Forecasts of the 2026 midterm elections from polls, prediction markets, professional forecasters, academic models and the PLSC 2219 class model, updated daily.
Democratic House seats, of 435.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-31: 225.0 | 2026-09-30: 232.3 | +7.3 | 31 |
| Markets | 2026-08-31: 230.1 | 2026-09-30: 234.6 | +4.5 | 31 |
| Academic | 2026-08-31: 228.3 | 2026-09-30: 228.8 | +0.5 | 31 |
| Class model | 2026-08-31: 233.0 | 2026-09-30: 236.0 | +3.0 | 31 |
Chance of a Democratic House.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-31: 67% | 2026-09-30: 83% | +16 pts | 31 |
| Markets | 2026-08-31: 84% | 2026-09-30: 91% | +6 pts | 31 |
| Academic | 2026-08-31: 57% | 2026-09-30: 61% | +4 pts | 31 |
| Class model | 2026-08-31: 90% | 2026-09-30: 94% | +4 pts | 31 |
Democratic Senate seats, of 100. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-31: 49.2 | 2026-09-30: 49.9 | +0.7 | 31 |
| Markets | 2026-08-31: 50.0 | 2026-09-30: 50.9 | +0.8 | 31 |
| Academic | 2026-08-31: 49.6 | 2026-09-30: 49.6 | -0.0 | 31 |
| Class model | 2026-08-31: 50.0 | 2026-09-30: 50.0 | 0.0 | 31 |
Chance of a Democratic Senate. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-31: 18% | 2026-09-30: 31% | +13 pts | 31 |
| Markets | 2026-08-31: 50% | 2026-09-30: 63% | +13 pts | 31 |
| Academic | 2026-08-31: 28% | 2026-09-30: 28% | +0 pts | 31 |
| Class model | 2026-08-31: 36% | 2026-09-30: 41% | +5 pts | 31 |
Democratic House seats, of 435.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-01: 223.8 | 2026-09-30: 232.3 | +8.5 | 61 |
| Markets | 2026-08-01: 229.6 | 2026-09-30: 234.6 | +4.9 | 61 |
| Academic | 2026-08-01: 226.8 | 2026-09-30: 228.8 | +2.0 | 61 |
| Class model | 2026-08-01: 232.0 | 2026-09-30: 236.0 | +4.0 | 61 |
Chance of a Democratic House.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-01: 64% | 2026-09-30: 83% | +19 pts | 61 |
| Markets | 2026-08-01: 83% | 2026-09-30: 91% | +8 pts | 61 |
| Academic | 2026-08-01: 57% | 2026-09-30: 61% | +5 pts | 61 |
| Class model | 2026-08-01: 89% | 2026-09-30: 94% | +5 pts | 61 |
Democratic Senate seats, of 100. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-01: 49.1 | 2026-09-30: 49.9 | +0.8 | 61 |
| Markets | 2026-08-01: 49.8 | 2026-09-30: 50.9 | +1.1 | 61 |
| Academic | 2026-08-01: 49.4 | 2026-09-30: 49.6 | +0.2 | 61 |
| Class model | 2026-08-01: 50.0 | 2026-09-30: 50.0 | 0.0 | 61 |
Chance of a Democratic Senate. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-08-01: 16% | 2026-09-30: 31% | +14 pts | 61 |
| Markets | 2026-08-01: 44% | 2026-09-30: 63% | +19 pts | 61 |
| Academic | 2026-08-01: 28% | 2026-09-30: 28% | +1 pts | 61 |
| Class model | 2026-08-01: 34% | 2026-09-30: 41% | +7 pts | 61 |
Democratic House seats, of 435.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-01-01: 224.7 | 2026-09-30: 232.3 | +7.7 | 273 |
| Markets | 2026-01-01: 227.3 | 2026-09-30: 234.6 | +7.2 | 273 |
| Academic | 2026-01-01: 227.4 | 2026-09-30: 228.8 | +1.4 | 273 |
| Class model | 2026-01-01: 228.0 | 2026-09-30: 236.0 | +8.0 | 273 |
Chance of a Democratic House.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-01-01: 64% | 2026-09-30: 83% | +19 pts | 273 |
| Markets | 2026-01-01: 77% | 2026-09-30: 91% | +13 pts | 273 |
| Academic | 2026-01-01: 62% | 2026-09-30: 61% | -1 pts | 273 |
| Class model | 2026-01-01: 86% | 2026-09-30: 94% | +8 pts | 273 |
Democratic Senate seats, of 100. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-01-01: 48.4 | 2026-09-30: 49.9 | +1.5 | 273 |
| Markets | 2026-01-01: 49.4 | 2026-09-30: 50.9 | +1.5 | 273 |
| Academic | 2026-01-01: 48.7 | 2026-09-30: 49.6 | +0.9 | 273 |
| Class model | 2026-01-01: 49.0 | 2026-09-30: 50.0 | +1.0 | 273 |
Chance of a Democratic Senate. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2026-01-01: 12% | 2026-09-30: 31% | +19 pts | 273 |
| Markets | 2026-01-01: 32% | 2026-09-30: 63% | +30 pts | 273 |
| Academic | 2026-01-01: 23% | 2026-09-30: 28% | +6 pts | 273 |
| Class model | 2026-01-01: 22% | 2026-09-30: 41% | +19 pts | 273 |
Democratic House seats, of 435.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2025-01-20: 216.7 | 2026-09-30: 232.3 | +15.6 | 619 |
| Markets | 2025-09-14: 223.5 | 2026-09-30: 234.6 | +11.0 | 382 |
| Academic | 2025-01-20: 225.9 | 2026-09-30: 228.8 | +2.9 | 619 |
| Class model | 2025-02-25: 226.0 | 2026-09-30: 236.0 | +10.0 | 583 |
Chance of a Democratic House.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2025-01-20: 49% | 2026-09-30: 83% | +34 pts | 619 |
| Markets | 2025-07-19: 70% | 2026-09-30: 91% | +20 pts | 439 |
| Academic | 2025-01-20: 61% | 2026-09-30: 61% | +0 pts | 619 |
| Class model | 2025-02-25: 83% | 2026-09-30: 94% | +12 pts | 583 |
Democratic Senate seats, of 100. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2025-01-20: 47.2 | 2026-09-30: 49.9 | +2.7 | 619 |
| Markets | 2025-12-21: 49.4 | 2026-09-30: 50.9 | +1.5 | 284 |
| Academic | 2025-01-20: 48.3 | 2026-09-30: 49.6 | +1.3 | 619 |
| Class model | 2025-02-25: 48.0 | 2026-09-30: 50.0 | +2.0 | 583 |
Chance of a Democratic Senate. A majority needs 51: a 50–50 tie is broken by the vice-president, who is a Republican this cycle.
| Source | First | Latest | Change | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | 2025-01-20: 9% | 2026-09-30: 31% | +21 pts | 619 |
| Markets | 2025-07-19: 25% | 2026-09-30: 63% | +38 pts | 439 |
| Academic | 2025-01-20: 21% | 2026-09-30: 28% | +7 pts | 619 |
| Class model | 2025-02-25: 17% | 2026-09-30: 41% | +23 pts | 583 |
No data for that combination yet.
The class model is the forecast built in PLSC 2219, re-run each day with that day's presidential approval, gas prices and real income. Details, charts and races →
Democratic House seats, of 435. The dot is the average for each source type. The bar shows the range across the forecasts in it.
The markets figure comes from Kalshi and Polymarket contracts on the national popular-vote margin.
Democratic Senate seats, of 100. The dot is the average for each source type. The bar shows the range across the forecasts in it.
Change in the national House margin, in points.
| Source | Today | 30 days | 90 days | since it began |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling | D+8.2 | +1.9 D | +2.5 D | +5.9 D |
| Markets | D+8.6 | +0.8 D | +1.3 D | +0.8 D |
| Academic | D+6.8 | +0.1 D | +0.4 D | +2.7 D |