Texas and Oklahoma Congressional Races Target Control of the US Congress

Elections in Texas and Oklahoma could help determine which political party controls the United States Congress, local television station KXII reported on November 3, 2026. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 seats in the U.S. Senate are on the ballot. Together, Texas and Oklahoma account for 43 House seats and two Senate seats. [1]

Republicans currently hold a 53-to-47 majority in the Senate alongside a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, according to KXII. Democrats require a net gain of four seats in each chamber to claim control. KXII reported that winning one chamber would allow Democrats to block Republican legislation, while winning both would give them full control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. [1]

The United States Congress functions as the legislative branch of the federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which both meet in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the United States Senate since 1988, as FTMQ Politics reported earlier. However, KXII reported that Texas is one of a dozen key Senate races that could determine control of the upper chamber. [1][4][7]

All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives are also up for election in 2026, with the winners scheduled to serve in the 90th legislative session. Meanwhile, state economies remain centered on energy, with Texas serving as a major economic center and Oklahoma ranking sixth nationally in crude oil and natural gas production in 2024. [2][5][6]