The Hill’s election night cheat sheet

Americans are voting in the 3 November 2026 midterm elections, with control of both chambers of Congress at stake. All 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships are on the ballot. The Hill’s election-night guide frames the contest around pivotal races, poll-closing times and the question of when the balance of power may become clear. President Donald Trump has made a final appeal for Republican support, while Democrats have campaigned on the cost of living and opposition to the war in Iran.

Early results may show the direction of the national vote, but close contests could leave control of Congress unresolved overnight. The newsletter also points to a late development in Michigan’s Senate race, where Democratic representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers, and to uncertainty over whether US strikes on Iran might resume. Those developments add to the political stakes, though election-night returns will need to be read alongside the votes still outstanding.