Four civics questions depend on where you live: one of your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your state capital. Find your answers below. Updated September 29, 2026.
Elections on November 3, 2026
Many Senate seats and 36 governorships are on the ballot. Newly elected senators take office on January 3, 2027, and most new governors take office in January 2027. At your interview, give the name of the person serving on that day, not the winner of an election who hasn't taken office yet. We update this page after changes.
USCIS has special answers here. D.C. and territory residents should say they have no U.S. senators. For the representative question, they may name their non-voting Delegate or Resident Commissioner, or say they have no voting representative. D.C. residents should say D.C. has no governor and is not a state, so it has no state capital. Territory residents should name the territory's capital.
Tips for the “your state” questions
- Watch out for capitals. Many state capitals aren't the biggest city: Sacramento, not Los Angeles; Albany, not New York City; Springfield, not Chicago; Tallahassee, not Miami; Austin, not Houston.
- One senator is enough. The question asks for “one of your state's U.S. senators,” so learn the name that's easiest for you to remember and say.
- It's where you live now. Use the state where you live at the time of your interview. If you moved, learn your new state's answers.
- Check again before your interview. Officials can change because of elections, resignations or appointments.
Senators and delegates: congress-legislators dataset (public domain). Governors: National Governors Association. Checked September 29, 2026. Official sources for your own answers: senate.gov, house.gov, usa.gov. Question wording and the D.C. and territory rules are from the USCIS civics test.
