Live updates: U.S. voters go to polls as control of Congress hangs in the balance
Republicans enter Election Day with slight advantages in the Senate and House of Representatives, but the GOP is at risk of losing control of both chambers.
by NBC Staff, NBC Staff · 5 NBCDFWWhat to Know
- Voters across the U.S. go to the polls today for the 2026 midterm elections as control of Congress hangs in the balance.
- Republicans enter Election Day with slight advantages in the Senate (53-47) and House of Representatives (219-214).
- But the GOP is at risk of losing control of both chambers. President Donald Trump's approval rating is 22 points underwater, according to the latest NBC News poll, with inflation and cost of living among the top issues concerning voters.
- There are several battleground Senate races to watch, including Abdul El-Sayed against Mike Rogers in Michigan, Ken Paxton against James Talarico in Texas, and Sen. Susan Collins against Troy Jackson in Maine.
- Gubernatorial races are taking place in 36 states, including California, Florida, Ohio and Texas.
Follow live updates below.
First polling sites open for the midterm elections
The first polling sites opened at 6 a.m. ET Tuesday in a handful of states — Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. At 6:30 a.m. ET, polls opened in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia, followed by Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina at 7 a.m. ET.
The last polls open in Alaska and Washington at 11 a.m. ET and finally 12 p.m. ET in Hawaii.
Live updates: U.S. voters go to polls as control of Congress hangs in the balance
What to Know
- Voters across the U.S. go to the polls today for the 2026 midterm elections as control of Congress hangs in the balance.
- Republicans enter Election Day with slight advantages in the Senate (53-47) and House of Representatives (219-214).
- But the GOP is at risk of losing control of both chambers. President Donald Trump's approval rating is 22 points underwater, according to the latest NBC News poll, with inflation and cost of living among the top issues concerning voters.
- There are several battleground Senate races to watch, including Abdul El-Sayed against Mike Rogers in Michigan, Ken Paxton against James Talarico in Texas, and Sen. Susan Collins against Troy Jackson in Maine.
- Gubernatorial races are taking place in 36 states, including California, Florida, Ohio and Texas.
Follow live updates below.