Portland Voters Watch as 59 Million Ballots Already Counted in National Midterms

More than 59 million Americans cast ballots before November 3, 2026, marking nearly half of the total votes from the previous midterm cycle. Early voting data shows Democrats holding a double-digit advantage as in-person voting concludes today. The outcome of the U.S. House and Senate races now depends on final in-person turnout, particularly among Republican voters.

Democrats are favored to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. They need to flip only three seats to secure a majority. Recent shifts in public opinion and district dynamics over the past month have strengthened the Democratic position. Republicans attempted to protect their seats through mid-decade redistricting, but analysts say these changes are likely insufficient to prevent a loss of the chamber.

The race for the U.S. Senate remains uncertain. Democrats must win four currently Republican-held seats to gain control, a scenario that seemed unlikely at the start of the cycle. Strong Democratic candidates and a challenging political environment for Republicans have made this possible. North Carolina is the only seat where Democrats are currently favored to flip the result.

Five other Senate races are considered toss-ups, all held by Republicans in states President Trump won by double digits in 2024. Maine is the only exception to this geographic pattern. The GOP is focused on Michigan as a top target. If Republicans hold Michigan, the path to Democratic control of the Senate becomes much steeper. High Republican turnout could limit Democratic gains to just one seat, while low turnout could result in Democrats taking six or seven seats.

Results will begin arriving at 6 p.m. Eastern Time from Kentucky and Indiana. Many races will remain undecided for days or weeks due to the volume of mail-in and absentee ballots. Voters in close contests should expect delays in final certification. The counting process has begun, and officials are processing ballots in states where margins are expected to be narrow.