Election Day live updates with House and Senate control at stake

Live

By

November 3, 2026 / 6:05 AM EST / CBS News

Add CBS News on Google

What to know about Election Day for the 2026 midterms:

• Polls are opening across the country Tuesday morning, after more than 57 million Americans already voted early, according to the University of Florida Voting Lab. 
• All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot, while 36 states will be electing governors. 
• In a blow to the Trump administration, the Supreme Court on Monday turned down a last-ditch attempt to require California to separate mail ballots received from thousands of people the administration claimed were "likely" not citizens.
• Watch live coverage of election results Tuesday evening on CBS News and get the latest updates on CBSNews.com and streaming on CBS News 24/7.  

  Updated 0m ago

How to watch 2026 midterm election results on TV and streaming

CBS News will have extensive live coverage throughout the day, with election results and analysis on all platforms after the polls close Tuesday evening.

• What: Election coverage and results of the 2026 midterms
• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026  
• Time:
      - All day live coverage streaming on CBS News 24/7
      - 5 p.m. ET:  "Election 2026: The Nerd Show" on CBS News 24/7
      - 7 p.m. ET:  "America Decides: Election 2026," on TV, cable and streaming
• On TV: CBS television stations (find your local station here)
• Online stream: Live on CBS News in the video player above and on your mobile or streaming device 

Beginning at 5 p.m. ET, dive into the latest data on "Election 2026: The Nerd Show," hosted by CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto and CBS News congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns, joined by Democratic and Republican pollsters and other election data experts.

At 7 p.m. ET, CBS News prime-time special, "America Decides: Election 2026," covers the latest election results as polls close around the country, anchored by Tony Dokoupil and  Norah O'Donnell, with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan, and a team of correspondents and political analysts around the country.

Watch on the free CBS News app on your connected TV or smartphone, on Paramount+, and all platforms where CBS News 24/7 is available, including CBSNews.com and YouTube.

  Updated 0m ago

These battleground races will determine House and Senate control

Control of the House of Representatives will come down to a number of battleground seats. CBS News has identified 47 House districts that will likely determine which party will have the majority.

Of those seats, 20 are currently held by Democrats and 27 are held by Republicans.  Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority, with 218 seats, plus an independent who normally caucuses with them. Democrats hold 214 seats. There are two vacancies.

CBS News' Battleground Tracker model estimated on Oct. 25 that Democrats are on track to take control of the House with 229 seats. There is still a path for the GOP to keep the House: The Battleground Tracker's estimates ranged from 215 Democratic seats — which would give Republicans a narrow majority — to 237 seats.

On the Senate side, CBS News has identified 11 key races that could determine control of the Senate.

Eight of those seats are currently held by Republicans: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.

The other three are held by Democrats: Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire.

Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats to the Democrats' 47. 

  Updated 0m ago

Some Maine voters unenthusiastic about choices in closely watched Senate race

Sen. Susan Collins is being challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson. Voters in Maine know their decision could impact the rest of the country. 

Norm Belanger said for him, it's about having "a balance of power and the checks and balances can hopefully once again work to make sure no one branch of government takes control, I think it's important."

Belanger said he and his wife Elizabeth typically vote for a person over a party. 

"Troy Jackson doesn't excite me. He would not have been my choice for the Democratic candidate," Belanger said. "On the other hand, I think he's the best choice of the two."

Another voter in Kittery said, "There's no white knight here in either party," adding, "Who I end up voting for, is going to be who I think is going to be the least damaging."

Read more from CBS News Boston here. 

In:

• United States Senate
• Voting
• Election
• U.S. House of Representatives

Trump touts renovation projects instead of addressing cost of living in final midterm push

(05:02)