2026 midterm elections: what time do polling stations close today? | 2026 US midterm elections

During the 2026 U.S. midterm cycle, 35 Senate seats will be up for election, 36 gubernatorial races, and all 435 House of Representatives seats will be up for grabs. There are also several ballot measures across the country on issues ranging from election administration to abortion access.

Democrats are seeking to regain control of both houses of Congress. They will need to gain four seats in the Senate to obtain a 51-seat majority, and win at least 218 seats to retake the House.

Republicans are fighting hard to maintain their bicameral majority despite growing national headwinds. They face a number of unpopular policies from the Trump administration: an affordability crisis stemming from the war in Iran; a deadly immigration crackdown that saw two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents; a large-scale trade war; and Donald Trump’s record poll numbers.

Already, more than 56 million Americans have voted early, and millions more are expected to vote on November 3. Here’s an hour-by-hour look at when polls close and a look at some of the key races we’re watching in each state.

6 p.m. ET – the first round of voting begins to close

The majority of polling places in Indiana and Kentucky will close at that time. But because parts of both states are also in the central time zone, some polling places will remain open until 7 p.m. ET.

7 p.m. ET – polls close in six states, including Florida and Georgia

The next round of poll closings will take place in most of Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.

We are closely monitoring the Senate races in several of these states. In Florida, progressive Democrat Angie Nixon is hoping to pull off an upset and unseat Republican incumbent Ashley Moody in one of two special elections this cycle.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, Jon Ossoff, a first-term Democratic senator, is fending off a challenge from Trump-backed congressman Mike Collins.

In South Carolina, Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, is seeking a full term after being appointed by the state’s governor to fill the remainder of her brother’s term following his death in July. She faces pediatrician and Democratic candidate Annie Andrews.

And in New Hampshire, Republicans are eyeing an opportunity to flip a Senate seat, with former Republican Sen. John Sununu challenging Rep. Chris Pappas in a race that’s becoming increasingly concerning for Democrats in the final stretch of the campaign.

Other open polling locations in Indiana and Kentucky will also close at 7 p.m. ET.

7:30 p.m. ET – three more states close polls, including two crucial Senate races

North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia will all close their polls at 7:30 p.m. ET.

In North Carolina, the open Senate seat is a key opportunity for Democrats, with the state’s former governor, Roy Cooper, facing off against Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

And in Ohio, we’ll have the second 2026 Senate midterm special election, with former Sen. Sherrod Brown looking to make a comeback after losing his race in 2024. Brown is trying to unseat Republican Jon Husted in a contest centered in part on the fight for the state’s data centers.

8 p.m. ET – 19 states and DC close their polls

We will see a flood of poll closings at 8 p.m. ET. These include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Illinois, most of Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, most of Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, most of North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, most of South Dakota, Tennessee, and most of Texas.

A number of high-profile Senate races fall into this wave, including the battle for Michigan’s open Senate seat between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers. It’s vital for Democrats to hold on to the Great Lakes State, but the race is expected to be close. El-Sayed is leading in many recent polls, but he still remains within the margin of error.

In Maine, we’ll be watching to see if progressive Troy Jackson can unseat five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

And in Texas, Democrats are betting on James Talarico, the state lawmaker who has surged in the polls, to defeat Ken Paxton, the scandal-plagued Republican attorney general. A Democratic victory would mark the party’s first statewide victory in more than 30 years.

Finally, Kansas has become a last-minute battleground, with Adam Hamilton seeking to unseat Republican Roger Marshall and become the state’s first Democratic senator in nearly a century.

There are also several competitive House races in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where Democrats hope to flip seats won by Republicans in 2024.

At 8:30 p.m. ET, Arkansas polls will close.

9 p.m. ET – polls close in ten more states, including Arizona, Iowa and Wisconsin

In Arizona, there are several contests, including the race for the 6th Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani faces Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, a former U.S. Marine.

The state’s gubernatorial race is also one we’re watching. Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs is seeking a second term, but first she must beat Rep. Andy Biggs, who won the president’s support in the Republican primary.

In Iowa, the neck-and-neck race for the open Senate seat pits Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson against Democratic state lawmaker Josh Turek.

The Hawkeye State gubernatorial race also looks competitive, with Democratic Auditor Rob Sand facing Republican candidate Zach Lahn.

At 9 p.m. ET, polls will also close in Louisiana, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Wisconsin and Wyoming. All remaining polling locations in North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas will also close at this time.

10 p.m. ET – polls close in Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah

At 10 p.m. ET, we’ll see almost all polls close in Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah.

One of the more low-key gubernatorial races we’re watching is taking place in Nevada, where Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford hopes to unseat Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in the Sun Belt battleground that Trump won in 2024.

Many polling places in one Oregon county will also close at 10 p.m. ET.

11 p.m. ET – polls close in California and other West Coast states

At 11 p.m. ET, we’ll watch the polls close in California, where former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, faces Republican Steve Hilton, a former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, in the race for governor.

Most polling places will also close in Oregon, as well as all polling places in Washington state.

In Washington, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who has often broken with her party on key issues, hopes to retain her seat in a district that Trump has won in each of the last three presidential elections.

Midnight ET – final polls close in Alaska and Hawaii

The evening will close out in Alaska and Hawaii, where most polling places will end voting at midnight ET.

Alaska is also one of the biggest recovery opportunities for Democrats. Former Congresswoman Mary Peltola has taken the lead from Republican incumbent Dan S Sullivan in recent polls as frustration with the Trump administration has grown and voters grapple with soaring energy prices in the wake of the Iran war.

The race has drawn attention from the Trump administration and the president himself, who have accused Peltola and Democrats of recruiting a namesake candidate to siphon votes from Sullivan. The Justice Department even sought to delay certification if Trump-backed Sullivan lost, although a federal judge recently rejected that attempt. Peltola’s campaign has denied recruiting Dan J Sullivan, but a recent New York Times report suggested otherwise.