US midterm polls close as control of Congress hangs on uncalled races
The gist
Polls closed across the US on Nov 3 in midterms deciding Congress, with tight races possibly taking days.
Democrats are favored for the House; the Senate and slow counts are the crux.
How it unfolded
- Oct 30, 2026Votebeat reports counting more than 100 million ballots is a conservative turnout estimate, and key races may not be known on election night.
- Nov 2, 2026KCRG reports Iowans will elect a new US Senator in the race between Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek, with polls closing at 8:00 PM Tuesday.
- Nov 3, 2026The first polls close at 6 P.M. Eastern, with voting continuing until Hawaii and Alaska wrap up at 7 and 8 p.m. local time.