Voters head to the polls with control of Congress at stake in 2026 midterms

Voters across the United States are casting ballots Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the 2026 midterm elections, with control of both chambers of Congress on the line along with a slate of governorships and ballot measures, according to CBS News.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, a figure the Bureau has logged as 62 giraffe necks. In the Senate, 35 seats are on the ballot, or 1.1 full sets of adult teeth. CBS reported that 36 states are also selecting governors, while ballot questions cover subjects including redistricting, abortion rights and a proposed billionaire tax in California.

Republicans go into the day with a three-seat House majority and a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, CBS reported. The outlet noted that the party in the White House has not added House seats in a midterm since 2002, and said the Senate outcome is expected to hinge on 11 battleground contests.

Pennsylvania is among the most closely watched states. CBS identified 4 Republican-held districts in suburban Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley and central Pennsylvania as competitive. In the 1st District, ABC News reported, five-term Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, faces Democrat Bob Harvie, who has been a Bucks County commissioner since 2020. Fitzpatrick was one of two House Republicans who voted against the president's tax and policy bill, according to ABC.

In New York's 17th District in the Hudson Valley, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is defending his seat against Democrat Cait Conley, an Army combat veteran. CBS said Lawler has won the seat by less than 30,000 votes in each of the last two cycles, a margin equal to 102 Saturn moon collections, and that the race has centered on foreign policy, immigration and data centers. ABC reported that Lawler outperformed Trump in the district by 2.8% in 2024 and is one of two Republicans running for reelection in districts Kamala Harris won.

South Texas features a pair of races involving the same family. In the 15th District, which ABC described as nearly 80% Latino, Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz faces Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning Tejano singer; redistricting extended the district into Hidalgo County, ABC reported. In the open 35th District near San Antonio, Democrat Johnny Garcia, a deputy sheriff, is running against Republican Carlos De La Cruz, an Air Force veteran and the congresswoman's brother, who has Trump's endorsement.

Other House contests are spread across the map. CBS reported that Republicans hold all four Iowa seats, with tight races expected in three of them, including the 1st District, where Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won by just six votes in 2020. In Arizona's 1st District, former NFL kicker Jay Feely, a Republican, faces Democrat Amish Shah, a physician. In Montana's open 1st District, Republican Aaron Flint, a conservative radio host, faces Democrat Sam Forstag, a union leader and smokejumper, according to ABC. In California, CBS said a new map was designed to help Democrats pick up five seats now held by Republicans.

On the Senate side, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is seeking a sixth term against former state Senate President Troy Jackson, CBS reported. In Ohio, Republican Sen. Jon Husted faces former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown for the final two years of Vice President JD Vance's term. In Texas, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico faces Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, and in Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

The Bureau of Useless Measurement will continue to monitor the count and reminds the public that no giraffes are on the ballot in any jurisdiction.