OH SNAP! TRUTHS — POLITICS

2026 Midterm Elections

What's at stake — and what expires if Congress doesn't act

Election Day
Nov. 3, 2026
ohsnaptruths.com
435
House Seats on Ballot
35
Senate Seats on Ballot
36
Governor Races
120th
Congress Sworn In Jan. 3, 2027

KEY DATES

Mar 3, 2026First primaries begin (TX, NC, AR)
Sep 15, 2026Last primaries
Sep 30, 2026⚠️ Multiple programs expire (see right)
Nov 3, 2026Election Day
Nov 4 – Jan 3Lame-duck session
Jan 3, 2027120th Congress sworn in

WHAT CHANGES WHEN CONGRESS FLIPS

  • All committee chairmanships go to the new majority
  • Subpoena power and investigation authority shifts
  • Presidential nominees face a harder confirmation vote
  • The president's legislative agenda can be blocked
  • Speaker of the House is re-elected by new members

THE LAME-DUCK SESSION

After Election Day, the outgoing Congress keeps meeting until Jan. 3. Members who lost their seats still vote. Average lame-duck lasts 37–56 days. Government funding deadlines almost always fall in this window — making a shutdown possible every two years.

Recent shutdowns: Oct–Nov 2025 (43 days — longest in modern history). Jan 31, 2026 (partial). Feb 14, 2026 (DHS-only, ongoing as of March 2026).

WHAT EXPIRES — AND WHEN

DeadlineWhat Expires
Jun 30, 2026IRA home energy tax credits
Sep 30, 2026Surface Transportation (IIJA) — roads & transit
Sep 30, 2026Veterans' Health Care Extenders
Sep 30, 2026Farm Bill provisions (incl. some SNAP rules)
Sep 30, 2026Export-Import Bank authorization
Dec 31, 2026Medicare Physician Payment increase
2027 (est.)Debt ceiling reached — default risk
Sep 30, 2027States begin paying share of SNAP costs
Dec 31, 2027IRA clean energy tax credits
2028Highway Trust Fund runs out of money
Dec 31, 2028No Tax on Tips & Overtime expires
Dec 31, 2028Enhanced senior standard deduction expires
Dec 31, 2029Higher SALT deduction cap reverts to $10K
2032Social Security trust fund exhaustion (77¢/dollar)
2032Medicare Part A trust fund exhaustion

Source: CRFB Fiscal Policy Deadlines Tracker, Feb. 2026

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

  • Register or check your registration: vote.gov
  • Find your primary date: 270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar
  • Contact your reps: house.gov / senate.gov
  • Track expiring deadlines: crfb.org/blogs/upcoming-congressional-fiscal-policy-deadlines
Every fact verified against primary sources. No spin. No fluff.ohsnaptruths.com[email protected]