Breaking: Election Day is here! Make your selections: as voters weigh inflation and Iran

Good morning, America. It is Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the polls are open. This midterm election occurs halfway through President Donald Trump's second term. The results will determine who controls Congress for the final two years of his presidency. According to Ballotpedia and USA.gov, all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs. Additionally, 36 governorships are on the ballot. The stakes are high as voters weigh in on the direction of the country.

According to the Associated Press, this election is being viewed as a referendum on the current administration. Voters are described as struggling with high prices and anger over an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. adults approve of President Trump's job performance. Only 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in ten adults say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Most of those surveyed blame the president for high prices.

DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene captured the mood of the day. She stated that the American people are angry and that they want change. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a voter named James Moore, 57, who works as a librarian, shared his personal experience. He said he is paying more taxes, paying more for his health care, and paying more for everything. These personal financial strains are central to the national conversation today.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight of the administration. If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. A strong Democratic night would also boost potential 2028 candidates such as Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg. It could also complicate the path for Vice President JD Vance. Democrats need a net gain of three House districts and four Senate seats to achieve a majority in both chambers.

Republicans are bracing to lose the House while fighting to hold the Senate. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters noted that everything depends on turnout. He said that if they turn out their voters, they will win. That is what they have been planning for. Republicans hold 218 House seats and 53 Senate seats. They can afford to lose no more than two House seats and only two Senate seats. Democrats hold 214 House seats and 45 Senate seats, plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. One independent holds a House seat, and there are vacancies.

Money plays a significant role in this election. The 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. According to AP analysis of AdImpact data, 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This includes more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

Redistricting is another factor. Six states are using new congressional maps after mid-decade redistricting. These states are California, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Ohio is also using a new map. Republicans tried to beat the typical midterm pattern where a president's party loses seats by using redistricting. However, new districts in Florida and elsewhere may not vote as they were drawn. Ballotpedia counts 46 battleground districts in the House. Twenty-five are held by Democrats and 21 by Republicans.

In the Senate, 13 races are considered battlegrounds. In North Carolina, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper faces former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff faces Republican Rep. Mike Collins. In Ohio, Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown faces Republican Sen. Jon Husted. In Michigan, Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico. In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins faces Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. In New Hampshire, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas faces former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu.

Governor races are also critical. Democrats are defending five governorships in states Trump won in 2024. These include Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Republicans are defending two in states Harris won: New Hampshire and Vermont. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson faces Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. In Nevada, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy faces Democrat Amy Acton. Democrats hope to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades.

Administrative issues have added tension. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan it says would prevent noncitizen voting. Critics say this risks disenfranchising eligible voters. A judge also ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on its lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff, and special lines so mail ballots are counted on time. Trump has continued to make claims about voting fraud, including that noncitizens vote in large numbers. His administration sued in Alaska and California, and Democrats fear interference.

More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday. This surpasses the early vote of four years ago in many closely watched states. According to Reuters, Wall Street is watching for more than control of Congress. Results could add to investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations. The election administration is proceeding with added vigilance to ensure every valid vote is counted.