Final Polls and Early Results Shape Crucial Midterm Elections
As voters head to the polls across the United States, final surveys and early results highlight competitive races for governorships and congressional control.
Voters across the United States are casting their ballots on Tuesday in a series of closely watched midterm elections that could determine the balance of power in Washington and key statehouses. Amid a political landscape influenced by voter concerns over the economy, the cost of living, and the administration's approval ratings, final polls have highlighted competitive matchups in states like Ohio and Maine.
In the Ohio gubernatorial race, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has trailed Democrat Amy Acton in the final stretch of the campaign. The race was upended late last month following a campaign advertisement released by Ramaswamy featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur. The ad drew bipartisan criticism because Acton has previously discussed experiencing sexual abuse and homelessness during her childhood. While Ohio has drifted to the right in recent decades—with President Donald Trump winning the state by 11 points in 2024—voter frustration over the economy and the fallout from the ad have made the contest competitive. Forecasters from the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball give Acton an edge, and RealClearPolitics reported a 4.5-point lead for the Democratic candidate as of Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Maine Senate race has positioned Democratic challenger Troy Jackson ahead of incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in several final surveys. The race has become the most expensive of this year's election cycle when adjusted for population, drawing close to $218 million in broadcast ad spending. Jackson has led in the majority of major polls, including a 6-point advantage in a survey by The New York Times and Siena University, though Emerson College released a poll showing Collins leading narrowly within the margin of error. Experts note that Collins has a strong reputation for political durability and independence, having earned a ranking as one of the most bipartisan senators.
Providing the first early returns on Election Day, the U.S. territory of Guam offered Democrats a glimmer of hope as unofficial vote counts indicated that Democrat Alicia Garrido Limtiaco flipped the island's non-voting House delegate seat from red to blue, leading incumbent Republican delegate James Moylan. However, the territory also saw competitive results in the gubernatorial contest, where Republican candidate Tony Ada led Democratic candidate Therese Terlaje.
President Donald Trump highlighted the gubernatorial race in Guam on social media following the early results, while not addressing the House delegate seat. Across the mainland, Democrats are aiming to flip the House majority from red to blue in the midterms, needing a net gain of just three seats. Midterm dynamics historically favor the party out of power when the sitting president faces low approval ratings.
Polls across Ohio are scheduled to close at 7:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. As results continue to roll in, political analysts are watching closely to see how national trends, local campaign controversies, and spending levels ultimately impact the final outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.