Voters head to polls in 2026 midterm elections to decide control of Congress

Voters across the United States head to the polls today to decide control of Congress and the future of President Trump's agenda in the 2026 midterm elections. The ballot includes all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate races, and governor races in 36 states and three U.S. territories. Voters are also deciding high-profile measures such as a proposed billionaire tax in California.

Coverage Details

CBS News is providing extensive live coverage throughout the day and night. Prime-time television and cable coverage titled "America Decides: Election 2026" starts at 7 p.m. ET, anchored by Tony Dokoupil and Norah O'Donnell. They are joined on set by Gayle King, Margaret Brennan, and a team of political reporters including Robert Costa, Major Garrett, Nancy Cordes, and Ed O'Keefe. Additional reporting comes from correspondents stationed at the White House and around the country, alongside election data experts and political analysts from both political parties.

Streaming and Data

Streaming coverage is available 24/7 on the free CBS News app, Paramount+, YouTube, and CBSNews.com. Viewers can also watch a data-focused program titled "Election 2026: The Nerd Show," hosted by Anthony Salvanto and Caitlin Huey-Burns, starting at 5 p.m. ET and running until 2 a.m. ET. Local CBS stations are covering the vote across 15 owned markets, while CBS News Atlanta viewers can watch local coverage on WUPA Channel 69.

Timeline and Results

Poll closing times vary by state, starting at 7 p.m. ET and stretching across the evening until Alaska closes at 1 a.m. ET. Final results in some races will take longer depending on vote margins and state rules for counting mail-in ballots. For example, Alaska uses a ranked choice voting system that requires extra rounds of counting if no candidate wins over 50 percent of first-choice votes, meaning full results there may take up to 15 days.

Context

Midterm elections happen halfway through a president's four-year term and often shape the remainder of their time in office by shifting power in Congress. Networks deploy large reporting teams and specialized data programs to track these outcomes because control of both the House and Senate determines which legislative priorities can pass.