The SOTU thread

[putnam6]

Man I can't watch the SOTU most times, but especially the 2nd term ones... too much theater and cheerleading 

All that matters politically is the looming midterms its rare as hell for one party to hold a trifecta 

Elections to the U.S. Congress will take place on November 3, 2026. All [b]435 districts[/b] in the U.S. House of Representatives and [b]33 seats[/b] in the U.S. Senate are up for election. [b]Five[/b] of the House's six non-voting members are also up for election.
Heading into the 2026 general elections, Republicans control both chambers of Congress. They hold a 53–45 majority in the Senate, while two independents caucus with the Democrats, effectively giving the Democrats 47 votes for organizational purposes. In the House, Republicans have a 218-214 majority, with three vacancies.
As a result of the 2024 general elections, Republicans won a 53-45 majority in the Senate, while two independents caucused with the Democrats, effectively giving the Democrats 47 votes for organizational purposes.[1] Before those elections, Democrats held a 47-49 majority, with four independents.[2] Three of those independents caucused with the Democratic Party, and one other counted towards the Democratic majority for committee purposes.[3] Democrats could not lose any seats and retain a majority in the chamber. Meanwhile, Republicans needed a net gain of two seats to take the majority. In the 2024 general elections, Republicans gained a net of four seats.
Looking ahead to the 2026 general elections, Democrats need to gain a net of four seats to win a majority in the Senate. Meanwhile, Republicans can lose no more than two seats to retain a majority in the chamber.
As a result of the 2024 general elections, Republicans gained a 220-215 majority in the chamber. Before the elections, Republicans had a 219-213 majority with three vacancies — one resulting from the death of a Democratic member, one from a Democratic resignation, and one from a Republican resignation. Democrats needed to retain the two vacant seats and gain a net of four seats to win a majority. They retained control of both seats and gained a net of one seat. Republicans could only lose a net of three seats — including the vacant seat — and retain control of the chamber.
Looking ahead to the 2026 general elections, Democrats need to gain a net of three districts to win a majority in the House. Meanwhile, Republicans can lose no more than two districts and retain a majority in the House.
As of December 19, 2025, nine incumbent senators and 44 incumbent representatives are not running for re-election in 2026.
Two special elections are also scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026. One special election will fill the last two years of the six-year term that Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was elected to in 2022. The other special election will fill the last two years of the six-year term that Vice President J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) was elected to in 2022.
Those elected to the U.S. Senate in the regularly scheduled elections on November 3, 2026, will begin their six-year terms on January 3, 2027. Additionally, those elected to the U.S. House in the regularly scheduled elections on November 3, 2026, will begin on the same date.