Breaking: Election Day is here! Make your selections: The fight for the House and Senate

It is Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the nation is gathered at the polls to determine who will control Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs, along with 35 seats in the Senate and 36 governorships. According to Ballotpedia, Republicans currently hold a majority in the House with 218 seats, while Democrats hold 214. To secure a majority in the House, Democrats need a net gain of three districts, whereas Republicans can afford to lose no more than two. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats and Democrats hold 45, with two independents caucusing with the Democrats. Democrats require a net gain of four Senate seats to take control, a hurdle that makes every race critical for both parties.

The mood in the country is charged with economic anxiety. According to the Associated Press, the election is being viewed as a referendum on the president's performance, with voters struggling with high prices and expressing anger over an unpopular war with Iran. AP and NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while only 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. Roughly seven in ten Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Most voters blame the president for the rise in prices. This sentiment is evident in the comments of voters heading to the polls today. Mark Barker of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, said he has been following Trump the whole time and really thinks he is doing an awesome job. In contrast, James Moore, a 57-year-old librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, noted that he is paying more taxes, more for healthcare, and more for everything.

Republican leaders are bracing for a potential loss of the House and are fighting to hold the Senate. According to the Associated Press, one or two seats could tip either chamber. Joe Gruters, the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, emphasized the importance of participation, stating that everything depends on turnout. He said that if they turn out their voters, they will win, and that this has been their plan. President Trump held dozens of rallies in the days leading up to today, ending his schedule Sunday in Salina, Kansas. There, he told supporters that he really wants them to pretend he is on the ballot. Many Republican candidates have kept some distance from the president during this cycle, though his administration has continued to file lawsuits related to voting certification in states like Alaska and California.

In New England, voters are making their selections in a series of competitive races. In Massachusetts, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters are deciding the fate of incumbent Senate candidate Edward J. Markey and incumbent Governor Maura Healey. In Rhode Island, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The state is holding a Senate race featuring incumbent Jack Reed and an open seat for governor, as Daniel McKee lost his primary. In New Hampshire, polling hours vary by municipality, with polls open by 11 a.m. and closing no earlier than 7 p.m. The state is holding an open Senate seat following Jeanne Shaheen's retirement and a governor's race where incumbent Kelly Ayotte is defending the office. In Vermont, polls are open between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. There is no Senate race in the state, but voters are choosing between incumbent Governor Phil Scott and his opponents. In Maine, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters are deciding the Senate race for incumbent Susan Collins and an open governor's seat.

The Senate battlegrounds include thirteen races that are closely watched. In Maine, incumbent Susan Collins faces Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. The Associated Press notes that economic strain and tariffs have made the state competitive, and race ratings describe the contest as a toss-up. In New Hampshire, Democratic Representative Chris Pappas is challenging former Republican Senator John E. Sununu for the seat left vacant by Jeanne Shaheen's retirement. In Iowa, the seat is open as Joni Ernst retires, and the race is viewed as a toss-up or a tilt toward Republicans. In Kansas, a reliably Republican state, the race for Roger Marshall has become central to the fight for Senate control, with ratings ranging from toss-up to lean Republican. In Alaska, Dan Sullivan faces a challenge in a race rated as a toss-up to lean Democratic. The Trump administration filed a lawsuit related to the certification of the Senate result in that state.

Other key Senate matchups include North Carolina, where Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper faces former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. In Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff is running against Republican Representative Mike Collins. In Ohio, Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown is challenging Republican Senator Jon Husted in a special election. In Michigan, Republican former Representative Mike Rogers is facing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. On Sunday, El-Sayed's former primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Trump backed over Senator John Cornyn in the primary, is running against Democrat James Talarico. In Minnesota, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are among four candidates competing for the seat of retiring Senator Tina Smith. These races will determine if Democrats can achieve the net gain of four seats required for a majority.

Governor races are also significant, with 36 offices on the ballot. Republicans currently hold 26 governorships and Democrats hold 24. Democrats hope to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades. In New Hampshire, incumbent Kelly Ayotte is defending her seat in a state that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. In Vermont, incumbent Phil Scott is running for re-election. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson is facing Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is challenging Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is running against Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy's campaign faced backlash over an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. The Associated Press also identifies Texas, Florida, and Iowa as competitive governor races.

Turnout is the central theme of the day. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote of four years ago in many closely watched states. The Associated Press describes Democrats as cautiously optimistic, while Republicans are bracing for a potential House loss. The 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. According to an AP analysis of AdImpact data, 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This includes more than $850 million spent in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

Voters are heading to the polls to make their selections. To find a polling place, citizens can visit vote.gov or their state election office. It is important to check state rules regarding identification, as they vary by state. Anyone who is in line when polls close is entitled to vote. In New England, Massachusetts and Rhode Island polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Maine polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Hampshire polls vary by town but are open by 11 a.m. and close no earlier than 7 p.m. Vermont polls open between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. 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 lists of suspected noncitizens.