Pennsylvania voters weigh Shapiro bid, House seats in 2026 midterms

Voters across Bucks County are casting ballots on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for a midterm election that will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. Polls in Pennsylvania are open from 7 a.m. To 8 p.m., and residents in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, and Allentown are heading to their local polling places to choose candidates for state and federal offices. The day is a referendum on the current administration, with many voters citing high prices and dissatisfaction with the war with Iran as key factors in their decisions.

For residents of the Keystone State, the most prominent statewide race is for governor, where incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro is on the ballot against Republican and Libertarian challengers. Ballotpedia notes that Pennsylvania has no U.S. Senate election this year, meaning the state's two Senate seats are not up for grabs in this cycle. This allows local voters to focus on the governor's office and the full slate of U.S. House races, with every congressional district in the state on the ballot. The outcome of these races will directly impact who controls the House of Representatives, where Democrats currently hold 214 seats and need a net gain of three districts to claim a majority.

The stakes for the U.S. Senate are high nationwide, with 35 seats up for election, including 33 regular races and two special elections. Republicans hold 53 seats and can afford to lose only two to maintain their majority, while Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control. Ballotpedia identifies thirteen battleground races, including contests in Maine, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan. In Pennsylvania, the absence of a Senate race means the state is not directly deciding the chamber's leadership, but the governor's office remains a critical target for Democrats hoping to hold a majority of statehouses for the first time in two decades.

Voter turnout has been robust, with more than 57 million people having already voted as of Monday. This figure surpasses the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. In Pennsylvania, the election administration has seen federal intervention, as a federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting, a move critics argued could disenfranchise eligible voters. The U.S. Postal Service has also added staff and hours to ensure mail ballots are counted on time, a crucial step for states that rely heavily on mail-in voting.

The mood among voters is marked by economic anxiety. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of President Trump's job performance, while about seven in ten say the country is heading in the wrong direction. In Bucks County, voters like James Moore, a librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, have spoken to the Associated Press about paying more for healthcare and taxes, sentiments that resonate with many in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. President Trump held dozens of rallies leading up to the election, including a final stop in Salina, Kansas, where he urged his supporters to pretend he was on the ballot, a strategy aimed at boosting turnout for down-ballot candidates.

Money is playing a significant role in this election, which is likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees have outraised and outspent their Democratic counterparts, aided by groups affiliated with President Trump and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats have outraised their opponents. 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending has gone to states and districts that Trump won in 2024, with more than $850 million spent in areas where he won by ten points or more. This spending strategy reflects the Republican goal of holding the Senate while bracing for a potential loss of the House.

In the governor's race, Democrats are defending five governorships in states that Trump won in 2024, including Pennsylvania. Josh Shapiro faces a competitive field, with the Libertarian Party also on the ballot. The Associated Press notes that Democrats are cautiously optimistic about their chances, particularly in states where the governor is a popular figure. In contrast, Republicans are focused on holding their 26 governorships, which they have held as a majority since 2010. The outcome in Pennsylvania will be a key indicator of whether Democrats can expand their control of statehouses, a goal that has eluded them for twenty years.

Local elections in Bucks County also feature contests for state legislative seats and other local offices, which vary by county. Ballotpedia highlights that special state legislative elections are also on the ballot, adding another layer of complexity for voters. These races, while less visible than the federal contests, are crucial for shaping state policy and representing the specific interests of communities in the Philadelphia suburbs. Voters are encouraged to check their local ballot guides to ensure they are informed about all the candidates and measures on the ballot.

If Democrats win even one chamber of Congress, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries would be the first Black speaker and has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight. A strong Democratic performance could also boost the profiles of potential 2028 presidential candidates such as Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg. For Republicans, holding the Senate is essential to maintaining their legislative agenda and potentially complicating the path of Vice President JD Vance, who is not up for reelection in this cycle.