House and Senate Committee Musical Chairs In Anticipation of the 120th Congress

Last Updated: April 20, 2026

On November 3, all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats — including 33 seats up for regular election and two special elections — will be in cycle. As of the latest race ratings, control of the House and increasingly control of the Senate will be in play. Our comprehensive look at the electoral state of play for both chambers takes a comprehensive look at how retirements, tightly contested primary and general election races, and party and chamber rules related to committee leadership — and notably term limits — will shape committees in the 120th Congress. 

Historically, forecasting the outcomes of elections has always been a challenge. The complexities in predicting how electoral maps will shake out have increased this year — due in large part to ongoing redistricting efforts, competitive primaries, and constantly evolving race ratings, which most recently appear to favor Democrats. Rather than aiming to definitively predict the results in tossup races, our analyses instead offer a snapshot of where key electoral contests stand today by relying on data from leading political pundits, including 270 to Win, the Cook Political Report, Real Clear Politics, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball. To be clear, even these sources have some discrepancies across individual race ratings.

In addition to updating these documents before voters head to the polls in November, we also intend to provide several post-election updates. As we have done in past election cycles, our plan is to update these documents to illustrate how committee ratios may change, including which Members may be at risk of losing their seats on committees because of changing committee ratios, and identify returning and freshman Members who might be seeking spots on certain committees. 

For our House Musical Chairs for the 120th Congress, please CLICK HERE. (Updated April 20, 2026)

For our Senate Musical Chairs for the 120th Congress, please CLICK HERE. (Updated April 20, 2026)