2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
Midterm Elections
A midterm election is conducted halfway through each 4-year Presidential term.
The midterm elections happen across all states, and they are for offices other than that of the President or Vice President.
In a midterm election, the composition of congress is decided. Congress is literally on the ballot.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, plus one-third of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for a vote.
The partisan composition of congress can have a major influence on what the President can do during his or her term in office.
States will often add other races to the ballot. Your ballot might contain races for governor, state representatives, judicial and other local offices as well.
Midterms are used to determine the next course of our democracy.
Voters are given the opportunity to re-balance power and choose Congresspersons more closely aligned with the President’s agenda or ones positioned further from the President.
Because these elections are so closely tied into the timing of the Presidential term, they are often seen as a barometer of the President’s performance.
Courtesy of U.S. Vote Foundation
MIDTERM GENERAL ELECTION
In 2026, the Midterm General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3
Town of Canandaigua residents will be voting for these positions, among others:
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NY State Senate District 54 - Michael Mills is running against incumbent Republican Pam Helming
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US Congress District 24 - Alissa Ellman is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Claudia Tenney in the House of Representatives
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State Assembly District 131 - Phillip Fleming is running against Republican Jeff Gallahan
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Ontario County Treasurer - Julio Chavez-Olivera is running against incumbent Republican Jeff Trickler. The last time a Democrat sought election as Ontario County treasurer was 1994.
How can I vote?
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In Person - at your poll site on Election Day (November 3) or at an Early Voting Poll Site (October 24th through November 1st)
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By Mail - You can vote by mail by submitting an application for:
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Early Vote By Mail (any registered voter may apply)
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Absentee Ballot (If you are out of the county on Election Day, ill or physically unable to vote in person)
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Accessible Ballot (If you have a print disability such as blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities)
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For more information, visit Ontario County Board of Elections