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Politics

Midterm candidates enter final week as control of Congress hangs in balance

With one week until Election Day, Democrats need net gains of three House seats and four Senate seats to flip control.

Updated Oct 27, 2026 · 12:24 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Control of both the House and Senate is at stake one week before the midterm elections.[ABC News]
  • Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to reach 218, and four Senate seats to flip that chamber.[ABC News]
  • In Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are competing in a Senate race that will help decide control. Rogers has alleged El-Sayed is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, though reporting says there is no evidence of any affiliation.[PBS NewsHour]
  • Nearly 30 million Americans have already voted early.[PBS NewsHour]

Key facts

  • Control of both the House and Senate is at stake one week before the midterm elections.[ABC News]
  • Nearly 30 million Americans have already voted early in the elections.[PBS NewsHour]
  • Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to reach at least 218 seats.[ABC News]
  • Senate Democrats need a net gain of four seats to flip the majority.[ABC News]
  • Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed are competing in the Michigan Senate race that will help decide control of the chamber.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Justice Department's request to block California from counting about 20,000 mail-in ballots from voters the government alleges are potential non-citizens.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The Justice Department announced new charges against 48 noncitizens alleged to have illegally voted or registered to vote.[PBS NewsHour]
  • President Trump posted on TRUTH Social that anyone who turns over voter fraud in past or present elections would receive a million-dollar government payout, provided the person is convicted.[PBS NewsHour]

What remains uncertain

  • Mike Rogers's allegations linking Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood are disputed, and reporting says there is no evidence of any affiliation.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The payout offer applies only if a person is convicted, and the reporting does not describe how it would be carried out.[PBS NewsHour]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.