4th November 2026
When Americans went to the polls for the November 2026 midterm elections, they were not simply choosing members of Congress and state governors. Across the country, voters were also deciding who should become judges, prosecutors, sheriffs, mayors and school-board members. In many places, they were voting on proposed laws and changes to state constitutions.
It is an aspect of American democracy that can easily be overlooked in Britain. Our elections generally concentrate on choosing representatives to make decisions on our behalf. The American system gives voters a much more direct say in who occupies a wide range of public offices.
The scale is considerable. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, voters in 46 states were choosing 6,139 state legislators on November 3. There were also 146 statewide ballot measures in 39 states and the Northern Mariana Islands. These measures could change state laws or even amend state constitutions.
And that is before taking account of the many local elections taking place.
Are these elections party political?
The answer is that some are, but not all. The arrangements vary considerably between states and even between different types of office.
Candidates for state legislatures, attorneys general and many other senior positions normally stand under Democratic, Republican or another party label. Their campaigns are recognisably party-political, with candidates promoting policies and seeking support from voters who identify with their party.
But other contests are officially non-partisan. This means candidates appear on the ballot without a Democratic or Republican label.
That does not necessarily mean party politics disappears. Local party organisations, campaign groups, unions, business interests and political donors may still support particular candidates. Voters may also know a candidate's political affiliations even when the ballot paper does not display them.
Judges: elected or appointed?
One of the most striking differences with Britain concerns the judiciary.
In the UK, judges are appointed through an independent selection process. In the United States, the position varies from state to state. Some states elect judges in party-political contests, others hold non-partisan judicial elections, and some use appointment systems followed by elections in which voters decide whether a judge should remain in office.
This means that in certain states voters can directly influence who sits on their courts.
There are important questions about judicial independence when candidates must campaign for votes and raise money. Supporters argue that elections give the public a say over those exercising judicial power. Critics worry that campaign funding and political pressure can undermine the appearance, or reality, of impartiality.
In 2026, state supreme court positions were among the contests being decided in a number of states.
Sheriffs and prosecutors
In many American counties, the sheriff is an elected official. The sheriff may be responsible for policing in areas outside city police departments, operating county jails, serving court papers and carrying out other law-enforcement duties.
Unlike the UK, where chief constables are not elected, American voters in many areas can choose the person who heads their local sheriff's department.
District attorneys, who prosecute criminal cases, are also elected in many states. Their decisions about priorities, resources and which cases to pursue can have a substantial effect on local criminal justice.
These elections are often partisan. A candidate may stand as a Democrat or Republican and campaign on issues such as crime, public safety, sentencing and policing.
School boards: local decisions with national arguments
School boards are another important part of American local government.
They can influence school budgets, appoint or oversee senior education administrators, decide on school closures and set local education priorities.
Many school-board elections are officially non-partisan. However, they have increasingly become political battlegrounds, with disagreements about school books, curriculum, sex education, parental rights and the teaching of American history.
National political organisations and campaign groups sometimes become involved in what might otherwise appear to be relatively small local contests.
Ballotpedia was tracking school-board elections in 475 districts during the 2026 election cycle. Its coverage also included municipal elections in 89 cities and 81 counties, illustrating the breadth of local contests taking place.
Mayors and local government
American mayors can have substantial executive responsibilities, although their powers vary according to the city and its form of government.
Some mayoral elections are openly partisan, while others are officially non-partisan. A non-partisan ballot does not prevent candidates from having clear political identities or receiving support from national parties.
City councils and county commissions also play important roles in decisions about housing, roads, policing, public services, development and local taxation.
These decisions can have a direct effect on residents, sometimes more immediately than decisions taken in Washington.
Voters can also make laws directly
Perhaps the most unusual feature for British readers is the use of ballot measures.
In many states, voters can decide whether proposed changes to laws or constitutions should be adopted. Some proposals originate in state legislatures, while others can be placed on the ballot through citizen petitions.
The subjects can be controversial. They include taxation, public spending, abortion, voting requirements, education and constitutional rights.
This gives voters an opportunity to decide specific policy questions rather than simply choosing a political party and leaving the detail to elected representatives.
It is not a perfect system. Campaigns can be expensive, the wording of proposals can be complicated and voters may have to decide on issues involving considerable legal and financial detail. But it provides a form of direct democracy that is much less common in Britain.
A different understanding of democracy
The American system is complicated, with different rules in different states. It can also be confusing for voters faced with a ballot paper containing a long list of candidates and proposals.
There is no single national arrangement. Some offices are elected on party lines, others are non-partisan, and some are filled through appointment.
But the principle is clear. American voters are not simply choosing a government every few years. They are participating in decisions about who runs their courts, police departments, schools and local authorities.
For British observers, that is an important part of understanding why American midterm elections matter. The results can change the political balance not just in Washington and state capitals, but in communities across the country.