Polls close across the U.S. as Senate races hang in the balance
Seven tight contests and ranked-choice voting in two states could delay the final count for days.
By Luka Evans ·
Voters in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont stopped casting ballots at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday. As the first results begin to trickle in, attention turns immediately to the Senate and gubernatorial races in Georgia. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is expected to beat Republican Rep. Mike Collins for the Senate seat. The governor’s race remains the state’s most competitive, pitting billionaire businessman Rick Jackson against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told local news outlets that new laws require counties to report results within an hour of polls closing.
South Carolina presents a different challenge. The Senate race between appointed Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews is unexpectedly tight. National polls describe the heavily Republican state as a toss-up, while the Cook Political Report gives Republicans the advantage. This contest is one of several that could determine which party controls the chamber for the next two years.
By 8 p.m., polls closed in more than half the country, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Maine. In Maine, incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces a tough race against late-entering Democratic candidate Troy Jackson. Democrats view this seat as a key target because it is the only Republican-held Senate seat in a state Kamala Harris won in 2024. In Florida, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds leads Democratic opponent David Jolly in the governor’s race. The state’s competitive House races will be the first test of new congressional maps drawn ahead of this election.
Pennsylvania offers another potential Democratic surge. Four House races in the state are competitive, with three now leaning toward Democrats according to recent map solidifications. In New Hampshire, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas has widened his lead over former Republican Sen. John Sununu. However, Republicans still see a long-shot opportunity in the state, where a popular Republican governor is expected to win re-election.
The 9 p.m. hour brings results from Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Texas, and other key states. In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is favored to defeat MAGA-aligned Republican Rep. Andy Biggs. The state’s independent voting streak makes this a close contest. In Texas, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico challenges Republican nominee Ken Paxton for governor. A Democrat has not won a statewide Texas race since the early 1990s, though early voting data may give Talarico an initial lead before county totals arrive.
Iowa and Kansas feature open or contested Senate races that are close enough to impact the national balance. In Iowa, Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek is neck-and-neck with Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson. In Kansas, moderate Democrat Adam Hamilton has turned a previously safe Republican seat for Sen. Roger Marshall into a toss-up. In Michigan, the gubernatorial race between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers remains a toss-up despite heavy spending on ads targeting El-Sayed’s background.
Polls close at 10 p.m. in Montana, Nevada, and Utah. Montana’s 1st Congressional District is a toss-up between Democratic nominee Sam Forstag and Republican Aaron Flint. In Nevada, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in a race considered a toss-up amid local economic pressures. By 11 p.m., the West Coast closes, including California, where a new congressional map has shifted close House races toward Democrats.
Control of the House may become clear sooner due to larger margins in many districts. However, the Senate outcome could take days or weeks to finalize. Two states use ranked-choice voting, which extends the counting process. Seven states remain especially competitive, meaning the final seat could decide the majority.
