Seven states decide Senate control as vote counting begins
Tighter margins and ranked choice voting in two states could delay results for weeks, while the House race is expected to be clearer sooner.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Seven states hold the key to controlling the Senate this Tuesday.
While the House majority may be determined quickly due to larger vote gaps, the Senate race is tighter.
Two of these states use ranked choice voting, a process that can extend the counting period to days or even weeks.
The House outcome likely depends on multiple seats, but the Senate could hinge on a single race.
Polling began closing at 7 p.m. Eastern Time in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger stated that new laws require counties to report results within an hour of polls closing.
This follows past delays in the state's election processes.
The gubernatorial race in Georgia is one of the most competitive in the South, pitting Republican Rick Jackson against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
In South Carolina, the Senate race between Democrat Annie Andrews and Republican Darline Graham is described as a toss-up by national polls.
The Cook Political Report gives Republicans the advantage in that heavily Republican state.
At 7:30 p.m. ET, polls closed in North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia.
North Carolina's Senate seat is the most likely flip for Democrats, according to polls and pundits.', "The contest features former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.", "Democrats have not won a Senate race in the state since 2008.", "If Democrats lose this seat, the path to a Senate majority becomes much less likely.", "Ohio presents one of the seven tight Senate races that could define chamber control.", "Republican Senator Jon Husted and former Democrat Sherrod Brown are deadlocked.", "Ohio has shifted from a swing state to a solidly Republican one over the last decade.", "In the Ohio governor's race, Democrat Amy Acton leads polls against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.", "Ramaswamy recently aired an attack ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, which drew significant blowback.", "At 8 p.m. ET, polls closed in more than half the country, including Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.", "Republicans are favored in the Florida governor's race between Byron Donalds and David Jolly.", "Florida redrew its congressional maps ahead of this election, making it a first test for the new boundaries.", "The Cook Political Report identifies seven competitive House seats in Florida, including two toss-ups.", "Pennsylvania had the most competitive House races earlier in the cycle, with four in play.", "In the last month, all three toss-ups in Pennsylvania have shifted toward Democrats.", "New Hampshire's Senate race gap between Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican John Sununu has widened in Pappas's favor.", "At 9 p.m. ET, polls closed in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Texas, and other states.", "More than 80% of states will have completed polling by this time.", "Initial results from Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, and Texas could decide Senate control.", "In Texas, Democrat James Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton for governor.", "Talarico could take an early lead as mail-in ballots are counted, but Paxton may gain ground as counties report totals.", "Kansas Senator Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in a race that has become too close to call.", "Iowa's open Senate race between Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek is close enough to worry Republicans.", "Michigan's governor's race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers remains a toss-up.", "At 10 p.m. ET, polls closed in Montana, Nevada, and Utah.", "Montana's 1st Congressional District is a toss-up between Democrat Sam Forstag and Republican Aaron Flint.", "Nevada's governor's race between Joe Lombardo and Aaron Ford is considered a toss-up.", "At 11 p.m. ET, polls closed in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.", "California voters approved a new congressional map in 2025 in response to redistricting efforts.", "This change made the state less competitive for Republicans, with close races tilting toward Democrats in recent weeks.
