Polls close in Indiana, Kentucky as key East Coast states soon to follow
Polls are closed in most of Indiana and the eastern half of Kentucky as vote counting begins and control of Congress hangs in the balance.
U.S. Senate races in Eastern Time Zone states Maine, Michigan and Ohio could provide the first indicators of which party controls the upper chamber of Congress.
Republicans currently have a 53 seat to 47 seat (including two independents who caucus with Democrats) advantage in the Senate. Democrats must net four seats in the chamber to take the majority.
Cook Political Report and other election analysis sites have identified seven tossup U.S. Senate races that will likely to determine who wins the majority: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas.
Polls close at 7 p.m. eastern in New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia, South Carolina, Virginia and most of Florida. Polls close at 7:30 eastern in Ohio, North Carolina and West Virginia. In North Carolina, some precincts voting hours were extended because of issues earlier in the day.
Polls close at 8 p.m. eastern in several other states, including Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas and Texas.
Here are the key Senate races to watch tonight as previously reported by Andrew Rice:
Alaska
The race between incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Democratic candidate Mary Peltola has been embroiled in controversy over allegations of planting a spoiler candidate in the race with Sullivan’s name.
Aside from the ballot controversy, Sullivan and Peltola disagree on key issues of taxation and federal benefits for Alaskans. Peltola pushed for abolishing income taxes on Alaskans making less than $92,000 per year and expanding the child tax credit.
Sullivan has supported legislation that would inform families of tax credit opportunities but did not endorse an expansion of the credit.
Peltola held a lead of 47.0% over Sen. Sullivan with 44.8%, according to an average of four most recent polls compiled by 270toWin. The polls also projected spoiler candidate Daniel J. Sullivan would earn 3.5% of the vote in an average of four polls.
Iowa
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, will face off against Iowa Sen. Josh Turek for a seat held by Sen. Joni Ernst, who announced she will not run for reelection.
The race has seen Hinson separate herself from President Doanld Trump amid rising prices and stress on agriculture seen by the U.S. military conflict in Iran. Turek has repeatedly slammed the Trump administration and called for an end to the conflict.
Hinson slightly leads Turek with 45.8% support, according to an average of five most recent polls compiled by 270toWin. Turek garners 45.2% support.
Kansas
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, is looking to defend his seat against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, a pastor. The race between the candidates has tightened in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
The two candidates differed on support for the Trump administration’s tariff policies. Hamilton said he would work to repeal the policies and give Congress sole power to administer tariffs. Marshall has repeatedly supported the policies as a way to balance global trade relationships.
Hamilton leads Marshall 49% to 45.2%, according to an average of the five most recent polls compiled by 270toWin.
Maine
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is fighting to hold off Democrat Troy Jackson in a battle over the Trump administrations tariff policies, as well. Trump repealed 22 tariffs on Canada over certain goods central to Maine’s economy.
Collins has positioned herself as a distinct voice from Trump and remained critical of the president’s decisionmaking. Jackson repeatedly ties her voting record to Trump’s agenda and highlighted that she only disagrees on a vote when it is of no consequence.
Jackson leads 49% to 46.4% according to an average of five most recent polls compiled by 270toWin.
Michigan
Democrats must hold onto a seat in Michigan to make any chance of a majority happen, analysts say. Democratic socialist Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are battling for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., in the upper chamber.
Concerns over candidate views on antisemitism and campaign priorities remain key issues ahead of the critical election. Jewish leaders have called on El-Sayed to agree with commitments on Jewish safety, identity, statehood and political participation following reports he solicited votes from Muslim mosques and Islamic centers whose leaders engage with extreme rhetoric against Israel.
El-Sayed leads Rogers 49.8% to 44%, according to the average of five most recent polls compiled by 270toWin.
Ohio
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is looking to defend his seat from Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown, who lost his reelection bid in 2024. Concern over data centers and the cost of living has remained intense in the pivotal race.
Husted called for tax cuts to reduce inflation and lower costs for consumers, citing his vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill. Brown argued Republican tax cuts have driven up the cost of living and said he would vote against cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
Brown is leading Husted 48.3% to 44.8%, according to an average of the six most recent polls compiled by 270toWin.
Texas
The race between Democratic candidate James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is key to control of the body. The two candidates are vying for Sen. John Cornyn’s seat in the Senate following his primary election loss to Paxton.
Paxton’s past impeachment over alleged corruption by the Texas legislature has remained persistent in attacks on the Republican, despite being acquitted by the Texas Senate. Talarico’s support for transgender surgery on minors and energy policy have remained key criticisms of his campaign by Paxton and Republicans.
Talarico leads Paxton with 49.6% support compared to 46.4%, according to an average of the eight most recent polls compiled by 270toWin.
For more information and updated election results on all of these races and more, visit thecentersquare.com/elections.
To stay updated on election results, visit thecentersquare.com/elections.
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