Kalshi vs Polymarket: Will Democrats win the House in 2026

Last observed 2026-09-04 20:08 UTC. Prices and fees change constantly; the rules comparison is the durable part.

• SETTLEMENT_POLICY_MISMATCH — both venues publish settlement policy, but the published texts diverge
• SETTLEMENT_GUARANTEE_UNKNOWN — the venue does not publish enough settlement policy to prove what happens in every branch (missing data, cancellation, revision)
• SETTLEMENT_TIMING_ASYMMETRIC — one venue may settle well before the other, so a paired position is not truly locked until both have settled

The Polymarket leg here is the global venue, which US accounts cannot trade; it is shown for the rules comparison only.

Capital lock-up: about 149.8 days until the later of the two contracts settles. early settlement possible on kalshi

Kalshi fine-print grade: D (40/100)
−20 MISSING_CANCELLATION_POLICY: the rules never say what happens to open positions if the event is canceled, voided, or never takes place
−15 MISSING_REVISION_POLICY: the rules never say whether a later revision of the underlying number changes the outcome
−15 NO_EXPLICIT_EXCEPTION_FALLBACK: the rules publish no terminal branch for the case where the deciding number is never released or the criterion never fires
−10 UNPARSED_SETTLEMENT_POLICY: no settlement terms could be read from the published text in a form that determines an outcome

What Kalshi publishes

If the Democratic Party has won control of the House in 2026, then the market resolves to Yes. This market may be determined early based on a consensus of media calls projecting control of the U.S. House. See full rules for details. Otherwise, victory will be determined by the party identification of the Speaker of the House on February 1, 2027.

What Polymarket publishes

This market will resolve according to the party that wins control of the United States House of Representatives in the 2026 United States midterm election. A party wins control of the United States House of Representatives if it wins a majority of the chamber’s voting seats. If no party wins a majority of voting seats, the chamber will be deemed controlled by the party with which the first elected Speaker of the House of the Congress that convenes after the 2026 midterm election is affiliated. The following rules govern the counting of seats for determining which party wins control of the chamber. All House elections in the 2026 United States midterm election that elect voting members and determine representation in the upcoming 120th Congress are included. Where a seat is decided by a runoff, the runoff result will determine attribution of that seat. Seats are attributed to the party under which the member was elected. If a member-elect changes party affiliation, or vacates their seat, between election day and the formal organization of Congress, the seat is attributed to the party under which the member was elected. House members elected as independents who formally caucus w

Fees use each venue's published taker formula at the last observed price — see the fee calculator for any price.