Voters Cast Ballots in 2026 Midterm Elections

Voters are casting ballots in the 2026 midterm elections as focus remains on control of the U.S. House and Senate.

Michigan Senate Race

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers are competing to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. El-Sayed has received endorsements from high-profile progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders. Rogers, who lost a Senate race in 2024, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Republicans have not won a Senate race in Michigan since 1994.

On Election Day, El-Sayed told CNN that there are "two very, very different visions" between him and Rogers.

Connecticut Gubernatorial and Congressional Races

In Connecticut, voters are choosing a governor, five U.S. House seats, and various state legislative seats. There is no U.S. Senate race in Connecticut this year.

• Governor: Incumbent Democrat Gov. Ned Lamont is running for a third term. He has campaigned on successes such as an income tax cut and budget surpluses. Republican candidate State Sen. Ryan Fazio has promised a tax cut of more than $2,000 per family over four years and cuts to the cost of electricity.
• U.S. House District 1: Former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin (D) is running for his first term, focusing on affordability and universal healthcare. His challenger, Republican Amy Chai, stated Congress should trim debt and remove private equity from healthcare.
• U.S. House District 5: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D) said she will push back against President Trump's cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Republican candidate Chris Shea wants to make tax cuts permanent.

Election Day Reports

In Connecticut, Deputy Secretary of the State Jennifer Barahona reported that 22% of eligible registered voters had cast ballots early or by absentee ballot. Barahona also noted that officials had heard of at least one reported attempt to vote more than once on Monday, which was reported to the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

In New Haven, New Haven city Chief of Staff Sean Matteson reported that two election monitors from the U.S. Department of Justice were present at a polling place. A letter sent by the DOJ to state officials stated the monitors would remain 75 feet away from polling places and "comply with the state law restrictions" outlined by the Secretary of the State's office.

In Killingly, Connecticut, officials confirmed that a person died at a polling location on Election Day. Ronnell Higgins, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said the death was untimely and there were no suspicious circumstances.

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Sources

• nbcnews.com: Michigan U.S. Senate Midterm Election 2026: Live Results
• cnn.com: El-Sayed’s message to voters on Election Day: ‘Two very, very different visions’ between him, Rogers | CNN Politics
• nbcconnecticut.com: Connecticut early voter turnout so far; key races to watch – NBC Connecticut
• ctinsider.com: CT Election Day 2026: What’s happening across the state

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.