On a November morning when the calendar itself seems to ask citizens to weigh the direction of their common life, voters across New England stepped into booths and drop boxes to decide who will speak for them in Washington and their statehouses. Massachusetts carries the heaviest load, with its full slate of Democratic incumbents and nine binding questions, the most its voters have ever been asked to settle at once. Beyond the state lines, the Senate seats in Maine and New Hampshire hold a larger weight, for the outcome there may tip which party steers the nation's upper chamber through the ye
Election Day 2026: New England Votes in Key Senate, Governor and Ballot Races
Nine ballot questions, the most Massachusetts voters have ever faced
Mark
Why are people outside New England paying attention to this?
Mimi
Because Maine and New Hampshire both have Senate seats that could tip the chamber. Republicans hold it 53-47, and Democrats need four more seats.
Mark
Maine's race had a strange turn, didn't it?
Mimi
Yes. Graham Platner won the June primary, then withdrew in early July after controversy over a tattoo and an allegation he denies. Troy Jackson was picked at a July convention.
Luke
Worth noting the controversies are described as swirling around Platner. The allegation is denied, and nothing in this reporting resolves it.
Mark
And Jackson is outraising Collins?
Mimi
Since July, yes, and he's slightly ahead of her total for the whole cycle. But with outside groups counted, pro-Collins forces have outspent pro-Jackson forces $65 million to $55 million since September 1, per AdImpact.
Luke
That's one tracker's figure. And fundraising doesn't tell us who wins. Collins has beaten every Democratic challenger so far, none above 44%.
Mark
What about Massachusetts?
Mimi
Nine ballot questions, the most ever. Results will trickle in from 351 jurisdictions.
Luke
And the DOJ monitors: the concern is that they could discourage voting. That's a worry, not a documented effect. We don't know yet.
Il Polso
- Polls opened in Massachusetts at 7 a.m., with a record nine ballot questions pressing on voters from public records to firearms.
- Maine's Senate race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson is pulling national money and attention after a late candidate replacement.
- Department of Justice monitors are heading to Lowell, Boston, Manchester and Nashua, raising fears that their presence could discourage some voters.
- Mail ballots still in transit and results arriving unevenly from 351 separate Massachusetts jurisdictions mean the final picture may take days to settle.
- New Hampshire and Maine results will decide whether Democrats can climb back toward a Senate majority.
On a November morning when the calendar itself seems to ask citizens to weigh the direction of their common life, voters across New England stepped into booths and drop boxes to decide who will speak for them in Washington and their statehouses. Massachusetts carries the heaviest load, with its full slate of Democratic incumbents and nine binding questions, the most its voters have ever been asked to settle at once. Beyond the state lines, the Senate seats in Maine and New Hampshire hold a larger weight, for the outcome there may tip which party steers the nation's upper chamber through the years ahead.
Polls opened early Tuesday across Massachusetts, and voters still in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballots. The day brings midterm elections to all six New England states, but the eyes of the country are fixed on two Senate contests in Maine and New Hampshire, where the results could help decide which party controls Congress.
In Massachusetts, voters are reelecting a full slate of Democratic statewide officials, from the U.S. senator and governor down to the treasurer and auditor. They also face nine binding ballot questions, the most the state has ever put before its voters at once, covering everything from public records and election day registration to marijuana sales and firearms rules.
The sharpest contest is in Maine, where Republican Susan Collins is seeking a record sixth term against Democrat Troy Jackson, who was chosen in July after Graham Platner withdrew amid controversy. Collins is the only Senate Republican representing a state Kamala Harris carried, and Democrats need her seat as one step toward retaking the chamber. Jackson has far outraised her since July, though outside spending has tilted toward Collins.
In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas, who would be the first openly gay U.S. senator, faces Republican John E. Sununu in a race to replace the retiring Jeanne Shaheen. Pappas has raised far more money, and the governor's race there will also determine whether Republicans keep control of the statehouse.
Results will come in slowly, since Massachusetts has 351 separate jurisdictions reporting on their own timelines, and the state does not recount automatically. For now, the country waits on the Maine and New Hampshire returns.
In Massachusetts, the polls opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, though some cities and towns were allowed to unlock their doors as early as 5:45. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. can still cast a ballot. The day carries the 2026 midterms across all six New England states, with two Senate contests, in Maine and New Hampshire, drawing national attention because they could help decide which party controls Congress.
In Massachusetts, voters are asked whether to reelect a full slate of Democratic incumbents for statewide office, including the U.S. senator and the governor. The ballot also includes U.S. House seats, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, Governor's Council, the state Senate and House, and district attorney in Bristol and Norfolk counties. There are also nine binding statewide ballot questions, the most Massachusetts voters have ever been asked to weigh at once. They cover public records law, collective bargaining for CPCS employees, state primaries, Election Day registration, a state revenue limit and rebate, a natural resource conservation fund, single-family homes, a ban on retail sales of recreational marijuana, and firearms regulation. The state's Information for Voters book gives the full text of each, along with arguments for and against.
Early voting ran October 17 through 30, and the registration deadline was October 24. For mail ballots, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin urged people not to rely on the postal service. State law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive until November 6, but he encouraged voters to use a drop box, available in nearly every city and town, until 8 p.m. Voters must use the box in the community where they are registered. The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send about 1,000 election monitors across all 50 states, including to Lowell and Boston, and to Manchester and Nashua in New Hampshire. There are concerns that their presence could discourage some people from voting.
Results will arrive unevenly, because Massachusetts elections are run by 351 separate jurisdictions that release totals on their own schedules. The state has no automatic recounts. Statewide and district candidates can request one if the margin is no more than 0.5% of the vote. About 2.4 million votes were cast in the 2022 governor's race. Polls close at 8 p.m. in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut, and at 7 p.m. in Vermont. New Hampshire polls close at 7, 7:30 or 8 p.m. depending on the town.
The sharpest contest is in Maine, where Republican Sen. Susan Collins seeks a record sixth term against Democrat Troy Jackson. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, and unseating Collins is a step Democrats need toward the four seats required to retake the chamber. She is the only Senate Republican representing a state Kamala Harris carried in 2024. Her 51% in 2020 was her weakest showing since 1996, yet no Democratic opponent has topped 44% in her five previous races. Jackson, a former logger and former Republican who became state Senate president as a Democrat, was chosen at a July convention after Graham Platner withdrew in early July. Platner had won the June primary but faced controversy over a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol and a sexual assault allegation he denies. Jackson has far outraised Collins since July. With outside money counted, pro-Collins forces have outspent pro-Jackson forces on advertising since September 1, $65 million to $55 million, according to AdImpact.
Maine also has open seats for governor, where term-limited Democrat Janet Mills is leaving, and for the 2nd Congressional District, where Democrat Jared Golden is retiring. In the 2nd District, which Trump won in 2024, Democratic state Auditor Matt Dunlap faces former Republican Gov. Paul LePage. For governor, Democrat Hannah Pingree, Republican Bobby Charles and independent state Sen. Rick Bennett are on the ballot. Maine hasn't elected consecutive governors from the same party in 74 years. The Senate and 2nd District races use ranked choice voting because of declared write-in candidates; the governor's race does not.
In New Hampshire, voters are choosing whether to put a Republican in a Senate seat Democrats have held for 15 years, as Jeanne Shaheen is not seeking a fourth term. Democrat Chris Pappas, who has served in the U.S. House since 2019 and would be the first openly gay U.S. senator, faces Republican John E. Sununu, whom Shaheen ousted in 2008 and whose father and brother were governors. Pappas has raised more than $23.7 million, well ahead of Sununu. The governor's race will also decide whether Republicans keep control of the governorship and both legislative chambers. Results from Maine and New Hampshire are the ones to watch for control of the Senate.
Citazioni salienti
If you still have your mail-in ballot, you can bring it to a drop box or your local election office until 8 p.m. on Election Day.— Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin
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Politics & Governance