WASHINGTON — House leaders sent lawmakers home for summer campaigning on July 25, 2026. The United States House of Representatives adjourned for a five-week August recess to allow members to engage with constituents ahead of the midterm elections.

Voters will decide which party controls Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term in the upcoming midterm elections. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are being contested in the upcoming election, though fewer than 20 House seats are considered genuine toss-ups according to analysts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he is confident Republicans will hold and grow their majority in the House. He is planning a cross-country trek to raise funds for the Republican party and visit lawmakers’ home districts. Johnson is set to campaign in more than 30 districts and cities across 17 states during the monthlong break.

"We are increasingly confident that we will hold and grow this majority in the House — and we must," Johnson said. He said, "We’re going to run through the tape." The Speaker characterized the election as a contest between "common sense and crazy" and later as "common sense versus communism."

During the session, Republicans approved legislation to clamp down on stock trading in Congress over Democratic objections. This legislative action occurred as members prepared to depart for their districts.

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries will launch "100 Days of Action" on Sunday. Jeffries is in line to become House speaker if the Democratic party wins control of the House.

"It’s not going to be easy, right?" Jeffries said. "No one’s going to give it to us." He vowed that Democrats "will hold the crooks accountable" on issues including the Trump family’s business dealings.

Democrats state that President Trump waged war against Iran, slapped tariffs on goods, deported longtime immigrants, and slashed health care and food aid as part of a tax cuts bill last summer. "They’re flailing all over the place," Jeffries said. He responded to Republican characterizations by stating, "House Democrats aren’t a cult."

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam is a freshman Democrat from Virginia. He stated it is best to campaign on his own record delivering for constituents rather than on the performance of Congress. Subramanyam noted the difficulty members face when discussing the institution's broader reputation with voters in their home districts.

"I only know a dysfunctional Congress," Subramanyam said. "It’s virtually impossible to sell the performance of Congress to the American people because Congress is such an easy punching bag." He added, "And this particular Congress has been ceding too much of its authority to the executive branch." Subramanyam advised his colleagues to focus on local accomplishments. "I tell people to sell yourself and what you’ve tried to do," he said.

New congressional map lines are being drawn to eliminate Black majority districts largely in the Deep South following a Supreme Court decision regarding the Voting Rights Act. These redistricting efforts add complexity to the electoral landscape in several key states.

Midterm elections often become a referendum on the party in power. The president’s party often encounters losses during midterm elections. Former President George W. Bush described midterm losses for the president's party as a "thumping." Former President Barack Obama described midterm losses for the president's party as a "shellacking."

The outcome of these elections will determine the legislative agenda for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term. With control of the House at stake, both parties are mobilizing resources to influence the fewer than 20 competitive seats. The adjournment allows members to directly address voter concerns such as the economy, which recent data identifies as a top priority.

The redistricting changes in the Deep South following the Supreme Court decision regarding the Voting Rights Act may alter the composition of several districts. As lawmakers campaign, they face the challenge of balancing national partisan narratives with local constituent needs. The strategies employed by leaders like Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries will shape the public perception of their respective parties leading up to Election Day.