Breaking: Election Day is here! Make your selections for Congress, governors and your voice

It is Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and polls are open across the United States. This midterm election, held halfway through President Donald Trump's second term, will determine which party controls Congress for the final two years of his administration. According to Ballotpedia and USA.gov, all 435 seats in the U.S. House and 35 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for grabs, along with 36 governorships. The outcome will shape the balance of power in Washington and influence the trajectory of the nation's policies on the economy, health care, and foreign affairs.

According to the Associated Press, the election is widely viewed as a referendum on the president's second term. Many voters are struggling with high prices and are angry over an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while only 25% approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 respondents say the country is heading in the wrong direction, with most blaming the president for high prices. This sentiment is driving voter turnout, with more than 57 million people having already voted as of Monday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.

Democratic figures are emphasizing the stakes of the day. Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, stated that the American people are angry and want change. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight of the administration if Democrats regain control of the House. Jeffries would become the first Black speaker of the House. In Raleigh, North Carolina, voter James Moore, a 57-year-old librarian, expressed the typical concern of his demographic. Moore said he is paying more taxes, more for health care, and more for everything. These personal financial struggles are at the heart of the Democratic message today.

The Republican Party is bracing for the possibility of losing the House while fighting to hold the Senate. According to the Associated Press, one or two seats could tip either chamber. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized that everything depends on turnout, noting that if they turn out their voters, they win. Trump held dozens of rallies in the days leading up to the election, ending Sunday in Salina, Kansas, where he told supporters to pretend he is on the ballot. His schedule included stops in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Many Republican candidates have kept some distance from the president, who has continued to make claims about voting fraud, including that noncitizens vote in large numbers.

Money is playing a significant role in this election, which is likely to be the most expensive in history. According to an AP analysis of AdImpact data, Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. 88.1% of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024, including more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more. Democrats are working to overcome this financial advantage by focusing on high-turnout states and battleground districts where they can make gains.

Redistricting has also changed the landscape for this election. Six states, including California, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, are using new congressional maps after mid-decade redistricting. Ohio is also using a new map. Republicans tried to beat the typical midterm pattern of losing seats by redrawing districts, but new districts in Florida and elsewhere may not vote as drawn. Ballotpedia counts 46 battleground districts in the House, with 25 held by Democrats and 21 by Republicans. Democrats need a net gain of three districts for a majority, while Republicans can lose no more than two.

In the Senate, the stakes are equally high. Democrats need a net gain of four seats for a majority, while Republicans can lose only two. There are 13 key Senate battlegrounds, including races in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. In Maine, the race between Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson is considered a toss-up, with economic strain and tariffs making the state competitive. In North Carolina, former Gov. Roy Cooper is challenging former RNC chair Michael Whatley for the seat of retiring Sen. Thom Tillis. In Ohio, Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown is running against Republican Sen. Jon Husted.

Governor races are also critical, with 36 seats up for election. Democrats are hoping to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson is facing Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. In Nevada, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is battling Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is competing against Democrat Amy Acton. The AP calls Texas, Florida, and Iowa competitive governor races. These state-level races will determine who sets the tone for state policies on health care, education, and the economy for the next two years.

Voters are also watching for signs of how the election will affect the broader political landscape. If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. A strong Democratic night would boost potential 2028 candidates like Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg, and could complicate Vice President JD Vance's path. Republicans are trying to maintain their majority in both chambers to prevent such oversight. The results will also have implications for Wall Street, with Reuters noting that results could add to investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations.

To vote today, you can find your polling place at vote.gov or your state election office. Poll hours vary by state, so it is important to check the specific times for your area. For example, in North Carolina, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time. In Ohio, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In Pennsylvania, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In New York, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. In Texas, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In Florida, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern and Central time. In California, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., though much of the state votes by mail.

ID rules vary by state, so check your state's rules before going to the polls. Anyone in line when polls close is entitled to vote, so it is important to get to your polling place early. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure that mail ballots are counted on time. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting, and another judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on its lists of suspected noncitizens. These legal moves aim to protect the rights of eligible voters.