Midterm 2026: Every Senate and Governor Race in the Battleground States

As of Tuesday morning, polls are open across the United States, and the midterm election is underway. This election determines who controls Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. The Associated Press describes the day as a referendum on the president's performance, with voters citing high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals of four years ago in many closely watched states. The outcome will shape the legislative environment for the remainder of the Trump administration.

Thirty-five of the one hundred Senate seats are up for grabs. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority, while Republicans can lose no more than two. Eleven senators are not running again, creating open seats in several competitive states. The Associated Press and Ballotpedia identify thirteen Senate races as battlegrounds. These include Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. The 2024 presidential margins in these states range from a six point advantage for Kamala Harris in Maine to a twenty point advantage for Donald Trump in Montana.

In North Carolina, Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper faces former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. This race is notable because incumbent Thom Tillis retired after clashing with President Trump. In Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff faces Republican Representative Mike Collins. The state voted for Trump by two points in 2024. In Ohio, Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown challenges Republican Senator Jon Husted for the remainder of the term left by JD Vance. In Michigan, Republican former Representative Mike Rogers faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed's former primary opponent, Haley Stevens, endorsed Rogers on Sunday, adding complexity to a race in a state Trump won by only one point.

Texas presents a high-stakes Senate race where Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico. President Trump backed Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the primary. In Maine, Senator Susan Collins faces Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. The Associated Press notes that economic strain and tariffs have made the state competitive. In New Hampshire, Democratic Representative Chris Pappas faces former Republican Senator John E. Sununu for the seat vacated by retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen. In Kansas, a reliably Republican state, the race has become central to the fight for Senate control due to the state's political shift.

Governor races are equally critical, with thirty-six governorships on the ballot. Republicans currently hold twenty-six governor's offices, while Democrats hold twenty-four. Democrats would need a net gain of two governorships to achieve a nationwide majority, a feat they have not accomplished since 2010. Nineteen of these races have no incumbent on the ballot. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson faces Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed Brian Kemp. In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford.

In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy faces Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy's campaign faced recent attention regarding an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. The Associated Press calls Texas, Florida, and Iowa competitive governor races. In Minnesota, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are among four candidates for the seat of retiring Senator Tina Smith. In Alaska, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit related to the certification of the Senate result, adding a legal layer to the political contest. Voters in these states are deciding not just who leads their state, but also the balance of power in the federal government.

The Associated Press and NORC polling indicates that thirty-five percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance. Only twenty-five percent approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in ten say the country is heading in the wrong direction, with most blaming the president for high prices. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters stated that everything depends on turnout. DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene said the American people are angry and want change. Voter Mark Barker of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, said he has been following Trump and thinks he is doing an awesome job. Voter James Moore, a librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, said he is paying more for taxes, healthcare, and everything else.

Money is playing a significant role in this election, which is likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, aided by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. Eighty-eight.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This included more than eight hundred fifty million dollars in areas where he won by ten points or more, according to an AP analysis of AdImpact data. The allocation of funds highlights the strategic focus on holding the president's home turf while contesting the margins in swing states.

Election administration has been a focal point of recent legal battles. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting. Critics argue this risks disenfranchising eligible voters and infringes on states' authority. Another judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service added hours and staff to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. These administrative moves aim to ensure that the high volume of early and mail-in votes is processed efficiently and accurately as polls open today.