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US Politics

Americans vote in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress

Republicans hold the Senate 53-47, and final Times/Siena polls show Democrats ahead in most tossup races, but some results may take days.

58 news outlets reported this
Liberal22 outletsa referendum on Trump, plus when results arriveCenter17 outletshow the vote works, which races to watchConservative19 outletswhat's at stake and getting voters out
UpdatedFirst published 3 min read
What's new

— Outlets report record early voting, poll-closing times and warnings that some results may take days. The Guardian reports the US reportedly struck Qeshm Island in Iran on Monday. Fox News reports its rankings moved Kansas' Senate race to toss-up.

Overview

Americans vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in elections that will decide which party controls for the last two years of President Trump's second term. Every House seat and 35 seats are on the ballot, along with many governorships and state legislative seats. Republicans hold the Senate 53-47, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take it.

Vice President JD Vance can break a tie. set a midterm record. The final New York Times/Siena polls show Democrats ahead in Michigan, Texas, Kansas, Maine and Ohio, with an edge in Alaska and an effective tie in Iowa.

The Hill says the polls came out Sunday and most of the seven races are statistical ties. Trump predicts Republicans will keep both chambers. Polls start closing Tuesday evening Eastern time, and some races could take days to call.

Alaska's Senate race has drawn attention over a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. Separately, The Guardian reports that the US reportedly struck Qeshm Island in Iran on Monday, with officials saying the strikes were defensive.

Key figures
  • Over 57 million voters who have already cast early ballots, by CBS News' count — CBS News
  • more than 54 million early ballots cast, according to the Associated Press as reported by Fox News — Fox News
  • 53-47 current Republican edge in the Senate — ABC News
  • 11-point Democratic lead in Michigan's Senate race, per Times/Siena polling cited by The Hill — The Hill
  • 145 statewide ballot measures voters weigh, per Fox News — Fox News

Three sides of the story

Liberal22 outlets

a referendum on Trump, plus when results arrive

The Guardian's live blog calls the vote a " on Trump's agenda" and reports that the US reportedly struck Qeshm Island in Iran on Monday. It says voters can express frustration over the "ill-judged war" and fuel prices. The Independent's Senate tracker asks whether Democrats can overturn Trump's key majority and cites voter discontent over Trump, the Iran war and prices.

Al Jazeera explains the timing of results and quotes Trump saying he would respect the outcome "if there are honest elections." ABC News runs a wire report noting the AP took four days to call the Senate in 2022 and eight for . CBS News lists poll hours and says over 57 million voters have already voted early.

The New York Times runs three pieces on its Times/Siena polls, saying Democrats lead most races, and asks whether the final polls can be trusted.

Center17 outlets

how the vote works, which races to watch

Deutsche Welle explains how midterms work, says Trump's approval ratings are at a record low and reports that polls show the Texas Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton tied. BBC News walks through poll-closing times and the Ohio and Maine Senate races, and recalls that the full 2022 results took days. The Seattle Times gives state-by-state timing and notes that early-voting Democrats could produce "blue mirages."

Newsweek reports early voting running ahead of 2022 and says early totals do not necessarily predict the result. The Las Vegas Review-Journal looks at how Nevada's Lombardo-Ford race and legislative supermajorities could shape governing. The Hill reports Democrats edging Republicans in seven Senate races, mostly statistical ties, according to New York Times/Siena polling.

Forbes titles its piece on the latest polls with Democrats leading nearly all key Senate races, and says the outlook is "increasingly grim."

Conservative19 outlets

what's at stake and getting voters out

Fox News describes Republicans defending slim majorities and quotes Trump telling a Kansas rally, "We're going to win." It cites its Power Rankings, which point to a Democratic House and a Senate toss-up, and quotes RNC Chair Joe Gruters: "If our voters turn out, we win." The New York Post previews eight California House races, including the contest for Nancy Pelosi's seat.

A RedState writer urges conservatives not to sit out the vote and argues the Times/Siena poll oversamples white Democrats. The Daily Signal, in a piece from Heritage Action, says the election will shape state governments and everyday life. The Dispatch's Advisory Opinions podcast covers the Alaska Senate race and a California lawsuit over noncitizens on voter rolls.

All sources: 250 articles from 58 outlets

Liberal (132)

Center (70)

Conservative (48)

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Midterm elections

US elections halfway through a president's four-year term. The whole House, a third of the Senate and many governors are elected. In 2026 Election Day is November 3.

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Congress

The US parliament: the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill becomes law when both pass it and the president signs it.

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Senate

The upper chamber of Congress: 100 senators, two per state, elected for six years. It confirms judges and ministers and approves treaties.

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Early voting

Voting in person before Election Day. Each state sets the dates and rules.

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Ballot measure

A law or constitutional change that voters approve or reject directly at the polls, alongside the candidates. Names vary by state: proposition, initiative, referendum, amendment.

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House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress: 435 members elected every two years, with more seats for bigger states. It is the chamber that can impeach officials.

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Toss-up

A race so close that either side could win. In election forecasts it is the most uncertain rating.

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GOP

“Grand Old Party”: a nickname for the Republican Party, used since the 1870s. GOP and Republican mean the same thing.

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