LIVE UPDATES: 2026 Midterm Results From the States COURIER Covers
By Deola Adeosun
Updated: 12:21 A.M. ET. We’re adding calls as they come in.
Polls are closing across the country tonight. National outlets will all show you the same map. We’ll show you what each result means where you live, with reporting from COURIER’s state newsrooms. Find your state below.
A note on timing: Close races, mail ballots, and recounts can take days to count, and that’s normal. We’ll only report a race as decided once it has been called, and we’ll tell you who called it.
Balance of power: Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats will win control of both the House and the Senate.
House: Democrats 219, Republicans 125, with 91 seats still uncalled. It takes 218 seats for a majority.
Senate: Democrats 52, Republicans 40, with 8 seats still uncalled. It takes 51 seats for a majority.
7 P.M. ET
GEORGIA
Full coverage: Courier Georgia
U.S. Senate: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) vs. Rep. Mike Collins (R)
What it decides: Ossoff holds one of the seats Democrats can’t afford to lose if they want the Senate majority. Both candidates have made the Epstein files a campaign issue.
RESULT: Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is projected to win reelection in Georgia, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Ossoff at 7:18 p.m. ET. Ossoff currently leads Republican Mike Collins 59.9% to 40.1%, with about 78% of the vote counted.
Governor: Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) vs. Rick Jackson (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Brian Kemp term-limited. The next governor signs or vetoes Georgia’s election laws and decides whether the state fully expands Medicaid.
RESULT: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to be the next governor of Georgia, according to Decision Desk HQ and the AP, which called the race for Bottoms at 9:13 p.m. ET and 9:24 p.m. ET, respectively. Bottoms currently leads Republican Rick Jackson 55.4% to 44.6%, with about 74% of the vote counted. Bottoms will be the first Black woman to serve as Georgia’s governor and the first Democrat to win the office since 1998, flipping the seat held by term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
SOUTH CAROLINA
U.S. Senate: Annie Andrews (D) vs. Sen. Darline Graham (R)
What it decides: Whether Republicans hold a seat that was considered safe until late polls showed a tight race. Graham is running for a full term.
RESULT: Democrat Annie Andrews is projected to be the next U.S. senator from South Carolina, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Andrews at 9:54 p.m. ET. Andrews currently leads Republican Sen. Darline Graham 51.1% to 47.0%, with about 84% of the vote counted. Andrews will be the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina since 1998, flipping the seat Graham was appointed to after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
7:30 P.M. ET
NORTH CAROLINA
Full coverage: Cardinal & Pine
U.S. Senate: Roy Cooper (D) vs. Michael Whatley (R)
What it decides: An open seat after Sen. Thom Tillis’ retirement, and one of the likeliest flips of the night. It also decides who represents North Carolina on votes over Medicaid and health care costs.
RESULT: Democrat Roy Cooper is projected to be the next U.S. senator from North Carolina, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Cooper at 8:23 p.m. ET. Cooper currently leads Republican Michael Whatley 66.8% to 31.6%, with about 51% of the vote counted. The win flips the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
OHIO
Governor: Amy Acton (D) vs. Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Mike DeWine term-limited. It also sets who leads Ohio on public health, schools, and abortion rights for the next four years.
RESULT: Democrat Amy Acton is projected to be the next governor of Ohio, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Acton at 10:30 p.m. ET. Acton currently leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 50.6% to 46.1%, with about 76% of the vote counted. The win flips the governor’s office held by term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
8 P.M. ET
PENNSYLVANIA
Full coverage: The Keystone
Governor: Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) vs. Stacy Garrity (R)
What it decides: Whether Shapiro wins a second term in the country’s biggest swing state, and who holds the veto pen over Pennsylvania’s divided Legislature.
RESULT: Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is projected to win reelection in Pennsylvania, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Shapiro at 8:17 p.m. ET. Shapiro currently leads Republican Stacy Garrity 60.1% to 38.6%, with about 83% of the vote counted.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Full coverage: Granite Post
U.S. Senate: Chris Pappas (D) vs. John E. Sununu (R)
What it decides: An open seat after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement that Democrats need to hold to have a path to the majority.
RESULT: Democrat Chris Pappas is projected to be the next U.S. senator from New Hampshire, according to the AP, which called the race for Pappas at 8:20 p.m. ET. Pappas currently leads Republican John E. Sununu 60.2% to 38.1% in early returns, with about 21% of the vote counted. The win keeps a seat Democrats needed to hold in their push for the Senate majority.
MICHIGAN
Full coverage: The ‘Gander
U.S. Senate: Abdul El-Sayed (D) vs. Mike Rogers (R)
What it decides: An open seat after Sen. Gary Peters’ retirement, in a state that has swung back and forth in recent elections.
RESULT:
Governor: Jocelyn Benson (D) vs. John James (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer term-limited. The next governor will shape Michigan’s response to tariffs and auto jobs, and who runs the state’s elections.
RESULT: Democrat Jocelyn Benson is projected to be the next governor of Michigan, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Benson at 10:45 p.m. ET. Benson currently leads Republican John James 54.0% to 44.4% in early returns, with about 37% of the vote counted.
TEXAS
Full coverage: Courier Texas
U.S. Senate: James Talarico (D) vs. Ken Paxton (R)
What it decides: Whether Democrats win a Senate race in Texas for the first time since 1988.
RESULT: Democrat James Talarico is projected to be the next U.S. senator from Texas, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Talarico at 10:14 p.m. ET. Talarico currently leads Republican Ken Paxton 55.3% to 43.1%, with about 68% of the vote counted. Talarico will be the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988, flipping a Republican-held seat.
Governor: Gina Hinojosa (D) vs. Gov. Greg Abbott (R)
What it decides: Whether Abbott wins a fourth term. The governor drives Texas’ border enforcement and immigration policy and decides how the state draws its voting maps.
RESULT: Democrat Gina Hinojosa is projected to be the next governor of Texas, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Hinojosa at 12:00 a.m. ET. Hinojosa currently leads Republican Gov. Greg Abbott 52.9% to 45.7%, with about 85% of the vote counted, according to Decision Desk HQ. Hinojosa will be Texas’ first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since Ann Richards in the 1990s, ousting Abbott as he sought a fourth term.
9 P.M. ET
ARIZONA
Full coverage: The Copper Courier
Governor: Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vs. Andy Biggs (R)
What it decides: Who holds the veto over Arizona’s laws on abortion, immigration and elections.
RESULT: Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is projected to win reelection in Arizona, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Hobbs at 10:11 p.m. ET. Hobbs currently leads Republican Andy Biggs 56.8% to 41.8% in early returns, with about 46% of the vote counted.
IOWA
Full coverage: Iowa Starting Line
U.S. Senate: Josh Turek (D) vs. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R)
What it decides: An open seat after Sen. Joni Ernst’s retirement, and a test of how tariffs and farm prices are landing with rural voters.
RESULT: Democrat Josh Turek is projected to be the next U.S. senator from Iowa, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Turek at 11:16 p.m. ET. Turek currently leads Republican Ashley Hinson 50.8% to 46.0%, with about 81% of the vote counted. The win flips the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.
Governor: Rob Sand (D) vs. Zach Lahn (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Kim Reynolds not running. The winner sets Iowa’s direction on schools, abortion, and property taxes.
RESULT: Democrat Rob Sand is projected to be the next governor of Iowa, according to the AP, which called the race for Sand at 11:12 p.m. ET. Sand currently leads Republican Zach Lahn 57.4% to 42.6%, with about 82% of the vote counted. Sand will be the first Democrat elected Iowa governor since 2006, flipping the office in a state President Donald Trump won by 13 points in 2024.
MINNESOTA
Full coverage: Courier Minnesota
U.S. Senate: Peggy Flanagan (D) vs. Michele Tafoya (R)
What it decides: An open seat after Sen. Tina Smith’s retirement that Democrats need to keep.
RESULT: Democrat Peggy Flanagan is projected to be the next U.S. senator from Minnesota, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Flanagan at 12:03 a.m. ET. Flanagan currently leads Republican Michele Tafoya 54.6% to 42.8%, with about 73% of the vote counted. The win keeps the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.
Governor: Amy Klobuchar (D) vs. Lisa Demuth (R)
What it decides: Who leads Minnesota, including its fights with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
RESULT: Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is projected to be the next governor of Minnesota, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Klobuchar at 12:03 a.m. ET. Klobuchar currently leads Republican Lisa Demuth 55.9% to 42.3%, with about 77% of the vote counted.
NEBRASKA
Full coverage: Courier Nebraska
U.S. Senate: Dan Osborn (I) vs. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R)
What it decides: Whether an independent unseats a Republican incumbent, a result that would scramble the math for control of the Senate.
RESULT:
NEW MEXICO
Full coverage: Courier New Mexico
Governor: Deb Haaland (D) vs. Gregg Hull (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham term-limited. The winner steers a state budget built on oil and gas revenue, plus health care and schools.
RESULT: Democrat Deb Haaland is projected to be the next governor of New Mexico, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Haaland at 10:33 p.m. ET. Haaland currently leads Republican Gregg Hull 56.0% to 44.0% in early returns, with about 48% of the vote counted. Haaland will be the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history.
NEW YORK
Full coverage: Courier New York
Governor: Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) vs. Bruce Blakeman (R)
What it decides: Whether Hochul wins a second full term, and who leads the state on housing costs and the cost of living.
RESULT: Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is projected to win reelection in New York, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Hochul at 9:50 p.m. ET. Hochul currently leads Republican Bruce Blakeman 67.1% to 32.9%, with about 54% of the vote counted.
WISCONSIN
Full coverage: UpNorthNews
Governor: David Crowley (D) vs. Tom Tiffany (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Tony Evers not running. The governor has been the main check on Wisconsin’s Republican-led Legislature.
RESULT: Democrat David Crowley is projected to be the next governor of Wisconsin, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Crowley at 10:20 p.m. ET. Crowley currently leads Republican Tom Tiffany 54.3% to 45.7%, with about 64% of the vote counted.
11 P.M. ET
CALIFORNIA
Full coverage: Courier California
Governor: Xavier Becerra (D) vs. Steve Hilton (R)
What it decides: An open seat, with Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited. The winner leads the nation’s largest state in its fights with the Trump administration over immigration, disaster aid, and climate.
RESULT: Democrat Xavier Becerra is projected to be the next governor of California, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race for Becerra at 11:13 p.m. ET. Becerra currently leads Republican Steve Hilton 65.4% to 34.7%, with about 52% of the vote counted.
MIDNIGHT to 1 A.M. ET
ALASKA
Full coverage: The Alaska Current
U.S. Senate: Mary Peltola (D) vs. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R)
What it decides: One of Democrats’ longer-shot paths to the Senate majority. Results may take days because Alaska counts many ballots after Election Day and uses ranked-choice voting.
RESULT:
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