Voters head to polls for 2026 U.S. midterm elections

Voters across the United States are heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the midterm elections. The elections will determine control of the U.S. House and Senate, with Democrats needing to flip four Senate seats and three House seats to gain control of those chambers from Republicans.

Minnesota Election Highlights

In Minnesota, voters are choosing successors for several key offices. In the gubernatorial race, DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth, and Green Party candidate Steven Young are on the ballot to succeed Gov. Tim Walz, who ended his campaign for a third term. An average of recent polls had Klobuchar ahead of Demuth 51% to 40% as of Sunday. Demuth has made state fraud scandals a centerpiece of her campaign, while Klobuchar has stated she does not want "a rubber stamp of Donald Trump" in the governor's office.

In the U.S. Senate race, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the DFL nominee, faces Republican Michele Tafoya for the seat of retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Independent Marisa Simonetti is also on the ballot. A polling average had Flanagan ahead 48.3% to 42.5% as of Sunday, which is within the margin of error. President Trump endorsed Tafoya on Oct. 12.

Other Minnesota races include:

• Attorney General: DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison faces Republican Ron Schutz.
• U.S. House: All eight congressional districts are on the ballot. In the 2nd District, Democrat Matt Little faces Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt. In the 1st District, a Democratic-sponsored poll showed Democrat Jake Johnson and Republican Rep. Brad Finstad tied at 43% each.

Regional Updates and Voting Trends

In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is running for a second term against Democratic candidate and megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton. The state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932. In Missouri, voters are deciding on Amendment 3, which would repeal abortion access passed in 2024.

Election Day has seen various reports from different states:

• Florida: Officials in several counties, including Brevard, Broward, and Palm Beach, set up alternative polling sites for 21 original sites after original locations were damaged by flooding or roads became unsafe.
• Ohio: One voter reported that the queues were "the longest we've ever had to be in line."
• Space: NASA astronauts Anil Menon, Jessica Watkins, and Luke Delany cast electronic ballots from the International Space Station to Harris County, Texas.

Security and Monitoring

The Department of Justice is monitoring elections in all 50 states for the first time. Specific monitors are present in Jackson, Clay, and St. Louis counties in Missouri, as well as Johnson, Wyandotte, and Sedgwick counties in Kansas.

In Oklahoma, federal authorities charged Robin Martin with conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications. Martin is accused of sending hundreds of letters containing nonhazardous white powder, such as yeast or flour, to public officials. Investigators believe more than 700 mailings were associated with the same sender.

Why it matters

The outcome of these elections will determine the balance of power in Congress, impacting the ability of the President to govern during his final two years in office.

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Sources

• cbsnews.com: Minnesota's midterm election 2026: Follow the latest updates
• mprnews.org: Voters energized and heading to the polls in Minneapolis and Moorhead | MPR News
• nbcnews.com: Kansas U.S. Senate Midterm Election 2026: Live Results
• kcur.org: Kansas election results 2026: Live updates | KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR
• kctv5.com: 🔴 LIVE UPDATES: Voting underway across Kansas, Missouri as DOJ says it’s monitoring elections
• mirror.co.uk: NASA astronauts vote in US midterm 2026 elections from space - updates - The Mirror

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