The Nasdaq Composite fell 5.5% on November 5, 2026, amid investor concerns that Democratic control of Congress following the midterm elections would slow artificial intelligence data center expansion

Federal and state elections held midway through a presidential term that determine control of Congress and shape the political direction of the country.

Bicameral federal legislature of the United States, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which writes law, controls federal spending and oversees the executive branch. Its two chambers represent states and districts on different terms and hold different constitutional powers.