 33 sec | Listen to Podcast | Watch on YouTube

They’re elections held midway through each four-year presidential term.

By law, they take place the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year, that's November 3.

Who gets elected?
While presidential elections hog the spotlight, midterms are all about Congress and the states.

All 435 House seats are up every two years, divided among the states by population (play our game to see how many House members your state gets). Meanwhile, senators serve staggered 6-year terms, so one-third of the Senate’s 100 seats are up for grabs in any given midterm.

Many states also vote on governors, lieutenant governors, school boards, ballot measures, etc.

Why should I care about midterms?
Midterms shape the direction of the country as much as the president.

Congress is where the policies you care most about (think: healthcare, taxes, cost of living, jobs) actually get decided. As one political professor put it, “Whoever controls the House or the Senate controls the agenda.”

And don’t sleep on state races. Governors and legislatures handle plenty on their own (think: education, wages, housing), so if you have some thoughts on how things are going at home, now’s your chance to weigh in.

Why don’t they just do all the elections at once with the president?
Because the Constitution says so.

Since the House is up for grabs every two years, you’ll see those seats on the ballot this year and again when we elect a president in 2028, but the Constitution determines different term lengths for different offices. And state constitutions determine different limits for state legislatures and executive offices.

It’s also a check on power. If the country’s priorities shift, voters don’t have to wait four years. They can change which party controls Congress, which often happens.

Which party controls Congress now?
Republicans narrowly hold both chambers: 218-214 in the House and 53-47 in the Senate. Democrats only need to flip a few seats to take control.

Voters often elect a Congress that matches a new president's party, then swing the other way at the midterms. That’s why parties fight hard to gain ground (including through mid-decade redistricting… catch up).

Okay, so how do I know what I’m voting on?
We thought you’d never ask…

Check out our Midterm Hub, our state-by-state resource built to help you enter the ballot box with confidence.

___

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Political landscapes may change course, but our true home—heaven—is on the same course as ever. Just as many Americans view the outcomes of foreign elections with a certain level of detachment, Christians view earthly political outcomes as secondary to the campaign of our eternal home, where we hold our truest citizenship.

“Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.”
1 Peter 2:11-12 (CSB) (read full passage)

Your heart gets the poems. Your brain gets the credit. But your liver handles over 500 functions every day, filtering basically everything you eat, drink, and stress about, and has never once mentioned it…

Dose for your Liver is how you finally say thanks. It's a doctor-formulated liquid supplement to support healthy liver function, energy, inflammation, and metabolism. Made with botanicals (turmeric, milk thistle, ginger, dandelion root) and zero sugar, Dose is a 2-ounce daily shot of gratitude for the organ nobody writes sonnets about.

Studies showed Dose improved bloating and fatigue after 3 months…It’s time to give your liver its flowers. 💐

Get 35% off your first subscription with code TPO.

Curious how we choose sponsors?  Learn more  |  Advertise with us

Solving today’s Mini Crossword. Our 34th one!

Whipped Cream on Top: Color me satisfied...

Handcrafted artisan home goods. Created by TPO reader Janelle S., Millstream Home offers a more mindful option for heirlooms and home goods. Each piece is American-made and handcrafted, so you’re supporting real people and families while getting beautiful products that will fill your home with comfort and stories. Add a little more meaning to your decor. Find your next perfect piece today.*

*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form! We’re also filling spots for next month’s Small Business Saturday newsletter. Apply for that, too (same application)!

Top News Video: How one dog still got out for a walk in flooded New Jersey streets.

Top Christian Perspective: A prayer for everyone weathering the storm, from rescuers to those who’ll rebuild. Download and save it here.

Top Whipped Cream: Our second-most-popular ever: just a couple dawgs hanging out.

The Best Part of Coming Home From a Trip
Still feeling like I’m at a resort, thanks to Aura House*

You know when you get home from a trip, open the door, take a deep breath, and… your house smells like it's been closed up for a week?

Can’t relate. Mine smells like a five-star hotel.

It’s my Aura House cold-air diffuser, running on my app-controlled schedule, filling my house with my fave scent’s clean notes of lemon, lemongrass, and orange (it’s called Collins, and you gotta try it). There’s no heat, flame, or water (read: no soot, melted wax, or spills), and it’s pet-safe and Sephora-clean certified.

Use code TPO10 for 10% off. If it’s not your thing, you can send it back within 60 days.

Emily Hansen | Partnerships Manager

An excerpt from “Before an Election,” in TPO’s book Praying the News

God of Justice and Peace, guard us from the unrest that so easily permeates election seasons. Keep our communities, families, and churches from being caught up in tides of discord that threaten to splinter our bonds and tempt us to put our identity in parties, policies, or politicians.

As we approach this time of great decision, help us rightly balance the weight of our responsibility, knowing it is a privilege we get to steward, but not a power that can irreparably harm Your good plan and purposes.

Tune our ears to hear the cry of our brothers; sharpen our eyes to see those around us as image-bearers we are called to love; and shape our lips to speak life and truth rather than venomous words that tear down. Amen.

Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click on the episode below.

(You’ll still get our M/W/F news)