What are the US midterm elections?

On 3 November 2026, a set of important elections are taking place in the US.

These elections won't affect who the president is - whatever happens, President Donald Trump will still be in power.

But for many Americans voting, it's a chance for them to have a say on how well they think President Trump is doing, and his Republican party.

BBC Newsround has been speaking to some US children to find out more about some of the big issues people are thinking about ahead of the midterms.

BBC North America correspondent Nada Tawfik says the midterms are "very much seen as dictating the direction of this country for the next two years, until that next presidential election in 2028."

The midterms are a vote for the group of people who make the laws, also called the legislature, which the Republicans currently control.

The Democrat party, who oppose the Republicans, "are hoping to win back control, and if they do that, that would significantly limit [President] Donald Trump's powers."

If the Democrats succeed, President Trump may find it harder to pass the laws that he wants to.

For American 11-year-olds Caston and Catniss, the price of petrol - or gas - is one of the biggest issues that people are talking about.

Caston says that "people are angry", and Catniss says that "you can hear the teachers gossiping about it from all the way down the hall".

Petrol prices have gone up a lot this year, because of the war between the US and Iran, and many voters are blaming President Trump.

Catniss, who's not a fan of President Trump, says that "he's not doing anything to fix gas prices, or really anything prices wise" - she says that "everything has jumped a few dollars up."

But Caston - who supports President Trump - thinks that he is doing his best to bring prices down, "so everyone can be able to afford stuff so everyone will not be hungry."

Another big topic for voters is immigration, something that Catniss and Caston have different opinions on.

Caston says: "I think [President Trump] has done a good job because he's been keeping our borders closed so people can be safe and keep our country safe.

"Some people are not meant to be here for a reason, or they come here illegally."

But Catniss says that "[President] Trump has not handled it very well."

"America once was a country where everyone got to come in and then we got to be Americans together. Now he's making it such a big deal."