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Election 2026 live updates: Americans cast their votes

There are key House and Senate races that could determine control of Congress.

Voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday for the last day of voting in the high-stakes midterm elections.

There are several key House and Senate races that could determine the balance of power in Congress as well as significant races for governor around the country. The elections could ultimately determine how effective President Donald Trump's agenda is in the back half of his second term.

Watch ABC beginning at 7 p.m. EST for live Election Night 2026 coverage and results. Also streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.


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First polls close

The first polls for the 2026 midterms have closed at 6 p.m. ET in most of Indiana and Kentucky.


Preliminary Voter Polls show Trump, economy disapproval among House voters

Preliminary Voter Poll results show voter sentiment on key issues -- including U.S. House voters' negative sentiments on President Donald Trump and the economy:

On Trump:

-About 6 in 10 House voters disapprove of Trump, including over half who strongly disapprove, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.

-By an over 2-to-1 margin, more House voters said their vote was more to express opposition to Trump than support for him, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.

-Majorities of House voters said Trump is not a strong leader, that he does not fight for people like them, that he does not have the mental capability to serve effectively as president and that he does not have the right priorities, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls.

-By about a 20-point margin, more House voters say Trump prioritizes his own personal interests over the country's interests, according to early Voter Polls.

-By an even wider margin, House voters say Trump has worsened economic conditions in the U.S., according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls.

-And by an over 20-point margin, more House voters say that higher than usual prices are because of Trump's policies, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.

On the economy:

-About three-quarters of House voters rate the economy negative, including over one-third who call it poor, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.
-By an over 2-to-1 margin, more House voters say their family's financial situation is worse than it was two years ago than better, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls.
-About 6 in 10 House voters say they are very concerned about the cost of gasoline and diesel, healthcare, food and groceries. More than half are very concerned about the cost of utilities, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.
-Roughly 8 in 10 House voters say inflation has caused them hardship, including 2 in 10 calling that hardship severe, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.
-About two-thirds of House voters say Trump's tariff policies have hurt the national economy and the economy in their area, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.
-The economy is the most important issue to House voters with about 4 in 10 naming it as the most important facing the country, followed by about one-third saying the state of democracy and other issues well behind that, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.
-About half say that the cost of living was "crucial" to their vote, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls.
-By a narrow margin, House voters say they trust Democrats more to handle the economy over Republicans, according to early ABC News Voter Polls.

-ABC News' Emily Guskin


Gov. Abbott says rural values are 'at stake' in closing message to voters

Incumbent Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is running for reelection, made a final push for Republican voters to turn out, saying rural values are "at stake" in a Fox News interview on Tuesday afternoon.

"If Republicans across the state realize their values are at stake and turn out and vote by 7 o'clock tonight, we will ensure victories once again for Republicans up and down the ballot," he said.


Asked about a decline in Hispanic support for the GOP, Abbott said he was confident that once Hispanic voters learn about Democrats' "real positions," they will turn to the Republican Party.

"I'm tracking along my historic norms with regard to Hispanic voters, and we feel very confident that as Hispanics learn about the radical ideology that these Democrats stand for, such as transgender surgeries for children, such as boys in girls sports, they are against policies like that," Abbott said.

-ABC News' Catherine Bouvet


North Carolina extends voting at some precincts, statewide results will be delayed

The North Carolina State Board of Elections announced Tuesday afternoon that it will extend voting hours at five precincts in four counties across the state, due to issues that resulted in voting delays.

"It is not unusual for minor issues to occur at polling sites that result in brief disruptions to voting," the board said in a statement.

Polls were scheduled to be closed at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The board added that election officials can not release results while voting continues in this districts and it will not publish unofficial results until all polls are closed.

"As such, the first results are expected to be posted at around 8:15 P.M.," the board said.

-ABC News' Halle Troadec