US Midterms 2026 Election Results Live Updates: Democrats set to control both House and Senate

US President Donald Trump praised Democrats for their efforts in the elections, saying they had done a ‘good job’ and expressing his willingness to work with them on issues such as immigration. “I think the Democrats did a good job. I really do. I think they did a good job. They fought hard,” Trump told Fox News early Wednesday morning. “They’ve been fighting me for a long time. This fight’s been going on for ages.”

Trump acknowledged that his administration may not find common ground with Democrats on every issue but maintained that cooperation was possible on immigration. “I mean, we can work with them on immigration. I think immigration is a big deal. I’ve always felt we should be able to work on immigration.”

Republican Senator Susan Collins is projected to lose her re-election bid in Maine, handing Democrats a long-sought victory in a state that has traditionally leaned towards the party. Collins, a moderate Republican who was seeking her sixth term, was defeated by Democrat Troy Jackson, the former president of the Maine Senate. Her loss marks a significant setback for Republicans in a state that President Donald Trump has lost in all three of his presidential election campaigns.

Democrat Peggy Flanagan won election to the US Senate from Minnesota on Wednesday, defeating Republican Michele Tafoya and retaining a crucial seat for her party as Democrats sought to gain control of the Senate in Washington. Flanagan, who currently serves as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and is a member of the Ojibwe Native American tribe, will succeed Democratic Senator Tina Smith, who chose not to seek re-election.

Her victory also marks a significant win for progressives at a time when the Democratic Party’s left wing has been gaining influence. Tafoya, meanwhile, entered the political arena for the first time after building a career as a sideline reporter covering NFL football broadcasts.

Democrat Adam Hamilton is projected to win the Kansas Senate race, defeating Republican Senator Roger Marshall in a major upset in a traditionally Republican state that emerged as a focal point of the GOP’s midterm election setbacks. Kansas voters backed Hamilton’s appeal to take a chance on his candidacy, making him the first Democrat in 94 years to win a Senate seat from the state. Calling for an end to the political divisions in Washington, Hamilton said, “This is not a Republican or Democrat thing. It’s a human decency thing.”

A fifth-generation Kansan and pastor of the nation’s largest Methodist church, Hamilton was contesting his first election for public office. During the campaign, he faced strong criticism from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom visited Kansas to attack his religious beliefs and question his intentions.

Texas state Representative James Talarico broke his party’s decades-long losing streak on Tuesday, defeating Republican Ken Paxton in a Senate race that had once appeared to be a difficult challenge for Democrats. Talarico’s victory was driven by several factors, including vulnerabilities surrounding Paxton and the Democrat’s strong fundraising performance. The last Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat was Lloyd Bentsen in 1988. Talarico was born in May 1989, just months after that historic victory.

US President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to accept the outcome of the elections, putting aside, for now, speculation over whether he might challenge the results. “I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” Trump said in an interview with The New York Times. “We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” he told the newspaper.

SENATE
DEM- 49
REP- 37

HOUSE
DEM- 138
REP- 88

Democrat and former Senator Sherrod Brown is projected to return to the US Senate after defeating Republican Senator Jon Husted in Ohio. His victory delivers a significant win for Democrats in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Brown’s win marks a major political comeback in a state that has leaned Republican over the past decade. He lost his re-election bid just two years ago to Republican Senator Bernie Moreno but has now reclaimed a seat in the Senate.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa is projected to become Texas’ first Latina governor, bringing an end to more than three decades of Republican control of the governor’s office. Hinojosa, a 52-year-old state lawmaker and attorney, defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking an unprecedented fourth term. With her victory, she becomes the first Democrat to win the governorship since Ann Richards in 1990 and only the third woman to hold the office in Texas history.

Democratic state Representative James Talarico is projected to win the Texas Senate race, according to CNN’s Decision Desk, defeating Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton in a major upset. At 37, Talarico becomes the first Democrat elected to represent Texas in the US Senate in 38 years. He is also the first Democrat to win a statewide election in the state since 1994. His victory stands out as one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 midterm elections, as he defeated the Republican candidate in a state that President Donald Trump carried by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024.

Democrat Amy Acton is projected to become Ohio’s next governor, after defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in a closely watched race that attracted national attention over a controversial attack ad. With her victory, Acton becomes the first Democrat to win Ohio’s governorship since 2006 and the first woman ever elected to the state’s top office. She will succeed outgoing Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who was barred from seeking another term due to term limits.

Annie Andrews celebrated her upset victory in South Carolina’s Senate race, saying the state had shown the nation what is possible. “I think we just made some history,” Andrews said. In a major upset, Andrews defeated Senator Darline Graham, flipping a seat that Republicans have held for nearly three decades. With her victory, she will become the first woman from South Carolina to be elected to the US Senate. She took the stage to the tune of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” as an energetic crowd cheered, waved signs and chanted her name.

Democrat Annie Andrews is projected to defeat Republican Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina’s US Senate race, flipping a seat Republicans have held for nearly three decades, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Andrews, a pediatrician, will make history as the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the US Senate. The last Democrat to win a Senate race in the state was Fritz Hollings in 1998.

The projected victory marks a major political upset in a traditionally Republican state that backed President Donald Trump by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. However, the race had become increasingly competitive since Graham secured the Republican nomination in late August.

Democrat Rebecca Bennett won election to the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, defeating Republican incumbent Thomas H. Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Bennett, a former Navy pilot, flipped the politically competitive district, which includes President Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club. Her campaign focused on public concerns over rising prices, called for an end to the war with Iran and urged Congress to place limits on Trump’s use of import tariffs.

The district has switched political parties in each of the last two midterm elections. Kean’s defeat follows a prolonged absence from Congress earlier this year, during which he missed more than 100 votes. He later explained that he had been struggling with depression.

Democrat Paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, is projected to defeat Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Cognetti’s victory returns the competitive seat to Democratic control after Bresnahan flipped it in 2024. Bresnahan, a first-term lawmaker, was among four Republican incumbents targeted by Pennsylvania Democrats in the midterm elections. During her campaign, Cognetti presented herself as an alternative to what she described as politics driven by self-interest and pledged to push for an audit of Congress.

Democrat Stefany Shaheen won election to the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Anthony DiLorenzo in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Shaheen secured the open seat previously held by Democratic Representative Chris Pappas, who ran for the US Senate. She is the daughter of retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. A former member of the Portsmouth City Council, Stefany Shaheen focused her campaign on expanding access to healthcare. DiLorenzo, a first-time political candidate, entered the race with the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Republican Representative Andy Barr is projected to win Kentucky’s US Senate race, defeating Democratic challenger Charles Booker and securing the seat being vacated by longtime Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. President Donald Trump played a significant role in the Republican primary, endorsing Barr shortly after offering a rival candidate an ambassadorship in an apparent effort to persuade him to leave the race. Booker had hoped to make history as the first Black senator to represent Kentucky but fell short in his bid against Barr.

The 2026 midterm elections have brought several historic victories, with candidates across the country projected to break longstanding political barriers and make history in state and federal offices.

Keisha Lance Bottoms – Georgia: Bottoms is projected to become Georgia’s first Black governor, the state’s first female governor and the first Black woman elected governor in US history. The former Atlanta mayor, who also served in the Biden administration, defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Rick Jackson.

Chris Pappas – New Hampshire: Pappas is projected to become the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. His victory also allows Democrats to retain a key Senate seat that Republicans had viewed as a major opportunity for a pickup. Pappas previously served four terms in the House, representing southeastern New Hampshire.

Byron Donalds – Florida: Donalds is projected to become Florida’s first Black governor. His campaign focused on tax reforms, regulating data centers and supporting President Donald Trump’s agenda in a state that has increasingly leaned Republican in state and federal elections.

Melat Kiros – Colorado: Kiros is projected to become the first Black woman to represent Colorado in the US House of Representatives, following her victory in the state’s 1st Congressional District.

Adam Hamawy – New Jersey: Hamawy is projected to become the first Muslim member of Congress from New Jersey after winning the state’s 12th Congressional District.

Claire Valdez – New York: Valdez is projected to become the first Native American woman elected to represent New York in Congress after winning the state’s 7th Congressional District.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to win Georgia’s gubernatorial race, making history as the first Black woman elected governor in the United States, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. The former Atlanta mayor will also become the first African American and the first woman elected to serve as Georgia’s governor. Bottoms defeated Republican rival Rick Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive and political newcomer who entered the race this election cycle. Jackson used his personal wealth to defeat several established Republican candidates in the primary and fund an extensive advertising campaign during the general election.

Republican Byron Donalds won Florida’s gubernatorial election on Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger David Jolly to become the state’s first Black governor. Donalds, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021, is a strong ally of President Donald Trump. He will succeed fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, who was unable to seek another term due to term limits. Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994. Jolly, Donalds’ opponent, is a former Republican member of Congress.

Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries is projected to win re-election to the US House of Representatives, securing his eighth term in Congress, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Jeffries, who represents a Brooklyn-based district, comfortably defeated his Republican challenger. His re-election also positions him to potentially become the first Black Speaker of the House if Democrats succeed in regaining control of the chamber.

Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley has conceded the North Carolina Senate race to Democrat Roy Cooper, confirming that he called his opponent to acknowledge his victory and offer congratulations. Addressing supporters at his election night headquarters, Whatley said, “While the results today are not what we’ve been working for, my commitment to you in this great state remains as strong as ever,” Whatley said at his election night headquarters. “I will never stop fighting for North Carolina.”

Democratic Representative Chris Pappas celebrated his victory in New Hampshire’s Senate race on Tuesday, declaring that “New Hampshire showed up today.” “Tonight’s results are a wake up call for corporate special interests and billionaires who have been rigging the economy, for the cowards in Congress who have enabled healthcare cuts, tariffs and war,” Pappas said during his victory speech. “And for the incompetent president who can’t even be bothered to care how people are being hurt.”

Pappas made history with his victory, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. He also revealed that Republican opponent and former Senator John E. Sununu had called him after the results to congratulate him and wish his team well. “I wish the same for him and his family,” Pappas said. “And I think we all owe John Sununu a big debt of gratitude for his public service for the people of New Hampshire.”

Democrat Phil Weiser won the Colorado gubernatorial election on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Victor Marx to become the state’s next governor. Weiser, who currently serves as Colorado’s attorney general, previously worked in the presidential administrations of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. He will succeed Democratic Governor Jared Polis, who is barred from seeking another term due to term limits. Marx, a Marine Corps veteran, founded All Things Possible Ministries. He previously claimed that his abusive stepfather forced him to kill a man when he was just seven years old.

Republican Representative Harriet Hageman is projected to win Wyoming’s open U.S. Senate seat, defeating Democratic challenger James Byrd, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Hageman, who has represented Wyoming’s at-large congressional district since 2023, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump. She entered Congress after defeating then-Republican Representative Liz Cheney in the 2022 primary election. Hageman will succeed retiring Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, who made history in 2020 as the first woman elected to represent Wyoming in the US Senate.

Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is projected to win a full second term as New York’s governor, defeating Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Hochul assumed office in August 2021 following the resignation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, making history as New York’s first female governor.

Indian-origin Democrat Suhas Subramanyam has secured re-election to the US House of Representatives from Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in the 2026 midterm elections, defeating Republican challenger Dave T. Beckwith.

Illinois Democrat Juliana Stratton’s election to the US Senate marks a historic milestone, bringing the number of Black women serving in the chamber simultaneously to three for the first time in US history. Stratton will join Democratic Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, who were not up for re-election in this election cycle.

Democrat Jamie Ager is projected to defeat Republican Jennifer Balkcom in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, according to CNN’s Decision Desk, flipping the seat from Republican to Democratic control. The victory gives Democrats a seat previously held by Republican Representative Chuck Edwards, who ended his re-election campaign in August after a congressional ethics panel found “substantial evidence” that he had repeatedly made unwanted advances toward two female staff members. However, a spokesperson for Edwards’ campaign maintained that the outgoing congressman “did not violate federal sexual harassment law.”

Republican candidate John E. Sununu has conceded the New Hampshire Senate race to Democratic Representative Chris Pappas, according to video footage released by WMUR. “This has been an incredible campaign, but it is not our night,” Sununu said, thanking his campaign team and confirming that he had called Pappas to congratulate him on his victory.

Pappas made history as the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. His campaign focused on addressing affordability and expanding access to healthcare, while frequently linking Sununu to the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump is hosting an election night reception in the White House East Room, where Cabinet members and political advisers have gathered to watch the results come in, according to a White House official. Trump’s social media posts on Truth Social have reflected a sour mood, as he has repeatedly criticized Fox News over its election coverage.

Republican Senator Ashley Moody is projected to win re-election in Florida, defeating Democratic challenger and state Representative Angie Nixon, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Nixon, who describes herself as a democratic socialist, ran a campaign that energized progressive and Black voters but faced challenges in Florida’s increasingly conservative political landscape. Moody was appointed to the Senate by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year to fill the vacancy left by Marco Rubio, who resigned after being confirmed as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state.

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is projected to win the state’s US Senate race, defeating Republican Michael Whatley, according to CNN’s Decision Desk. Cooper, a key Democratic recruit for the election cycle, will become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina since Kay Hagan in 2008. The state emerged as a major target for Democrats after Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced last year that he would not seek re-election following two terms in office.

Democratic Representative Chris Pappas is projected to win New Hampshire’s open US Senate seat, according to CNN’s Decision Desk, making history as the first openly gay man elected to the Senate. Pappas defeated Republican former Senator John E. Sununu in a closely watched contest. Sununu previously held the seat before losing to Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen in 2008. Shaheen is now retiring, leaving the seat open.

Regardless of the election outcome, Maine Democrats are embracing the “Blue Wave” theme at their election night party at the Holiday Inn in Portland. The event’s cash bar is serving a $15 cocktail named the “Blue Wave,” featuring Tito’s vodka, blueberry syrup and lemon juice, topped with soda water. Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree are expected to attend the gathering later tonight.

As polls close across much of Texas, supporters of James Talarico are gathering at an election night rally in a park along Lady Bird Lake, overlooking downtown Austin, as they await the results. Talarico has taken an early lead over Ken Paxton, largely driven by early voting results. However, Democrats caution that the outcome remains uncertain, with crucial Election Day ballots still to be counted.

Early voting results from Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties in North Texas are often among the first to be reported. Campaign officials are also closely monitoring Election Day returns from those counties, along with Harris, Bexar, Travis and other key areas, to assess whether Talarico can overcome historical voting trends in Texas.

Democratic incumbent Kathy Castor is projected to win re-election in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, according to CNN’s Decision Desk, securing an 11th term despite Republican-led redistricting that made the seat more competitive. Castor’s campaign focused on affordability and local infrastructure. She defeated Republican challenger Mike Beltran, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Democratic incumbent Jared Moskowitz won re-election to the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Scott Singer in Florida’s 25th Congressional District and securing a third term in office. Singer, a former three-term mayor of Boca Raton, campaigned as an ally of President Donald Trump. Moskowitz’s victory came in a district whose boundaries were recently redrawn as part of Republican efforts to strengthen their position in Congress.

Democrat Pia Dandiya is projected to win Florida’s redrawn 22nd Congressional District, according to CNN’s Decision Desk, overcoming revised district boundaries designed to make the seat more favourable to Republicans. Dandiya, a former high school principal, defeated Republican challenger Casey Askar, a pizza entrepreneur who largely financed his own campaign.

Democrat Wes Moore won re-election as Maryland governor on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Dan Cox to secure a second term in office. Moore, who made history in 2022 as Maryland’s first Black governor, is also considered a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race. Before entering politics, he served as a combat veteran, earned a Rhodes Scholarship, authored books and led an anti-poverty nonprofit as its CEO. Cox, an attorney and former Maryland state lawmaker, also faced Moore in the 2022 gubernatorial election but was defeated.

Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro won re-election as Pennsylvania governor on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Stacy Garrity to secure a second term in office. Shapiro previously served two terms as Pennsylvania’s attorney general and is considered a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race. Garrity, who has served two terms as the state’s elected treasurer, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Democratic incumbent Jack Reed won re-election to the US Senate on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Raymond McKay in Rhode Island and securing a sixth term in office. A vocal critic of President Donald Trump, Reed serves as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. His Republican opponent, McKay, is also an Army veteran and spent nearly three decades working as a network and telecommunications manager for the city of Warwick, Rhode Island.

Democratic incumbent Chris Coons won re-election to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Mike Katz in Delaware and securing a third full term in office. Katz, a former Democrat who previously served as a state lawmaker, challenged Coons in the race. During his tenure, Coons has criticized President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and described the war with Iran as illegal. Delaware has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in more than three decades.

Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has won re-election, according to CNN’s Decision Desk, retaining a key Democratic Senate seat that Republicans had previously identified as a major pickup opportunity. Ossoff’s victory in a state carried by President Donald Trump two years ago is expected to intensify speculation about his future political ambitions. He also makes history as the first Democrat elected to a second full Senate term in Georgia since 1990.

Yolanda Renee King, the only grandchild of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., shared a special moment on Tuesday as she visited a polling site in Atlanta with her parents, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King. The 18-year-old posted photos on social media showing the family outside the polling location, describing the experience as “such a full circle moment.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voiced optimism about the country’s future as polling stations across the nation began closing, expressing confidence that Democrats were on the verge of regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“We’re on the brink of a dramatic change of direction in this country,” Jeffries told phone bankers in Washington. “We’re on the brink of Democrats taking back control of the House of Representatives.”

Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz won re-election to the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Brent Andersen in Florida’s 20th Congressional District. Her move to a new congressional district proved successful, securing her a 12th term in office.

Wasserman Schultz, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, made history as Florida’s first Jewish congresswoman. Before entering Congress, she served in both the Florida House of Representatives and the state Senate. Andersen, who founded a commercial and property insurance company, campaigned on his business experience, arguing that it gave him a unique perspective on addressing Florida’s rising property insurance costs.

Fox News projects that Democratic Senator Mark Warner has won a fourth term in Virginia, defeating Republican challenger and retired Army General Bert Mizusawa.

CNN has released its first findings from the Voter Poll, revealing widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of the United States and negative sentiment towards the Trump administration. According to CNN, nearly seven in 10 voters said they were unhappy with the direction of the country, while four in 10 described themselves as ‘angry’.

The poll identified two major factors behind the frustration: negative perceptions of President Donald Trump and economic difficulties linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The findings point to significant voter dissatisfaction with the country's current situation as Americans head to the polls in the midterm elections.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said that ICE agents will "absolutely not" intimidate voters at polling stations. Concerns have emerged over the possible presence of federal immigration agents at polling locations. Following these concerns, the Department of Justice (DOJ) barred ICE and FBI agents from serving as election observers. The DOJ also clarified that election observers would not carry out any law enforcement duties at polling stations.

Although it is still early in the vote-counting process, the first election results emerging from Indiana indicate stronger Democratic performances compared with the 2024 elections. In Indiana's 5th Congressional District, Democrat JD Ford secured 63.6% of the initial vote report from Hamilton County. In comparison, Republican Representative Victoria Spartz won the same initial report two years ago with 50.1% of the vote against 46.3% for her opponent.

A similar trend has emerged in Indiana's 3rd Congressional District, where Democrat Kelly Thompson received 63.5% of the first reported votes from Allen County. In 2024, Republican Marlin Stutzman secured 53.6% in the corresponding initial report. The pattern has also appeared in several other counties across the 3rd District. While Stutzman is leading in the initial vote reports, his margins are considerably narrower than those recorded in 2024.

The early results are believed to largely reflect mail-in and early voting. There are also indications that Democrats have performed better than in previous years in pre-election voting.

The time taken to count votes varies across US states because each has its own rules for receiving, processing and tabulating ballots. As a result, some states can report election results faster than others. Several factors influence the counting process, including the use of mail-in voting and the rules governing the processing of early ballots.

In most states, election officials are permitted to remove ballots from their envelopes and verify voters' eligibility before Election Day. Nearly half of the states, including Florida, also allow election workers to scan ballots into tabulation machines ahead of Election Day. This enables officials to count those votes immediately and include them in election-night results.

However, other states, including Michigan and Wisconsin, prohibit election workers from opening mail-in ballots before Election Day. These restrictions have contributed to claims of late-night vote arrivals and so-called "ballot dumps" in certain areas during previous elections. Additionally, some states accept mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, provided they meet the applicable requirements. This can further delay the final vote count and the release of election results.

With only hours remaining before key results in the US midterm elections begin coming in, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring the week of November 1 through November 7 as “Anti-Communism Week.” “Hereby proclaim the week of November 1 through November 7 as Anti-Communism Week. I call upon all Americans to stand firm in their defense against any threat to the American way of life and to protect our burning flame of liberty from the darkness of communism,” the proclamation read.

The White House published the proclamation on its official website before 6 pm ET. Around the same time, Trump posted on social media that he was watching “pre-election” results on Fox News. 

Poll closing time in IST

3:30 AM IST (November 4): Polls begin closing in parts of Indiana and Kentucky.

4:30 AM IST: Vermont, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; most of Florida; parts of Indiana, Kentucky and New Hampshire.

5:00 AM IST: North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.

5:30 AM IST: Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Tennessee, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma; most of Texas, Kansas, Michigan, North Dakota and South Dakota; remaining areas of Florida and New Hampshire.

6:30 AM IST: Remaining counties of Michigan, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas; New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday rejected claims circulating on social media that agents had seized 20,000 fake ballots allegedly cast for Democrats during a raid at a warehouse in Houston on Monday night. In a statement, the FBI's Houston office clarified that no election-related raid or operation had taken place, dismissing the allegations as false. “F.B.I. Houston is aware of social media posts claiming our office conducted an election-related ‘raid’ that ‘uncovered fraudulent ballots,’” the bureau said in a statement. “That information is false and no election-related operation occurred.”

Millions of Americans headed to polling stations as the 2026 midterms unfolded, with campaign rallies, voter queues and election-day scenes across the country. Here are some pictures from across the country. (Credits: AFP)

While most Americans head to ordinary locations such as school cafeterias and recreation centres to cast their ballots on Election Day, San Francisco is offering voters a much more unconventional experience. Known for embracing its quirky character, the city has transformed its 501 polling locations into an eclectic mix of voting venues. With more than 10 polling places per square mile, voters can find themselves casting ballots at hair salons, flower shops, art galleries, improv acting training centres and even private garages.

One such garage became an unusual election-day attraction on Tuesday morning when Jay Streets, dressed in a Hawaiian-style shirt decorated with the word “Vote,” opened a bar serving free Vote-a-Lattes and Ballot Buster Dirty Sodas. The polling spot also offered voters coffee, doughnuts, fruit, popcorn and chocolate, creating a festive atmosphere for those turning out to vote.

Democrats will need to secure victories in at least three of the six closely contested Senate races to gain control of the US Senate in the midterm elections. The Senate has 100 seats, with 51 required for a party to secure a majority. Only about one-third of the seats are being contested in the current election.

At present, Democrats hold 45 seats, while Republicans have 53. Two additional seats are held by independents. According to the independent election analyst Cook Political Report, six Senate races are currently classified as toss-ups. These include contests in Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Ohio and Texas.

Michigan was also previously considered a toss-up, but by Tuesday afternoon, the race had shifted to the "leans Democrat" category. Meanwhile, all seats in the US House of Representatives are being contested in the midterm elections. A party needs 218 seats to secure a majority in the chamber. Currently, Democrats hold 214 seats, compared with 219 for Republicans, while two seats remain vacant.

No Black woman has ever been elected governor of a US state. Democrat Keshia Lance Bottoms could make history if she wins Georgia's gubernatorial race today. The former mayor of Atlanta is facing a closely contested battle against Republican candidate Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman and healthcare executive.

Georgia has not elected a Democratic governor in more than two decades. Bottoms is also part of a notable pattern, as Democrats have now selected a Black woman as their gubernatorial nominee for the third consecutive time. Stacey Abrams, who ran for governor in 2018 and 2022, lost both elections to incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp. Kemp, who is completing his final term this year, has continued to enjoy considerable popularity.

South Carolina is on course to set a new record for voter turnout in a midterm election, according to the state's election board. By late afternoon, the state had already surpassed its previous midterm election turnout record. As of 4:30 pm ET, a total of 1,797,335 South Carolinians had cast their ballots, representing 52.3% of all registered voters. Polling stations across South Carolina are scheduled to close at 7 pm ET (5:30am IST).

Republican US Senate candidate Dan Sullivan cast his ballot in Anchorage, Alaska, during the midterm elections. Speaking to journalists outside the polling station, Sullivan was asked whether he would accept the certified election results even if he lost the race. Responding to the question, he said, "Yes, once every legal vote is counted and certified, that's what I plan on doing."

US President Donald Trump is planning to monitor the election results from the East Wing of the White House, with results expected to begin coming in from 6 pm ET (4:30am IST) onwards, according to CNN. Trump will reportedly be joined by a small group of allies for the election-night watch party as the results start pouring in. Meanwhile, key members of Trump's political operations, including his MAGA PAC, have established war rooms across the White House campus to closely monitor the election results.