Midterm 2026: Senate and Governor Races from the State Lines

It is Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the nation is deciding the balance of power for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. The Associated Press describes the contest as a referendum on the administration, with voters weighing in on high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.

In the U.S. Senate, 35 seats are on the ballot. Republicans hold 53 seats while Democrats hold 45, with two independents caucusing with the Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control, a hurdle that makes the race tight. Republicans can afford to lose only two seats. Eleven senators, four Democrats and seven Republicans, are not running again. The winners of these races will begin their six-year terms on January 3, 2027.

Thirteen Senate races are considered battlegrounds according to Ballotpedia. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff faces Republican Representative Mike Collins. The AP notes that the state leaned Democratic in recent polling. In Ohio, Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown challenges Republican Senator Jon Husted. In Michigan, Republican former Representative Mike Rogers competes against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. On Sunday, El-Sayed's former primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers, adding a notable twist to the race.

Other key Senate matchups include North Carolina, where Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper faces former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, backed by President Trump, runs against Democrat James Talarico. In Maine, Senator Susan Collins faces Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. The AP says economic strain and tariffs have made the state competitive. In Kansas, a reliably Republican state, the race has become central to the fight for Senate control.

Thirty-six governorships are also up for grabs. Heading into the election, Republicans hold 26 governor's offices and Democrats hold 24. Of the offices on the ballot, each party holds 18. Nineteen of these races do not have an incumbent on the ballot. Fifteen governors are term-limited, and three others, including Iowa's Kim Reynolds, Minnesota's Tim Walz, and Wisconsin's Tony Evers, chose not to run. Rhode Island's Daniel McKee lost his primary.

Democrats are defending five governorships in states that Trump won in 2024, including Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Republicans are defending two in states that Kamala Harris won, specifically New Hampshire and Vermont. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson competes against Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford.

In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy runs against Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy's campaign faced backlash over an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. The AP calls Texas, Florida, and Iowa competitive governor races. Democrats hope to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades, a feat they have not achieved since 2010. The outcome of these races will shape state budgets and policies for the next four years.

The mood among voters is divided. AP-NORC polling shows that 35 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. About 7 in 10 say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Most blame the president for high prices. Voter James Moore, a 57-year-old librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, said, "I'm paying more taxes. I'm paying more for my healthcare. I'm paying more for everything."

Conversely, voter Mark Barker of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, expressed support for the president. "I've just been following Trump the whole time. I really think he's doing an awesome job," Barker said. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized the importance of turnout, stating, "Everything depends on turnout. If we turn out our voters, we win, and that's what we've been planning for." DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene countered, "The American people are angry. They want change."

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 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 in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

Election administration has been a point of contention. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting. Another judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. Wall Street is watching closely, as results could impact investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations.

Voters can find their polling place at vote.gov or their state election office. Anyone in line when polls close is entitled to vote. ID rules vary by state, so voters should check their state's rules before going. Poll hours vary, with states like California and Colorado having largely mail-based voting. The results of today's election will determine who controls Congress and which party holds the majority of governorships, setting the stage for the rest of the decade.