US Midterm Elections 2026: First Polls Close in Indiana and Kentucky as Battle for Congress Begins
Most competitive House and Senate races will begin reporting results later in the evening. Strong turnout in several battleground states followed an intense campaign dominated by household costs, the war in Iran and competing arguments over the direction of the country.
The first polls closed in parts of Indiana and Kentucky on Tuesday, beginning an election night that will decide control of Congress and shape the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Most competitive House and Senate races will begin reporting results later in the evening. Strong turnout in several battleground states followed an intense campaign dominated by household costs, the war in Iran and competing arguments over the direction of the country.
An early race to watch is Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District, where an open House seat could offer clues about the national mood. Trump comfortably carried the district in 2024, but Democrats hope a competitive showing will signal opportunities to make gains elsewhere.
Across the country, Democratic candidates have linked economic frustration to Trump’s policies and his decision to go to war with Iran. Republicans have sought to turn attention toward their challengers, portraying Democratic positions on economic and social issues as extreme.
Trump has repeatedly urged his supporters to vote as though he were personally on the ballot, making the midterms a test of his ability to mobilize the coalition that returned him to the White House.
Strong turnout in key battlegrounds
Early voting exceeded the previous midterm cycle in major Senate battlegrounds, including Texas, North Carolina and Michigan.
Overall turnout in Texas could surpass 10 million votes, exceeding participation in either of the last two midterm elections. In Georgia, the secretary of state said Election Day turnout was on course to exceed the level recorded during the 2024 presidential election.
Those figures point to heavy participation, but turnout alone does not establish which party holds an advantage.
Voting disruptions reported in several states
Some communities experienced voting problems, though there was no immediate evidence of widespread disruption.
In Westchester County, New York, technical problems with voting machines prompted officials to collect ballots by hand. Flooding in Florida forced the relocation of more than 20 polling stations across eight counties.
Technical difficulties also caused delays at several North Carolina precincts. State election officials said results would be held until at least 8:15 p.m. Eastern, rather than the previously scheduled 7:30 p.m.
In Maine, a spokeswoman for Republican Senator Susan Collins said one of her offices had been vandalized overnight with fake blood.
Control of Congress may take time to resolve
The final polling places are scheduled to close in Alaska at 1 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday. However, close contests and the processing of outstanding ballots could leave control of one or both chambers unresolved for days or longer.
Initial returns will offer only a partial picture. The balance between ballots cast early, by mail and on Election Day can vary substantially as counting progresses.
DRM News will continue covering results, key battleground developments and candidate reactions as the contest for Congress unfolds.
