People are beginning to gather stickers as early voting starts in New York on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Vote counting will commence Tuesday night but could extend over days or even weeks. The control of the House might be established sooner due to larger margins, while the Senate control could take longer as the margins are tighter; seven states are especially competitive, and two states use ranked choice voting, which can prolong the counting process. The House control probably won’t hinge on one seat, yet the Senate’s control might. As results start coming in, here is a guide to election night as polls close nationwide (all times in Eastern Time, organized by the latest poll closing time).
- 7 p.m. ET: Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont
- 7:30 p.m. ET: North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia
- 8 p.m. ET: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, D.C.
- 8:30 p.m. ET: Arkansas
- 9 p.m. ET: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- 10 p.m. ET: Montana, Nevada, Utah
- 11 p.m. ET: California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
- 12 a.m. ET: Hawaii
- 1 a.m. ET: Alaska
7 p.m. ET: Key States
Georgia: The Senate and gubernatorial races are in focus. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is likely to win against Republican Rep. Mike Collins. The governor’s race is fiercely competitive between Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, assured timely results due to new laws requiring counties to report within an hour of polls closing.
South Carolina: The Senate race is unexpectedly tight between Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. National polls rate the race as a toss-up, though Republicans seem favored.
7:30 p.m. ET: Additional Races
North Carolina: The Senate race is between former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley. The seat is a likely Democratic flip, but losing could impact majority prospects.
Ohio: Notable Senate race between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown. Although usually Republican, recent dynamics make Ohio’s races noteworthy.
8 p.m. ET: Widening the Scope
Polls are now closed in over half the country. Potential governor race calls favor Republicans in Alabama, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Democrats in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
Maine: Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces a tough challenge from Democrat Troy Jackson. The seat is a target for Democratic acquisition.
Florida: Once a swing state, recent years have seen a Republican tilt. The governor’s race between Byron Donalds and David Jolly leans Republican. Seven competitive House races arise from Florida’s new congressional maps.
Pennsylvania: The state has competitive House races, with three toss-ups now leaning Democrat. A significant outcome could emerge.
New Hampshire: Initially close, the race now favors Democrat Chris Pappas over Republican John Sununu, though Republicans still eye picks.
8:30 p.m. ET: Spotlight on Arkansas
Arkansas Senate race isn’t closely contested, but a smaller Republican margin could indicate broader Democratic gains. A House race here draws focus due to last-minute financial backing.
9 p.m. ET: Eyes on Critical States
Polls now closed in over 80% of states. Focus shifts to Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, and Texas with key Senate races potentially influencing chamber control.
Arizona: A tight gubernatorial race exists between Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Republican Andy Biggs.
Texas: Republican stronghold status is tested with Senate and governor races. Early leads – like Democrat James Talarico’s – may shift as full counts come in.
Kansas: Republican Sen. Roger Marshall’s seat is unexpectedly competitive with Democrat Adam Hamilton providing a strong challenge amid changing dynamics.
Iowa: The open Senate race’s competitiveness may surprise. House races see three-fourths of seats as potentially flipping.
10 p.m. ET: Montana, Nevada, Utah Spotlight
Montana: Competitive House race in the 1st Congressional District between Democrat Sam Forstag and Republican Aaron Flint. Senate race includes an independent candidate, but favors Republicans.
Nevada: Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces strong challenge from Democrat Aaron Ford amid economic concerns.
11 p.m. ET: Pacific States
California: New congressional maps favor Democrats, but tight races persist, like in the Central Valley. Tax propositions also on the ballot.
Oregon: Despite being a blue state, Governor Tina Kotek faces a challenging re-election against Republican Christine Drazan.
1 a.m. ET: Alaska’s Final Results
Alaska’s toss-up Senate race with Republican Dan Sullivan against Democrat Mary Peltola, amidst claims of a ballot manipulation scheme with a ‘double’ Dan Sullivan. Results are expected to be delayed due to ranked choice voting.
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