Election Night Count Stretches Into Days as Senate Races Tighten

Vote counting begins Tuesday night, but officials expect the process to last for days or even weeks. The House outcome may appear sooner due to larger margins in those races. Control of the Senate will likely take longer because the margins are tighter. Seven states are especially competitive in the Senate, and two states use ranked choice voting, which can prolong count time. The House outcome likely will not hinge on a single seat, but the Senate battle very well might.

Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont close polls at 7 p.m. ET. Attention turns to the Senate and gubernatorial races in Georgia. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is likely to defeat Republican Rep. Mike Collins. The governor’s race is tighter, pitting Republican nominee Rick Jackson against Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told local news that new laws require counties to report results within an hour of polls closing.

North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia close polls at 7:30 p.m. ET. North Carolina’s Republican-held Senate seat is the most likely flip for Democrats. Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper faces Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman. Democrats last won a Senate race in the state in 2008. In Ohio, Republican Sen. Jon Husted and former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown are deadlocked. For governor, Democrat Amy Acton leads in polls against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, and D.C. close polls at 8 p.m. ET. Polls close in more than half the country. Calls for governor may favor Republicans in Alabama, South Dakota, and Tennessee. Democrats may win in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Maine’s Senate race pits incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins against Democratic candidate Troy Jackson. Collins faces a tough contest but has remained resilient. The seat is targeted by Democrats because it is the only Republican-held Senate seat in a state won by Kamala Harris in 2024. Florida’s governor’s race favors Republican Rep. Byron Donalds over Democrat David Jolly. The Senate race is less competitive, with incumbent Ashley Moody poised to win over Angie Nixon. Florida has seven competitive House seats, with two toss-ups.

Pennsylvania has the most competitive House races, with four contests including three toss-ups. The last toss-up now leans toward Democrats. New Hampshire’s Senate gap between Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas and former Republican Sen. John Sununu has widened, giving Pappas the edge. Republicans see this as a potential long-shot pickup opportunity.

Arkansas polls close at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Senate race is not very competitive, but a smaller Republican margin could show increased Democratic turnout. A House race has drawn significant Republican spending in the final days.