Although the nation will not elect a new president on Nov. 7, political pundits are still calling this one of the most important elections in years.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, as well as 33 seats in the Senate, are up for grabs with the potential to drastically shift the political dynamics of Congress.

Republicans enjoy advantages in both the House and the Senate. In the House, the GOP carries 231 seats while Democratic Party carries 201. Democrats trail Republicans 55-44 in the Senate.

Additionally, 36 states are holding gubernatorial elections.

Pundits have labeled Iowa as an important battleground state that could set the tone for the rest of the nation.

In the Iowa Legislature, one of the most tightly contested in the country, Republicans and Democrats are locked in a 25-25 tie in the Senate, while Republicans cling to a one-seat advantage in the House.

Gov. Tom Vilsack’s decision not to pursue a third term has left a vacancy that both major parties have scrambled to fill.

Candidates are also competing for a vacant spot in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which could impact the party makeup of the U.S. House of Representatives.