Election Day is tomorrow, but already 50 million Americans have cast ballots in a surge of early voting across major Senate battleground states. Turnout exceeds the last midterm cycle, with initial data suggesting benefits for Democrats. In key states, the share of early ballots from registered Democrats is higher than in 2024. In the South, Black voters, who lean Democratic, make up a larger share of the advance vote than typical. Democrats are widely expected to win the House and have a chance to flip the Senate. Polls show Democrats leading in seven battleground states, including Texas and Kansas, Senate seats held by Republicans for decades. However, polls are imperfect, with tens of millions expected to vote in person tomorrow. Republicans have cast rivals as radical and dangerous, while Democrats focus on the high cost of living and President Trump's sagging popularity. President Trump called this week's vote the "most important midterm, I believe, in our lifetime," yet acknowledged sitting presidents often lose midterms.
The Senate's future remains uncertain with several wild cards. Possible outcomes range from Republicans holding a slim majority to Democrats flipping four seats for control, or a 50-50 split forcing JD Vance to cast tiebreaking votes. A dominant majority for either party seems unlikely, potentially empowering cross-aisle lawmakers or independents. Election challenges could also keep seats unfilled. Carl Hulse, chief Washington correspondent, provides analysis. For more election news, Iran says it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz soon, citing progress in Qatar-mediated talks, while a private jet crash in Florida killed nine people, including pilot Nathalia Filgueiras.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing