What to know about Election Day for the 2026 midterms:
- Tuesday morning, after more than 57 million Americans already voted early, according to the University of Florida Voting Lab.
- All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats , while 36 states will be electing governors.
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states → know → governors
- In a blow to the Trump administration, the to require California to separate mail ballots received from thousands of people the administration claimed were "likely" not citizens.
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administration → require → people
In Texas, Democrats hope to reverse GOP gains with Hispanic voters
Two years ago, President Trump made historic gains with Hispanic voters nationwide and won a majority of Texas Hispanics, upending conventional wisdom.
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Trump → hope → wisdom
But now, Democrats see signs that Hispanics could shift back, pointing to widespread frustration with the state of the economy and immigration enforcement, and Mr. Trump's sagging approval ratings.
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Hispanics → see → economy
Hispanics make up more than 30% of Texas' eligible electorate, making them a key constituency in the state's Senate, gubernatorial and House races.
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them → make → races
Polls show a tight contest between Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton, and GOP Gov. Greg Abbott's reelection bid against Democrat Gina Hinojosa could be close, too.
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contest → show → Hinojosa
"There's a Hispanic hurricane coming," predicted Democratic strategist and CBS News political contributor Chuck Rocha, who advises Talarico and Hinojosa's campaigns.
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who → be → campaigns
"We just don't know quite yet if it's going to be Category 2 or Category 5, but it's washing ashore right in front of the GOP, and they don't know what to do about it."
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they → know → it
But Republicans say enthusiasm for Democrats is still muted.
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enthusiasm → say → Democrats
"I think most voters couldn't tell you what the Democrat plan is for bringing down prices," said Daniel Garza, president of the conservative LIBRE Initiative.
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Garza → think → Initiative
In one competitive House race in South Texas, both candidates expressed concerns to CBS News about the Trump administration's immigration tactics.
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candidates → express → tactics
The Democratic candidate, Tejano music star Bobby Pulido, said "there's chaos in the streets" due to "aggressive ICE enforcement."
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candidate → say → enforcement
Incumbent GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz predicted that Texas will remain red.
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Texas → predict → ?
"But I do think that it's a wake-up call for Republicans to remain focused on affordability, and to come to a solution when it comes to immigration," she said.
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she → think → immigration
These battleground races will determine House and Senate control
Control of the House of Representatives will come down to a number of47 House districts that will likely determine which party will have the majority.
.
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party → determine → majority
CBS News has identifiedOf those seats, 20 are currently held by Democrats and 27 are held by Republicans.
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27 → identifiedOf → Republicans
Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority, with 218 seats, plus an independent who normally caucuses with them.
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who → hold → them
Democrats hold 214 seats.
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Democrats → hold → seats
CBS News' Battleground Tracker model
that Democrats are on track to take control of the House with 229 seats.
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Democrats → take → seats
There is still a path for the GOP to keep the House: The Battleground Tracker's estimates ranged from 215 Democratic seats — which would give Republicans a narrow majority — to 237 seats.
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which → be → seats
On the Senate side, CBS News has identified 11 key races that could determine control of the Senate.
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that → identify → Senate
Eight of those seats are currently held by Republicans: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
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Eight → hold → Republicans
The other three are held by Democrats: Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire.
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three → hold → Democrats
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats to the Democrats' 47.
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Republicans → hold → 47
Some Maine voters unenthusiastic about choices in closely watched Senate race
Sen. Susan Collins is being challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson.
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Collins → watch → Jackson
Voters in Maine know their decision could impact the rest of the country.
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decision → know → country
Norm Belanger said for him, it's about having "a balance of power and the checks and balances can hopefully once again work to make sure no one branch of government takes control, I think it's important."
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it → say → control
Belanger said he and his wife Elizabeth typically vote for a person over a party.
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he → say → party
"Troy Jackson doesn't excite me.
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Jackson → excite → me
He would not have been my choice for the Democratic candidate," Belanger said.
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Belanger → say → candidate
"On the other hand, I think he's the best choice of the two."
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he → think → two
Another voter in Kittery said, "There's no white knight here in either party," adding, "Who I end up voting for, is going to be who I think is going to be the least damaging."
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I → say → Who
How to watch 2026 midterm election results on TV and streaming
CBS News will have
throughout the day, with election results and analysis on all platforms after the polls close Tuesday evening.- What: Election coverage and results of the 2026 midterms
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Time:
- All day live coverage streaming on CBS News 24/7
- 5 p.m. ET: "Election 2026: The Nerd Show" on CBS News 24/7
- 7 p.m. ET: "America Decides: Election 2026," on TV, cable and streaming -
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America → watch → TV
On TV: CBS television stations (find your local station )
- Online stream: Live on CBS News in the video player above and on your mobile or streaming device
Beginning at 5 p.m. ET, dive into the latest data on "Election 2026: The Nerd Show," hosted by CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto and CBS News congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns, joined by Democratic and Republican pollsters and other election data experts.
At 7 p.m. ET, CBS News prime-time special, "America Decides: Election 2026," covers the latest election results as polls close around the country, anchored by Tony Dokoupil and Norah O'Donnell, with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan, and a team of correspondents and political analysts around the country.
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polls → find → country
Watch on the free CBS News app on your connected TV or smartphone, on Paramount+, and all platforms where CBS News 24/7 is available, including CBSNews.com and YouTube.
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News → watch → CBSNews.com
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