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NewsLos Angeles TimesNovember 2, 2026Los Angeles County

Midterm Elections Conclude Following Contentious Campaign Season

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Voters head to the polls on Tuesday to finish casting ballots in the midterm elections, which will determine control of the U.S. House and Senate for the remainder of President Trump's second term. The campaign has seen high early voter turnout and been shaped by economic issues, affordability concerns, and debates over presidential power.

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Why It Matters

The election outcomes will establish the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch for the next two years and influence the political landscape leading into the 2028 presidential campaign.

Key Facts

  • The midterm campaign concludes on Monday ahead of Tuesday's elections.
  • The elections will determine control of both the U.S. House and the Senate for the remainder of President Trump's second term.
  • Early voting has experienced strong turnout, including among Latino and Black voters.
  • Economic issues, affordability, and executive power have been central themes defining the campaign.
  • Democrats have held leads in recent generic ballot polls, while President Trump has faced low approval ratings.
  • Senate control remains competitive with a handful of red states in play for Democrats.
  • Campaign twists included the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, Graham Platner dropping out of Maine's Senate race, and questions regarding a spoiler candidate in Alaska.
  • Nonpartisan groups and non-profits are operating voter hotlines and organizing get-out-the-vote events.
  • The speed of final election results will depend on the scale of potential Democratic gains and slower-counting states like California and Pennsylvania.

Who's Mentioned

PersonTroy Jackson“Democrat in Maine”PersonDonald Trump“President of the United States”locationAlaska“State with ballot questions”PersonChristopher Warshaw“Georgetown University public policy professor”PersonKen Paxton“Republican Attorney General in Texas”PersonDavid McCuan“Sonoma State University political science professor”PersonGraham Platner“Democrat who dropped out of Maine's Senate race”locationPennsylvania“Slower-counting state”PersonLindsey Graham“Late Republican Senator of South Carolina”OrganizationLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law“Nonprofit coalition running a voting hotline”locationTexas“State with competitive races”PersonMary Peltola“Democrat whose campaign faced questions regarding a spoiler candidate in Alaska”locationIran“Site of war mentioned in voter concerns”OrganizationMarquette Law School“Institution operating a poll”PersonTodd Belt“Professor of political management at George Washington University”OrganizationUC San Diego“University”PersonBrandon Waithe“Air Force veteran and get-out-the-vote organizer”locationCleveland“City where a get-out-the-vote event was hosted”locationSouth Carolina“State”OrganizationGeorge Washington University“University”locationMichigan“State watched for Republican performance”OrganizationProject HALO“Voting initiative”PersonSusan Collins“Republican Senator in Maine”PersonThaddeus Kousser“UC San Diego political science professor”locationMaine“State with competitive races”OrganizationSonoma State University“University”locationCalifornia“Slower-counting state”PersonCharles Franklin“Director of the Marquette Law School Poll”OrganizationGeorgetown University“University”