On the morning of November 3, 2026, American voters move through polling places in a midterm that has become the most expensive election the country has ever held, with more than eleven billion dollars poured into advertising. The question before them is not only who will hold Congress but whether a nation weary of its president's choices will use the ballot to answer him. Democrats appear poised to reclaim the House, while the Senate, currently in Republican hands by a margin of 53 to 47, hangs on a few contests where a single state can tip the balance. Watching from the newsroom, the New Yor
Midterms 2026: Live Results Track Control of Congress, Governors' Races, and Trump's Political Standing
The first Democrat elected statewide in Texas since 1994
Mark
Why is everyone talking about Texas when the Senate map has seven Republican-held seats in play?
Mimi
Because it's the clearest test of a shift. Trump won the state by more than thirteen points in 2024, and Talarico is narrowly ahead of Paxton in polling.
Mark
And the history makes it bigger?
Mimi
No Democrat has won statewide there since 1994. A Talarico win would end that run, and the polls suggest Latino voters moving back left would be the reason.
Luke
Careful with that. It's a narrow polling lead, not a result. And the Latino explanation is what polls suggest, not something anyone has confirmed with votes.
Mark
What about the Senate overall?
Mimi
Republicans hold 53 to 47. Democrats would need to defend Michigan, New Hampshire, and Georgia and flip at least four of seven Republican seats.
Luke
That's described as the most likely path, not a probable one. The House is called likely for Democrats. The Senate is only said to be a shot.
Mark
Is the Trump referendum framing solid?
Mimi
His approval is in the thirties, and several polls show voters ranking Trump-related issues first, including the Iran war, inflation, and gas prices.
Luke
The link between the war and inflation is the article's claim, and it gives no figures. Same with the impeachment talk: Jeffries has signaled possibilities, not commitments.
Mark
So what do we actually know tonight?
Mimi
Polls close starting at 6 P.M. Eastern, and the counts will follow.
Der Puls
- Polls open nationwide, and the first closings at 6 P.M. Eastern will begin to reveal whether the House is changing hands.
- Eleven billion dollars in advertising has flooded a handful of Senate races, with Michigan, Ohio, and Texas absorbing more than a billion dollars alone.
- Democrats must defend Michigan, New Hampshire, and Georgia while flipping at least four of seven Republican-held seats to seize the Senate.
- In Texas, James Talarico holds a narrow lead over Ken Paxton in a state Trump carried by over thirteen points, and a win would mark the first Democratic statewide victory there since 1994.
- Trump's approval has sunk into the thirties, and if Democrats win Congress, Jeffries has promised aggressive oversight of Trump-linked business deals.
On the morning of November 3, 2026, American voters move through polling places in a midterm that has become the most expensive election the country has ever held, with more than eleven billion dollars poured into advertising. The question before them is not only who will hold Congress but whether a nation weary of its president's choices will use the ballot to answer him. Democrats appear poised to reclaim the House, while the Senate, currently in Republican hands by a margin of 53 to 47, hangs on a few contests where a single state can tip the balance. Watching from the newsroom, the New Yorker commits itself to reporting what the count reveals, one returning vote at a time.
Polls open across the country today for the 2026 midterms, and the first results arrive at 6 P.M. Eastern. Voters are choosing which party will control Congress and who will win several major governorships. The New Yorker will publish results as the Associated Press reports them, and will keep updating until the final votes are counted.
Polling suggests Democrats will win back the House. The Senate is a steeper climb. Republicans hold it 53 to 47, so Democrats must hold their seats in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Georgia while flipping at least four of seven Republican-held seats in Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, Maine, Kansas, and Texas.
The cycle has been defined by money. More than eleven billion dollars has gone into advertising, making it the costliest election in American history, and much of it has concentrated in Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.
Texas has become a closely watched bellwether. State representative James Talarico narrowly leads Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a state Trump carried by more than thirteen points in 2024. Latino voters, who swung toward Republicans in 2024 and appear to be returning left, could decide the outcome.
The backdrop is Trump's sagging approval, now in the thirties. Many voters name Trump-related issues, including the war in Iran, inflation, rising gas prices, and data center construction, among their top concerns. If Democrats take Congress, Representative Hakeem Jeffries has signaled aggressive oversight, including probes of business dealings by people close to the administration and possibly impeachment hearings.
The night may also offer a preview of 2028, as Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, and Jon Ossoff all appear on the ballot. The New Yorker will carry live coverage from battleground states through the night, with coverage continuing in its newsletter and podcast in the days after.
Polls open across the country today in the 2026 midterm elections, and the first ones close at 6 P.M. Eastern. Voters are deciding which party controls Congress and who wins a set of consequential governorships. The New Yorker says it will publish results as reported by the Associated Press until the final votes are counted.
Recent polling points to Democrats taking the House back from Republicans. The Senate is harder. Republicans hold it 53 to 47, and the most likely Democratic route runs through two tasks at once: defending seats in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Georgia, and flipping at least four of seven competitive Republican-held seats. Those seven are in Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, Maine, Kansas, and Texas.
Money has defined the cycle. More than eleven billion dollars has gone into campaign advertising alone, which makes this the most expensive election in American history, presidential years included. Most of it has landed on a handful of Senate contests, and more than a billion dollars has gone to just three states: Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.
Texas is the race many Democrats are watching most closely. State representative James Talarico holds a narrow polling lead over Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a state President Donald Trump carried by more than thirteen points in 2024. A Talarico win would make him the first Democrat elected statewide there since 1994. If it happens, the polls suggest Latino voters would be a major reason. They swung sharply toward Republicans in 2024 and appear to have moved back to the left.
The backdrop is Trump's standing. His approval rating has fallen into the thirties, recently touching the lowest level of either of his terms. Democratic candidates have tried to turn the election into a referendum on him, and several recent polls show voters ranking Trump-related issues among their top concerns. Those include his war in Iran, which has contributed to high inflation and rising gas prices, and the construction of data centers, which he has championed.
If Democrats win Congress, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the presumptive Speaker, has signaled aggressive oversight. That would include investigations into business deals by people close to the Trump Administration, reform of immigration enforcement, and possibly impeachment hearings.
The night may also preview 2028. Several potential Democratic presidential candidates are on the ballot themselves: Maryland governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, and Georgia senator Jon Ossoff. Their results will be an early test of their strength.
The New Yorker plans live updates through Election Day and into the night, with reporters filing from battleground states and columnists adding analysis as votes come in. Coverage continues in the days after through its newsletter and The Political Scene Podcast. The first returns arrive at six.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Jeffries has signaled plans for aggressive oversight, including investigations into Trump-linked business deals, immigration-enforcement reform, and possibly impeachment hearings.— Paraphrase of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, per The New Yorker
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