Live election results for 2026 midterms as Democrats decisively win control of House and Senate

Jon Rosenthal has become the first Democrat to win a Texas Railroad Commissioner race since 1990, CBS News projects, after Republican Bo French refused to reconsider his racist, anti-Muslim and antisemitic comments.

The powerful Texas railroad commission does not deal with railroads, but instead regulates the state's massive oil and gas industry. There are three total commissioners — the other two are Republicans. 

Read more here.

Two Senate races remain toss-ups: Alaska and Mississippi.

Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are locked in a tight contest. Vote-counting could take some time in the race, which was shaken up last week by allegations that operatives linked to Peltola helped recruit a candidate with the same first and last name as Sullivan — which Peltola's team denied.

The Mississippi race between GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith and Democrat Scott Colom also remains close — a contest that was not widely viewed as competitive prior to Tuesday.

Democrats won control of the House, but about 75 races have yet to be determined. 

We're awaiting results in a number of competitive races, including some that are unexpectedly close: 

• Arizona's 1st District: Republican Jay Feely vs. Democrat Amish Shah
• Arizona's 6th District: Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani vs. Democrat JoAnna Mendoza 
• California's 22nd District: GOP Rep. David Valadao vs. Democrat Randy Villegas
• Colorado's 4th District: GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert vs. Democrat Eileen Laubacher 
• Colorado's 5th District: GOP Rep. Jeff Crank vs. Democrat Jessica Killin 
• Michigan's 4th District: GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga vs. Democrat Sean McCann
• Michigan's 7th District: Republican Rep. Tom Barrett vs. Democrat William Lawrence 
• Montana's 1st District: Republican Aaron Flint vs. Democrat Sam Forstag
• Florida's 7th District: Democrat Bale Dalton vs. Republican Ryan Elijah 
• Florida's 9th District: Democratic Rep. Darren Soto vs. Republican Dan Green
• Florida's 13th District: GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna vs. Democrat Leela Gray
• Florida's 27th District: GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar vs. Democrat Eliott Rodriguez
• New York's 17th District: GOP Rep. Mike Lawlor vs. Democrat Cait Conley
• North Carolina's 1st District: Democratic Rep. Don Davis vs. Republican Laurie Buckhout
• North Carolina's 9th District: GOP Rep. Richard Hudson vs. Democrat Richard Ojeda
• Virginia's 1st District: GOP Rep. Rob Wittman vs. Democrat Shannon Taylor
  
• Washington's 3rd District: Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez vs. Republican John Braun

GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts won reelection in the Nebraska Senate race, CBS News projects, defeating independent Dan Osborn. 

Ricketts, 62, is a former Nebraska governor who was appointed to the Senate in 2023. He faced off against Osborn, a former union leader who was making his second Senate bid.

Read more here.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a key negotiator in U.S.-Iran talks, recognized Tuesday's election results — and linked them to the high consumer prices wrought by the Iran war.

"Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," he wrote on social media. "If the US govt betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare."

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, CBS News projects, becoming the nation's first Muslim senator and retaining the seat for Democrats after one of the most contentious contests of the midterm elections.

His win came after a last-minute shakeup in the race, with former Democratic primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsing Rogers over the weekend.

Read more here.

In his first public comments since Democrats notched House and Senate victories, billionaire Elon Musk wrote on X: "Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now."

The world's richest man spent hundreds of millions of dollars assisting Republican congressional candidates. His biggest investment came in the Texas Senate race, which Republican Ken Paxton lost to Democrat James Talarico.

Adam Hamilton became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Kansas since 1932 on Tuesday — a feat that required him to convince a large number of Republicans to cross the aisle and vote for him, even if that meant losing the Senate majority for their preferred party.

CBS News asked what he thinks Democrats should do first. He said they should end the war in Iran, address tariffs, lower healthcare costs and restore programs like SNAP — commonly known as food stamps — that were curtailed by the last Congress.  

When asked what Democrats could propose that he wouldn't support on behalf of the Republicans who voted for him, he said he believed in a strong border.

"I am an independent-minded Democrat. I'm going to work across the aisle so that Republicans and Democrats take into account each other's concerns," he told CBS News.

Hamilton now has the task of representing his bipartisan coalition in a Congress where Democrats have been empowered with control of both houses. Kansas' other Senate seat is held by Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, who Hamilton has said will be his "best friend."

"We are not flyover country. We are the heart of America. And today the heart of America has sent Washington a message: that we are better together than we are divided," Hamilton told supporters in a victory speech.

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took the stage in Michigan to declare victory. CBS News has not projected a winner in the race, which remains tight, though Democrats are assessed as the likely winners.

"Michigan, we did it!" El-Sayed said. 

He said he is "so proud and honored" to be their senator-elect. If he wins against Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed will be the first Muslim-American elected to the U.S. Senate. 

"You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates, so thank you," he said. "This is all yours."

He thanked voters for inviting him to their churches, synagogues and homes.

"Thank you for your trust and your belief and your kindness," he said. "I'm going to take it all with me and I hope to bring back the kind of leadership that more than earns it." 

El-Sayed said his opponents weren't just targeting and attacking him, "they were targeting and attacking you." 

"They want an America that is too small for some of us. We know that America is big enough for all of us," he said. 

It was a bitter race. El-Sayed's vehement criticism of the Israeli government drew stiff pushback from Republicans and some moderate Democrats in both the primary and general election, and President Trump frequently made incendiary comments about El-Sayed, calling him "Mohammad" and saying he should be forced to go through a metal detector. He pointed to that bitterness during his speech early Wednesday.

"So Mike, enjoy your retirement!" El-Sayed said, telling him to enjoy his yachts.

"You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope," he said. "May we never have to see the likes of you in the state again."

"JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January," he said, before nodding to Vice President JD Vance's Ohio heritage. "So you know what that means! Wolverine one, buckeye zero!"

"Donald, look, I know you've struggled with my name," he said. "So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me senator."

"To the super PACs and special interests who tried to beat us, we are coming for your system of politics," he said. "To AIPAC, who spent $42 million against us, thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat you twice."

Former President Barack Obama said American voters sent a "clear message," but Democrats now need to "roll up our sleeves."

"Tonight, the American people sent a clear message — they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face," said the former president, who held several rallies for Democratic candidates in recent weeks. 

"These results were only possible because outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country — including in areas once considered long shots," he said. "They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives, but were united by shared values, a belief in public service, and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first."

He also expressed gratitude to election officials and volunteers. 

"While this administration has another two years in office, our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future," he said. 

Embattled GOP Rep. Max Miller lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Brian Poindexter in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, CBS News projected. 

Miller defied calls over the summer to end his campaign before a deadline that would have allowed Republicans to replace him on the November ballot amid allegations of domestic abuse toward his ex-wife and young daughter. The allegations, which Miller denied, put the northeastern Ohio district long held by Republicans in play. 

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the race as solid Republican earlier this year, but shifted the contest to a toss-up in August. 

Read more here.

Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is in an unexpectedly close fight to keep her Senate seat. She and Democrat Scott Colom are neck-and-neck in Mississippi, with nearly all of the votes in.

When Republican Sen. Susan Collins was reelected in 2020, she narrowly won women voters. But exit polls show that on Tuesday, they backed Democrat Troy Jackson, who is projected to defeat Collins.

While Collins often tries to distance herself from President Trump, women voters and most Maine voters overall said she was too supportive of the president. 

And Mr. Trump's tariffs are not popular here. Most Maine voters (69%) feel they have harmed their local economy. Many in the state said the cost of living was a crucial factor in their vote and they voted for Jackson by a 33-point margin.

Even though more voters thought Collins would do a better job than Jackson getting federal funding for Maine, that wasn't enough to push her over the top.

Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers expressed confidence, telling supporters early Wednesday morning, "there is a path for us to win this thing."

"Guess what's left? It's coming our way," he said.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed currently has a lead, but around one-third of the vote is still uncounted. CBS News assesses that the seat is a likely Democratic win, but has not projected a winner.

Rogers said: "We're very, very confident we're going to turn this thing around," before telling supporters to get some sleep.

Polls closed in Alaska at 1 a.m. ET, meaning all voting in the United States has concluded. 

The Senate race in Alaska will be closely watched, by anyone still awake. 

In his victory speech in Texas, Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico compared his victory and his story to the biblical story of David and Goliath. 

"In this race, we went up against our own Goliaths — the richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, D.C. establishment," Talarico said. 

"David wasn't as big or as strong as Goliath," he continued. "He didn't have as many weapons. But he had hope. He had faith. And he had a slingshot. You were my slingshot. The people of Texas were my slingshot. And tonight, and tonight, we defeated Goliath."

Earlier in the evening, Paxton congratulated Talarico, saying he would pray for him. 

Democrat Troy Jackson defeated GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race, CBS News projects, in a key victory for Democrats who have sought for decades to oust the Republican senator.

Collins said earlier that she conceded to Jackson.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick lost his race in Pennsylvania's 1st District, CBS News projected, becoming the latest House Republican from the state to lose reelection. 

He lost to Democrat Bob Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner. 

Fitzpatrick, a moderate, was one of the few House Republicans to vote to limit President Trump's ability to further strike Iran. He has a history of outperforming other GOP lawmakers.

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is likely to defeat Republican candidate Mike Rogers, CBS News estimates. CBS News has not projected a winner in the race.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer — who could be Senate majority leader soon — began his election night remarks by saying "against all odds, we Democrats have won the Senate."

Democrats have five words for Americans, he said: "Relief is on the way." 

Schumer said Republicans made the choice to follow President Trump "over the cliff." 

"The American people reduced the red brick wall to a pile of bricks," he said. 

— Ian McKinney and Maria Sullivan

Democrat Bobby Pulido defeated incumbent Rep. Monica De La Cruz, CBS News projects, flipping the crucial South Texas district that Democrats had heavily targeted after the region had swung toward Republicans in 2024.

Read more here.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he's proud of what Senate Republicans have done, and said he's thankful Republicans still have President Trump in the White House. Thune will no longer be Senate majority leader come January. 

"As we head into 2027, Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat Party attempts to unwind everything we've done," Thune wrote on X.  "Thankfully, we still have President Trump in the White House, and we'll work with him to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism. We cannot let their fringe positions become the mainstream."

Republican Sen. Susan Collins has conceded to Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, ending a decades-long career in Congress. 

CBS News has not projected a winner in the race.

"It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate. I'm proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years," she said, confirming that she called to congratulate Jackson and "to assure him that my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition."

A senior Jackson adviser also told CBS News that Collins conceded.

Taking the stage with his family in Maine, Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson thanked his supporters. 

CBS News has not projected a winner in the race between Jackson and Republican Sen. Susan Collins. 

"We did it! Working people did it!" he said. 

Jackson said he's "so damn proud" to be standing there with everyone. Jackson, a longtime logger, said he relates to the people watching him who are just getting home from shift work. 

"Tonight, or this morning, the people of Maine have elected that logger to the United States Senate," he said. 

Democrats have flipped control of three of Iowa's four House seats.

GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks lost reelection to Democrat Christina Bohannan in Iowa's 1st District in their third consecutive rematch, CBS News projected. The race was expected to be close in the months leading up to the election. As November neared, election forecasters shifted the race in favor of Democrats. 

Democrat Lindsay James defeated Republican Joe Mitchell in Iowa's 2nd District, which is currently held by GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, who lost her bid for Senate.

And GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost reelection to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa's 3rd District.

Previewing the likely torrent of congressional investigations following Democrats' House victory, Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement: "Lawyer up."

President Trump said he will accept the results of the midterm elections. 

"Yes, sure I'll accept them. Why wouldn't I?" he told Fox News' Bret Baier.

Democrat Peggy Flanagan defeated Michele Tafoya in the Minnesota Senate race, CBS News projects, defending the seat for Democrats after Sen. Tina Smith opted not to seek reelection. 

Read more here.

In a live interview on Fox News, President Trump said he was "a little bit surprised" by his party's midterm losses.

"I thought they'd do better," he said, pointing to his "tremendous rallies" and "great excitement."

He said he intends to work with congressional Democrats, adding that he spoke with several on Tuesday, though he didn't name them. Asked how he will work with the party, he pointed to his veto power, calling it "impervious" and "one of the stronger powers that a president has."

"And after a couple of months of vetoes, they'll call and they'll say, 'How do we get this stuff done?' And we'll work together," he said.

He predicted: "We can work with them on immigration, I think."

He said Democrats "did a good job" and "fought hard."

He told Fox News he "felt very badly" about GOP Sen. Darline Graham's loss, noting the death of her brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"She's essentially mourning and campaigning at the same time, and then on top of it, this happens," he said.

Otherwise, he largely blamed GOP candidates, saying his base "didn't like the candidates."

"Some of the candidates that I endorsed fought me, and they didn't like that they fought me," he said, noting how loyal his base tends to be.

And he said he doesn't plan to make any changes in his Cabinet.

He acknowledged that the Iran war and its impact on energy prices were likely a drag on his party.

"Historically, I think I'll be judged for having done the right thing, but that gave us an evening that was not that pleasant," the president said.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will begin delivering for Americans as soon as they take control of Congress in January. 

"America is back," he said, to cheers.

CBS News asked Aaron Lehman, the head of the Iowa Farmer's Union, about President Trump's frequent call for Americans to vote like he was on the ballot. 

"They did," he said. 

Democrat Josh Turek won the Senate race against Ashley Hinson. Voters shifted Democratic in rural Iowa. 

Senate races in three normally deep-red states — Louisiana, Nebraska and Mississippi — are currently rated toss-ups by CBS News.

The Louisiana Senate race is a face-off between Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis, and the Mississippi race is between GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom. Prior to election night, neither race was widely viewed as a competitive contest.

The Nebraska Senate race is competitive between independent Dan Osborn and Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. 

Speaking at a watch party in Columbia, South Carolina, Republican Sen. Darlene Graham said it's been a "very difficult few months" — a reference to the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"I lost my dear brother Lindsey and one of our South Carolina's greatest leaders in July," she said. "Since then, I've run in a contentious primary and runoff extending into mid-August, and now a general election. I would trade this all 1,000 times over to have my brother back, but God had a different plan."

President Trump took to Truth Social, saying he will "become a political pundit" on why his favored candidates lost in the midterms. 

He quickly followed through on that promise, writing that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lost because he's a "RINO."

"If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn't become a RINO in the last six months of his Political Life, he wouldn't have lost," Mr. Trump wrote. "He went back to his original formula, and it wasn't pretty!"

In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton congratulated Democratic Senate winner James Talarico. He is the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988.

Keeping his remarks brief, Paxton called it a "difficult" night for Republicans. 

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement congratulating House Democrats, and throwing her support behind House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker.

"Tonight, the American people have changed the course of our country," she said. "By electing a Democratic House Majority, they have broken Washington's Republican monopoly on power and restored a constitutional check on a President who has governed as though none should exist. They have demanded lower costs, better healthcare and a government that fights for working families."

"With tremendous personal pride, I congratulate our next Speaker, Hakeem Jeffries," she added. "Exactly twenty years after I became the first woman to hold the gavel, he will make history as the first Black Speaker of the House. I know the strength, judgment and resolve that office demands. Hakeem has those qualities in abundance. He has led Democrats to this extraordinary victory, and he will be a magnificent speaker."

Speaking to CBS News' senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, the president congratulated Democrats on their victories. 

"My message is congratulations to the Democrats, and I look forward to working with you for the good of our country," the president said. 

Read more here.

Democrats have gained control of the Senate, CBS News projected shortly after 11:30 p.m.

That means Democrats will be able to block President Trump's nominees, and Democrats will have a better chance at passing legislation. On Tuesday night, the president has said he plans to work with Democrats, but he's also said he will use his veto powers as needed.

Democratic Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek has defeated Republican Ashley Hinson, CBS News projects.

Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated GOP Sen. Roger Marshall in the Kansas Senate race, CBS News projects, unseating the incumbent in a major upset that comes as the state hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly a century.

Read more here.

Speaking on Politico's livestream, President Trump said he'll work with Democrats — and freely use his veto power. During the phone call with Politico's Dasha Burns, which aired live, the president did not argue with the legitimacy of the election results.

"We'll work with the Democrats," the president said. 

Mr. Trump said he'll consider doing everything that's good and appropriate for the country. 

Asked how Democratic control in Congress will change his presidency, he said, "I'll let you know a year from now." 

The president said he'll have a "powerful" veto power, "and if I think it's good, we're just gonna veto." 

On the possibility of further Iran strikes, the president said "we're going to take a look" and decide if further strikes are necessary. 

The president said House Speaker Mike Johnson has done a good job, but declined to fully endorse Johnson to continue to lead Republicans in the House. 

"I think he's done a very good job," the president said, when asked if Johnson should continue to lead Republicans in the House. "I think he's done a good job, they're going to have to make that decision," the president said again, when asked the same question again. 

CBS News assesses the Iowa Senate race as leaning Democratic.

Democrat Josh Turek is facing off against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Democrat Rob Sand has won the Iowa gubernatorial race, CBS News projects, defeating Republican Zach Lahn.

Once a swing state, Iowa has grown increasingly conservative in recent years. But the state has struggled economically in recent years, particularly under tariffs and high energy prices wrought by the Iran war. President Trump's favored gubernatorial candidate — Randy Feenstra — also lost the GOP primary to Lahn.

Democrat Sherrod Brown, a former senator from Ohio, will be a senator once again, CBS News projects. He's defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa in his bid for reelection, CBS News projects. After her upset win, Hinojosa will be the first Democrat to serve as Texas governor since Ann Richards in the early 1990s.

Abbott has called Hinojosa to concede, two sources tell CBS News.

Democrat James Talarico will defeat Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, CBS News projects, marking a major flip that Democrats have long sought in the Lone Star State.

CBS News estimates that Democrat Sherrod Brown is likely to win the Ohio Senate race against Republican Sen. Jon Husted. A winner has not yet been projected.

Democrat Amy Acton is the victor in the Ohio gubernatorial race against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, CBS News projects. 

Ramaswamy's controversial ad featuring Acton's estranged mother dominated the news cycle in the race, and Ramaswamy initially stood by the ad before eventually taking it off the air. 

Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary race to the now-defeated Ken Paxton, congratulated Democrat James Talarico. 

CBS News has not yet projected a winner in the Texas Senate race, but rates the contest as likely to be won by Talarico.

"The voters have spoken, and I want to extend my congratulations to James Talarico on his election to the U.S. Senate," Cornyn wrote on X. "I look forward to meeting him and offering my assistance with his transition as he prepares to serve Texans in the U.S. Senate."

As Republican losses continue to roll in, President Trump took to Truth Social. 

"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" he posted. "Thank you for your attention to this matter."

On the campaign trail, the president told voters to "pretend" he was on the ballot. 

After CBS News and other outlets projected Democrats will win the House, Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries posted on X: "Victory for America!"

He will likely be the next speaker of the House.

A senior Republican party strategist directly involved in GOP midterm strategy is placing the blame for the GOP's bad night on one person: President Trump. The operative sent CBS News the president's low approval ratings and said, "The Story of the night."

A separate senior Republican Party official involved in House GOP midterm strategy called it a "bloodbath."

"I don't think anybody imagined the bottom falling out the way it did," the party official said. 

The Senate race in Texas is likely to go to Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton, CBS News has assessed. 

Biden-era former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described the midterm results as "absolutely tectonic" during CBS News' election broadcast, saying, "Good news after good news keeps rolling in."

"We are seeing the early signs of something that is less of a result than it is a revolt," he said. "It is a sign that the American people are comprehensively rejecting Donald Trump's policies and the congressional Republicans who enable them."

Buttigieg spoke to CBS News from Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's watch party. The crucial race remains a toss-up. He remained optimistic, saying that "different states are different" and doubting Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens' endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers had a major impact. 

Buttigieg ran for president in 2020, and is widely viewed as a potential future Democratic contender.

Democrats will gain control of the House, CBS News projects.

Democratic control of the House will mean subpoena and investigative power for Democrats, which will characterize President Trump's final two years in office.

Read more here.

Polls have closed in Nevada, Utah and Montana. 

The Senate race in Montana and the governor's race in Nevada are competitive.

Democrat Annie Andrews defeated GOP Sen. Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate race, CBS News projects, in a major upset.

Read more here.

The White House has ordered food from the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, according to a post from principal deputy communications director Kaelan Dorr. 

"WH eating good on a big day," Dorr posted. 

The move is a reference to former President Barack Obama's comments on the campaign trail that the president's White House renovations look "like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."

CBS News now rates the South Carolina Senate contest as likely Democratic.

Incumbent GOP Sen. Darline Graham — who was appointed to fill her brother Lindsey Graham's seat — is running against Democrat Annie Andrews.

Both the Senate and governor's races in Kansas lean Democratic, CBS News estimates. 

Adam Hamilton is leading Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall. A Democrat hasn't won a Kansas Senate seat in nearly a century.

And in the gubernatorial race, Democrat Cindy Holscher is leading Republican Ty Masterson. The state currently has a Democratic governor.

A White House official told CBS News the mood in the White House is "defiant." 

"President Trump was not on the ballot, and it's proven that Trump voters show up when he is on the ballot," the official said.

"Also, candidate quality matters, and President Trump did a better job promoting many of the candidates on the ballot than the candidates did themselves," the White House official continued.

"And a final note here: regardless of how today plays out, President Trump's resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger. Buckle up," the official said. 

In pre-midterm rallies, the president frequently encouraged voters to "pretend" that he was on the ballot, even saying at times that he was on the ballot, in a sense.

Both the Senate race and the governor's race in Texas lean Democratic, CBS News estimates.

A Democrat has not won statewide in the Lone Star State in more than three decades. Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is running against Republican Ken Paxton, while GOP Gov. Ken Paxton is trying to fend off a challenge from Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who won reelection, took to the stage to thank the voters and volunteers. 

"Georgia, you did it!" he said. 

Ossoff also congratulated fellow Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won the governor's race. 

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has won Georgia's race for governor, defeating Republican Rick Jackson, CBS News has projected.

Bottoms is the first Democrat to win a Georgia governor's race since 1998.

She will be the first woman to serve as governor in Georgia, the first Black governor of Georgia and the first Black woman to serve as governor of any state. 

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida's gubernatorial election and is set to become the first Black governor in the state's history, CBS News projects.

Donalds' victory marks another major win for Republicans in Florida, extending the party's control of the governor's office after eight years under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

The victory also carries national significance. Donalds would become the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history. Only three Black governors have previously been elected nationwide, all Democrats.

Read more here.

President Trump has no public appearances on his schedule Wednesday, according to a schedule released by the White House. He has several closed-press policy meetings, but there is no post-midterms press conference scheduled as of now.

Two senior Republican Party operatives involved in the party's midterm strategy told CBS News there is growing concern within top Senate GOP circles over the election results.

"It looks biblically bad," one of the operatives told CBS News.

Another top GOP operative directly involved in Senate midterm strategy was similarly blunt.

"Dude," the strategist said. "Bloodbath."

Democrat Jamie Ager flipped control of North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, CBS News projects, marking the first time a Democrat has won the seat since 2010. 

Ager, a fourth-generation farmer, was initially supposed to face GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards, who ended his reelection bid in early August. State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom replaced Edwards on the ballot less than 90 days before the election, putting her at a disadvantage in an already tough political climate for Republicans. 

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race from lean Republican to toss-up after Edwards suspended his campaign. As Election Day neared, election forecasters shifted the race again to lean Democrat. 

Read more here.

The South Carolina Senate race leans Democratic, CBS News estimates. Annie Andrews, the Democratic candidate, is leading Darline Graham, the Republican incumbent and sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The last time a Democrat won a Senate race in South Carolina was 1998, and that was a longtime incumbent senator, Fritz Hollings. 

Speaking after his victory in the New Hampshire Senate race, Democratic winner Chris Pappas said New Hampshire owes his opponent, Republican John Sununu, a "big debt of gratitude" for his service to the state. Sununu is a former U.S. senator. 

"A few minutes ago, I just got a very gracious call from John Sununu," Pappas told the crowd in his victory speech. "He wished us and our team well. And I wish the same for him and his family. And I think we all owe John Sununu a big debt of gratitude for his public service for the people of New Hampshire."

Pappas told the crowd it had "been a long campaign against a backdrop of the chaos, corruption and chaos, coming out of Washington." He said voters showed Washington "needs a new generation at the table to fix things."

At 9 p.m., polls closed in 15 more states:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Key races include the Senate race in Texas, the Senate race in Michigan, the Senate and governor's races in Iowa, and the Senate race in Kansas. 

GOP Sen. Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in the Florida Senate race, CBS News projects, keeping the seat under Republican control. 

Moody, 51, was appointed last year to fill a vacancy left by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. She previously served as Florida's attorney general, after working as a commercial litigator and federal prosecutor. 

Moody faced off against Nixon, who's represented portions of the Jacksonville area in the Florida statehouse since 2020. Nixon, 42, is a democratic socialist candidate who pulled off an upset victory against a more moderate opponent in the primary, setting up the race against Moody. 

Nixon's primary victory was among a series of wins by progressive-left candidates this cycle, in a key midterm dynamic as the Democrats grappled with differing visions for the party's future. But the general election contests are another story, especially in a state like Florida. 

Read more here.

Two Florida Democrats whose districts were made more favorable to Republicans survived redistricting, CBS News projects. 

Rep. Kathy Castor, who has been in Congress since 2007, won reelection in the 14th District. 

And Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who was first elected in 2022 and beat a democratic socialist in the primary, won the race in the 25th District. 

The 22nd District was also redrawn to favor the GOP, but Democratic candidate Pia Dandiya is projected to win.

Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley in the North Carolina Senate race, CBS News projects, marking the Democrats' first flip of the night.

Cooper, 69, is a popular two-term governor and the longest-serving state attorney general in North Carolina's history. His Senate candidacy set up North Carolina as Democrats' best chance to win a Republican-held seat during the 2026 midterm elections after GOP Sen. Thom Tillis opted not to seek reelection. 

Cooper faced off against Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman who had never previously run for office but was backed by President Trump. 

Whatley, 57, worked in former President George W. Bush's administration and as chief of staff for former North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole before serving as chairman of the state Republican Party. He went on to play a central role in President Trump's reelection effort as RNC chair, and entered the Senate race with the president's encouragement. 

North Carolina hasn't elected a Democratic senator since 2008. And even before Tillis decided not to seek reelection, facing a primary threat from the president, the race was expected to be competitive, since Mr. Trump won the state by just three points in 2024.

Read more here.

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas has defeated former GOP Sen. John Sununu in the New Hampshire Senate race, CBS News projects, keeping the seat in Democratic control after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's retirement. 

Pappas, 46, has represented New Hampshire in the House since 2019, where he's a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. He campaigned as an independent voice for New Hampshire, taking on a formidable opponent in Sununu, whose family has widespread name recognition in the state.

Sununu, 62, is the son of former Gov. John H. Sununu and brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu, and his name carries significant weight in New Hampshire. He sought a comeback bid to the upper chamber — after representing New Hampshire in the House and Senate for more than a decade, he was defeated by Shaheen in 2008.

With Sununu, Republicans saw one of few opportunities for a pickup this cycle, looking to flip the seat although New Hampshire hasn't elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010. And though a Republican also hasn't won in the state at the presidential level since 2000, Republicans have controlled the governor's mansion since 2017. 

Read more here.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who is in a toss-up race against Democrat Troy Jackson, took to the stage minutes after polls closed in Maine. 

She thanked her family members individually for their support, along with her staff and volunteers. 

"You made the case, and I am so grateful to each and every one of you," she said. 

Collins gave no indication as to how she thinks the race is leaning. Maine uses ranked choice voting, meaning it will likely take longer to determine a winner compared to other states.

CBS News characterizes both the Senate and governor races in Florida as toss-ups as of 8 p.m., with roughly 90% of votes counted. Votes are still coming in from Florida's panhandle, however, which leans Republican.

There are several House races we're watching in Florida. As of 8 p.m., here's where they stand.

These three Republican-held districts are competitive:

• Florida's 7th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between Democrat Bale Dalton and Republican Ryan Elijah. 
• Florida's 13th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between GOP incumbent Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Democrat Leela Gray. 
• Florida's 27th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar and Democrat Eliott Rodriguez. Salazar made news earlier this year after the Miami-area lawmaker broke with President Trump on immigration. 

These four Democratic districts were redrawn by state lawmakers to make them more GOP-leaning:

• Florida's 9th District: CBS News rates the race as a toss-up between Democratic Rep. Darren Soto and Republican Dan Green. 
• Florida's 14th District: CBS News rates the race as lean Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor. 
• Florida's 22nd District: CBS News rates the race as likely Democratic candidate Pia Dandiya. 
• Florida's 25th District: CBS News rates the race as likely Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz. 

At 8 p.m., polls closed in 16 more states and the District of Columbia. Those states are Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Maryland, Missouri, Alabama, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware. 

Key races in those states include the Senate and governor's races in Florida, multiple House races in Pennsylvania, a House race in New Jersey, the Senate race in Maine and the Senate race in New Hampshire. 

Joe Manchin, former U.S. senator from West Virginia, said Mr. Trump is failing to meet the moment for the American people. 

"He's not coming across with any empathy whatsoever as to how difficult it is to live today," Manchin said on CBS News. 

Groceries and gas prices are "unbelievable," he said. "And all we hear about is how rich America is." 

If there was ever a blue wave, this is set up to be one, Manchin said. 

Manchin, a Democrat for most of his political career, left the Democratic Party in 2024 to become an independent. 

President Trump has been watching election coverage all day, and he remains cautiously optimistic about the results, senior administration officials told CBS News. But the president is anxious about knowing what environment he faces for the remainder of his term, the officials said. 

The president planned to watch returns with Cabinet members, senior staff and advisers in the East Room and State Dining Room. Senior administration officials described it not as a viewing "party," but as a "low-key reception." 

The overall mood in the West Wing is muted, several sources said. Staff are already bracing for Mr. Trump's anger and frustration in the days to come.

The president feels like he "left it all on the field" with his campaign strategy, one official said, and that the past four weeks' worth of work has tightened the margins. His team believes the outcome "would be far worse" if he had not held the large number of rallies that he did. Sources also point to internal data that shows a strong GOP turn out on Tuesday, especially in Florida and Iowa where they are feeling more confident about winning. That said, they are concerned about most of the tight Senate races, and they have accepted that they will lose the House barring some unexpected shift.

One senior administration official acknowledged that the Republican candidates could have been stronger, specifically naming Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham.

The president recently said he would accept the election results if they were "honest." Senior administration officials said the president is not considering declaring martial law or pushing officials not to certify the results. The officials, however, will be going through the results to make sure there are no "irregularities," they said.

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff defeated GOP Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate race, CBS News projects, holding onto his seat in the upper chamber. 

Ossoff, 39, was the sole Democrat seeking reelection in a state that President Trump won in 2024. He first came to the Senate in 2021, when he delivered Democrats one of two runoff victories in Georgia. This cycle, Republicans saw the race as a key prize as they sought to keep control of the chamber. But after a messy primary fight, and facing personal controversies and national headwinds, Collins was unable to make significant inroads in the Peach State. 

Read more here.

As of 7:30 p.m., three more states have closed their polls: Ohio, North Carolina and West Virginia. 

The contest for governor and Senate in Ohio are both battleground races, as is the Senate race in North Carolina.

The Senate race in Georgia is currently leaning toward incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff, who first won election in 2021, according to CBS News' race ratings. The contest in South Carolina between GOP Sen. Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews is rated a toss-up, as is the governor's race in Georgia.

Meanwhile in Virginia, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner has secured another term in the Senate, CBS News projects.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Tuesday night that Democrats "are on the verge" of taking back control of the House, but added that they "take nothing for granted."

"We're going to continue to run through the finish line," he told reporters in Washington, D.C. "The early vote numbers were strong, and today's vote numbers all across the country are strong in blue states, in swing states and in red states."

Jeffries declined to predict how many seats Democrats could win, saying "we're working hard to get to 218, and then to win as many seats as we can on top of that."

Asked whether he would reach out to President Trump if Democrats win the majority, Jeffries said, "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Jeffries said the first person he will call after the election is "my mother."

Polls have fully closed in the following states, the first of the night: Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.

The Senate contests in Georgia and South Carolina are both battleground races, as are the governor's race in Georgia and two House races in Virginia.

You can find full election results for all races in the CBS News Election Center.

"I have the ultimate power — it's called 'veto,'" President Trump told CBS News in an exclusive phone interview before polls close, when asked about the prospect of a Democratic-controlled Congress next year.

Mr. Trump says he is prepared to veto Democratic legislation if necessary, and he welcomes the moniker "Mr. Veto," in terms of describing his approach to Democrats, should they win a majority in the House or Senate. 

Pollsters have been predicting some GOP losses and in late October, CBS News' polling suggested Republicans could be on track to lose control of the House.

Still, Mr. Trump remained optimistic on Tuesday when asked about the Republican Party's chances during the phone interview. And he said that regardless of the results and the makeup of Congress next year, he feels confident about his ability to pursue his agenda in the coming two years. He remarked that recent Supreme Court decisions have empowered him and his administration to wield expansive executive powers inside the federal government even if Congress tries to block him. 

In the interview, Mr. Trump cited Trump v. Slaughter, a Supreme Court decision from earlier this year that allowed him to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the Federal Trade Commission, and said that 6 to 3 decision enables him to exert sweeping control over many federal agencies, boards and commissions, regardless of who holds majorities in the House and Senate.

"We won the Slaughter case and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before," Mr. Trump said.

Read more here.

Voters are just plain not happy.  

Current exit polls show roughly three-quarters of voters are at least dissatisfied with the direction of the country. More are angry now about how things are going than they were in 2024, as economic anxiety persists. Those voting for Democrats are particularly likely to be angry.  

The issue of the economy, and trust in Mr. Trump to fix it, helped propel him to victory in 2024, but voters feel no better about the condition of the economy today. 

In fact, more voters have negative views of the economy now than they did two years ago, and views of the economy are more in line with what we saw in the 2022 midterms, when the party in power lost seats. 

President Trump said on Truth Social that he's been watching election coverage on Fox News, although he said he'll have to watch results elsewhere for a while, complaining about the voice of one of Fox's female contributors.

The president said he'll turn to Fox News again later in the evening. 

Mr. Trump is watching election night coverage from the White House. His schedule says he'll join an election night viewing reception in the East Room around 7 p.m.

Mr. Trump's job approval is currently underwater in nearly all the Senate battleground states, according to early exit polls, including in states that he won by double digits in 2024.

In all the Senate battlegrounds, more say their finances are worse, not better, compared to years ago.

And party control of the Senate was on the minds of voters. Majorities of those voting for Republican candidates and those voting for Democrats say which party controls the Senate was a major factor in their vote.

Read more here.

The clerk for Will County, Illinois, confirmed Tuesday that the county has received Pope Leo's ballot, CBS News Chicago reported. 

The pope, born Robert Prevost, is the first pope to ever vote in a U.S. election. Last week, the Vatican said the pontiff submitted his mail-in ballot. 

President Trump is on track for the lowest approval rating for a president in a midterm, according to early exit polls. Currently at 38%, it's lower than it was during the 2018 elections in his first term and lower than it was for George W. Bush in 2006 when his party lost both houses of Congress. 

Midterm elections have often been a referendum on the sitting president, and this one is no exception. Roughly six in 10 said Mr. Trump is a factor in their vote for the House. 

This is being driven largely by voters backing Democrats, who are overwhelmingly motivated by opposition to the president.

But for those backing Republicans, it's less about the president. Back in 2018, most Republican voters said their vote was to support Mr. Trump. That figure is lower today.

The president has often told his supporters to pretend he is on the ballot, and for many in the MAGA base, they may be doing just that. Most MAGA Republicans say their vote is to support Mr. Trump, but most non-MAGA Republicans say he is not a factor.

Read more from the exit polls here.

Speaking to reporters at the University of Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said he is "bracing for all outcomes" if Republicans challenge the election results. But he said he's hoping the "outcome is decisive" to prevent challengers acting in "bad faith." 

El-Sayed was asked if he would blame Democrat Haley Stevens if Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers wins. Stevens crossed party lines to endorse Rogers. 

"I'm not thinking about Haley Stevens," El-Sayed said. 

— Imani Agbionu

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Americans shouldn't be worried about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or any other DHS employees showing up at polling places. 

"Our Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there would be no reason for us to be at a polling place because, as I said, only Americans should be picking our leaders," Mullin told CBS News in an interview Tuesday afternoon. 

Mullin said the suggestion that ICE agents would be at polling places was "absolutely ridiculous," blaming liberals and the media for such suggestions. Some on the right, such as Steve Bannon, have called for the Trump administration to deploy ICE agents to polling locations, and some Democratic senators have expressed fears about ICE being at the polls.

"ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shouldn't have to be there, because there shouldn't be immigration issues going on at polling places," Mullin said. 

Mullin said there would have to be a very specific security threat for DHS officials to show up at a polling place, such as a bomb threat or a hack. And even then, he said, local police would likely be the ones responding.

The Justice Department previously said that neither FBI employees nor ICE agents will be monitoring polling places. 

The North Carolina Board of Elections said following an emergency session that it is extending voting hours at five precincts in four counties — Columbus, Hertford, Lenoir and Wilson — because of interruptions in voting during Election Day.

The elections board said statewide results will be posted 45 minutes later than scheduled, at around 8:15 p.m.

State law gives the North Carolina Board of Elections the power to extend voting hours at sites where it has been disrupted for at least 15 minutes.

"With about 2,625 polling places statewide, it is not unusual for minor issues to occur at polling sites that result in brief disruptions to voting," the board said. "The State Board routinely meets to discuss the extension of hours when the need arises on Election Day."

Gas prices on Tuesday are averaging $4.15 per gallon, according to AAA, the highest of any Election Day in U.S. history. 

On Election Day in 2022, the previous record, gas averaged $3.80 a gallon. 

In 2024, when Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, the average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. was $3.10. 

Election officials in Fulton County, Georgia, are warning voters about unauthorized text messages claiming polling places have changed, raising concerns about potential voter confusion as Americans head to the polls.

"Some Fulton County voters have reported receiving text messages regarding polling place changes. These text messages were not sent by Fulton County," the county said on X. "Voters should verify their polling place on the Georgia My Voter page or call 404-612-7020."

It remains unclear how many voters received the messages, who sent them or whether anyone was prevented from voting as a result. Fulton County includes Atlanta and is the most populous county in Georgia.

The warning comes amid heightened scrutiny of election security in the state, where misleading information and threats have disrupted past elections.

During the 2024 presidential election, several polling locations in metro Atlanta were temporarily disrupted by bomb threats that officials determined were not credible. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the threats appeared to originate from Russia.

Fulton County also has a history of confusion involving polling locations. During the 2022 midterm elections, independent observers from the Carter Center reported significant numbers of voters arriving at incorrect precincts, likely because of changes associated with redistricting. (That confusion was not attributed to a coordinated misinformation campaign.)

Fulton County operates its own legitimate text notification system, known as FALCON, which can alert voters to actual polling-place changes.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has reinstated a decision from three judges on the court that granted a Justice Department request to freeze a district court's temporary restraining order. Under that order, the Trump administration could not request election officials set aside ballots returned from alleged noncitizens and threaten prosecution of those who fail to comply with the demand.

The 9th Circuit has been at the center of several appeals involving the Trump administration's efforts to force state and local election officials to separate mail ballots received from people that it alleges are not U.S. citizens. The Justice Department had asked California to put to the side ballots from more than 20,000 alleged noncitizens and called for Washington's secretary of state to sequester mail ballots returned by up to over 400 people it claims are not U.S. citizens.

The Trump administration also said in letters to officials in the two states that "knowingly facilitating" voting by noncitizens is unlawful.

Two labor unions, the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens filed a lawsuit and secured an order from a federal judge that barred the Trump administration from making further demands for election workers to separate ballots and "threats" of prosecution.

The Trump administration appealed to the 9th Circuit. A panel of three judges sided with the Justice Department and agreed to freeze the district court's decision. Then, a fuller complement of judges on the 9th Circuit set aside the ruling from the panel and reconsidered the issue.

On Tuesday afternoon, the appeals court put the earlier order from their three colleagues back in place.

Judge Eric Miller, joined by Judge Mark Bennett, said in a concurring decision that a district court does not "generally have the authority to enter an injunction prohibiting the Department of Justice from expressing its views about criminal statutes, even if the court determines that those views are incorrect." 

Five of the judges dissented and said that election workers must now choose whether to refuse to set aside ballots cast by alleged noncitizens or risk prosecution.

The secretaries of state of Michigan and New Mexico said they have received reports of Justice Department election monitors acting unlawfully. 

At two polling sites in Michigan, monitors allegedly asked poll workers for their training materials and unlawfully asked poll monitors questions, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's office. In New Mexico, monitors asked voters "some unusual questions," a spokesperson for New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver told CBS News. 

Both offices said they have received assurances by the Justice Department that their concerns would be addressed.

In regards to Michigan, a Justice Department spokesperson said that the monitors "asked their typical questions about election official training," and said the questions are "the same questions asked by monitors in the past, including during the previous administration."

In New Mexico, the DOJ spokesperson said that the department had a "productive call" with Oliver's office and "believe[s] the issue is resolved and will not affect our ongoing monitoring for the rest of the day."