Polls open in closely contested US midterm elections 2026

What the report says

Polls opened in parts of the United States on Tuesday for the 2026 midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera, launching a high-stakes nationwide vote that will decide all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats. The first polling locations to open were in states including Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut and Kentucky, with other states set to follow later in the day. Voting hours vary by state, and Al Jazeera noted that more than 57 million people had already cast early ballots before Election Day.

The report said the contest is unusually tight, with Republicans holding a 53-47 Senate majority and a narrow four-seat edge in the House. Democrats are seeking major gains in Congress, with a campaign focused on the cost of living and opposition to President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, including the war in Iran. Republicans are trying to hold their ground despite weak approval ratings for Trump and the historical tendency for the president’s party to lose seats in midterm elections.

Al Jazeera added that turnout has been strong in several battleground states, including Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. Voters in 36 states are also choosing governors. The article also highlighted an unusual development in Michigan, where former Democratic Senate primary candidate Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.