Voting for the crucial US midterm elections is underway across all 50 states. Polls began closing at 6 PM ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, the first closures of the night. Alaska will be the last to close, with voting ending at 1 AM ET on Wednesday, November 4.
The elections will decide control of the US Congress – both the House of Representatives and the Senate. To take control from Republicans, Democrats need to flip four Senate seats and three House seats.
If Democrats win Congress, they would be able to challenge President Donald Trump’s agenda in the last two years of his term. Many of the key races are in states and districts that Trump won by large margins previously.
Key Races to Watch:
Senate battlegrounds include Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. In the House, competitive districts are spread across the country.
Legal Development Before Voting:
Ahead of the polls, the Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from the Justice Department, allowing California to continue counting mail-in ballots from around 20,000 voters whose citizenship status had been questioned by federal officials.
What Polls Show:
According to statistician Nate Silver and the FLIPR 2026 forecast, Democrats are leading in polling averages in several major battleground states, including Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Maine and Iowa.
President Trump wrapped up his campaign at the Reflecting Pool, highlighting his administration’s work and acknowledging the historical trend that the sitting president’s party often struggles in midterms. “For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms. But we gave this a very strong shot,” he said. He had earlier said he would “veto everything” if Democrats retake Congress.
What’s at Stake:
All 435 seats in the House are up for election, and 35 out of 100 seats in the Senate.
In the Senate, of the 35 seats being contested, 13 are currently held by Democrats and 22 by Republicans. Democrats need 51 seats total to win a majority.
In the House, Republicans currently hold the majority after the 2024 elections with 220 seats to Democrats’ 215. A party needs 218 seats for a majority.
Top Issues for Voters:
Besides the ongoing US-Iran conflict, the economy is a central issue. Immigration is also key, with Republicans pointing to Trump’s border tightening and crackdown on illegal immigration as fulfilling a 2024 campaign promise. Other major concerns include AI, inflation, and Trump’s trade tariff policies.