Midterm Voting Reaches Final Day With 435 House Seats, 35 Senate Races and Record Ad Spending on the Ballot

Since Republicans in Texas and Florida redrew their congressional maps, the fight over the House has been headed for this day. Voting ends today, Nov. 3, in the 2026 midterms, and no results are in. The first polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

At stake: all 435 House seats, 35 of the Senate's 100 seats, governorships in 36 states and three U.S. territories, and ballot measures including California's proposed billionaire tax. Control of Congress will decide how much of President Trump's agenda survives the back half of his second term.

The money

According to AdImpact, an advertising research firm, eight of the ten most expensive gubernatorial races in U.S. history were held this cycle. California is the costliest at roughly $350.3 million. Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. health secretary, faces Republican Steve Hilton there. Billionaire Tom Steyer spent more than $215 million of his own money trying to reach the general election.

Nine of the ten most expensive House races on record are also from this cycle. The top one is Michigan's 7th District, where Republican Rep. Tom Barrett faces Democrat Will Lawrence, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement. AdImpact puts spending there above $66 million.

Three Senate races now rank among the ten costliest ever: Texas at about $594.1 million, Ohio at about $525.5 million and Michigan at about $382.1 million.

Races drawing the most attention

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton beat Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff. He now faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are both seeking re-election for the third time.

In Florida, Rep. Byron Donalds is the Republican nominee for governor. He won the primary with Trump's endorsement and about 48% of the vote. Democrats nominated David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who left the GOP in 2018 and joined the Democrats in 2025. He took 61% in the August primary.

In the Senate race, Republican Sen. Ashley Moody faces Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist who beat Alex Vindman 56% to 44% in the primary. Registered Republicans in Florida now outnumber Democrats by 1.5 million. This is the state's first election under the new congressional map.

In Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, seeks a third term in a rematch with Republican Darren Bailey. Bailey lost the 2022 race by a little less than 13 points. He won this year's primary by about 25 points. Pritzker's running mate is state Rep. Christian Mitchell. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET there.

In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton both voted this morning in the governor's race. Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has also cast his ballot.

Problems at the polls

North Carolina's State Board of Elections will meet this afternoon to consider extending voting hours in four counties: Hertford, Gates, Wilson and Lenoir. Executive Director Sam Hayes told reporters the counties have seen "minor delays" tied to technical issues. ABC News also reported that voters in some key states are dealing with severe weather.

In Minneapolis, Fox News Digital photographed banners reading "PROTECT IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES," "PROTECT QUEER KIDS" and "SHARE THE WEALTH" on the outside wall of a polling place, Creekside United Church of Christ. The banners face the main entrance. Hennepin County officials did not immediately respond to Fox's request for comment.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the state is on track to break its record for midterm turnout. She said competitive races run up and down the ticket.

When results will come

Polling hours vary by state. The first states close at 7 p.m. ET, more at 7:30, and large numbers at 8 and 9 p.m. California and several other Western states close at 11 p.m. ET. Hawaii follows an hour later. Alaska, home to a closely watched Senate race, closes at 1 a.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The North Carolina board's decision on extended hours is due this afternoon. Whether those counties stay open past their scheduled closing will affect when the state's results can be reported tonight.