Politics
US Mid-Term Election Result 2026 LIVE: Republicans or Democrats — Who’ll control Senate? First results start coming in
US Midterm Election Result 2026 LIVE: Will US President Donald Trump's Republican Party retain power in the US House athe nd Senate? Americans went to the polls on Tuesday (November 3) to decide who controls Congress.
Polling stations began to close in Indiana and Kentucky at 6 pm ET (2300 GMT), with Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and most of Florida following suit at 7 pm.
The results, held two years after presidential elections, will determine how much legislative power US President Donald Trump's administration retains during the remainder of his term (which ends in 2028).
Is voting over? When will results start coming in?
The first US midterm results are expected from around 4:30 am IST on Wednesday, November 4, corresponding to 6 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, polls closed in seven states on Tuesday as millions of Americans cast ballots to determine whether to strip control of Congress from President Donald Trump's Republicans.
State-wise details: The first polls close at 6 pm ET (4:30 am IST) Tuesday in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, followed by 7 pm in states including Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina.
Polls close at 7:30 pm (6:00 am IST) in North Carolina and Ohio, followed by a large group of states at 8 pm (6:30 am IST), including Pennsylvania and Maine as well as most of Texas and Michigan.
Voting ends at 9 pm (7:30 am IST) in battleground states including Arizona and Wisconsin, along with the remaining parts of Texas and Michigan.
Polls in Nevada close at 10 pm (8:30 am IST) Eastern, followed by California and several other western states at 11 pm (9:30 am IST). The final polling places, in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, close at 1 am ET (11:30 am) on Wednesday.
What have exit polls shown?
According to exit polls, Democrats are favored to capture the House and both parties may be locked in an intense state-by-state battle for the Senate.
Voters rebuked Trump and his agenda, blaming him for stubbornly high prices, with a large majority unhappy about the direction of the country, according to voter exit polls conducted by SSRS on behalf of a consortium of US media outlets that included major television networks and the Associated Press.
The exit polls reflected upon electorates' overwhelmingly sour mood, showing half of voters said they saw the 2026 midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke the president, and three-quarters said they are "angry" or "dissatisfied" with the way the country is headed.
Many reportedly said they feel worse off than when Trump entered the White House in 2025. Nearly 9 in 10 identified the cost of living as a crucial or major factor in their vote, signaling that the elections could prove a repudiation of Trump and his Republican Party.
Why are US midterm elections held?
Midterm elections are typically seen as a referendum on the president, and that is particularly true for Trump, who dominates attention like no other modern politician. Trump himself has told his supporters to "pretend I'm on the ballot," a message Democratic leaders have happily echoed.
Democrat Jon Ossoff has won the US Senate race in Georgia, securing a second term and fending off a challenge from Trump-backed Mike Collins, The Guardian reported.
In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff will win reelection, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, defending a crucial Democratic seat.
According to the report, early results show Democrats leading in several Republican-held districts and several GOP sources involved in House races are growing worried about the results so far, suggesting Democrats could be in for a good night.
Indiana: About 29% of the vote is being reported in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District race, where Democrat JD Ford is leading incumbent Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz. And about 31% of the vote is being reported in the state’s 3rd District, where Democrat Kelly Thompson is also leading the Republican incumbent, Rep. Marlin Stutzman, CNN reported.
In Indiana’s 6th District, Democrat Cynthia Wirth has a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Rep. Jefferson Shreve.
Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District is a true toss-up between Republican Ralph Alvarado and Democrat Zach Dembo. Only about 1% of the vote is being reported so far.
Final polls now closing in these states:
Polls are also closed in a handful of Florida House races, with the rest of the state finishing voting at 8 p.m. ET.
Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.<br><br> In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. <br><br> Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. <br><br> One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. <br><br> Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.<br><br> Connect with Akriti here<br> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199">https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199</a><br> Twitter/X: <a href="https://x.com/AkritiAnand7">https://x.com/AkritiAnand7</a><br> Email: akriti.anand@htdigital.in
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