Midnight Deadline: Three Senate Races That Decide Congress

Voters in three key states will decide the fate of three Senate seats on Tuesday, November 3. The outcomes in Texas, Michigan, and Ohio will directly influence which party controls the upper chamber of Congress. Each race features distinct local dynamics that have drawn national attention in the final hours before polls close.

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton faces state Rep. James Talarico. Paxton secured the Republican nomination with an endorsement from President Donald Trump, defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. The race has been complicated by Paxton’s past, including impeachment charges for corruption brought by the state house and a subsequent acquittal. A win for Talarico would mark the first time in more than 30 years that Texas has a Democratic U.S. senator.

Michigan presents an open seat contest between public health administrator Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Mike Rogers. The campaign has centered on El-Sayed’s faith, with President Trump alleging extremist ties. El-Sayed has denied these claims, stating his allegiance is to the U.S. Constitution. On Sunday, Rep. Haley Stevens withdrew her support for El-Sayed and endorsed Rogers, a move that shifts the momentum in the Democratic primary aftermath.

In Ohio, Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to replace J.D. Vance, faces a rematch against former Sen. Sherrod Brown. Brown is seeking a comeback after losing his 2024 reelection bid to Sen. Bernie Moreno. The winner will serve the remaining two years of Vance’s original term. Polls in all three states open today, with results expected to be tallied through the evening.

The final votes in these districts will determine the new composition of the Senate. With the midterm elections hours away, political experts are monitoring early returns from these three states to gauge the shift in congressional control.