Election Night Timing: Georgia and Florida Lead Early Senate Calls

Vote counting begins Tuesday night, though final results could take days or even weeks. The House outcome may emerge quickly due to wider margins, but the Senate race is tighter. Seven states are especially competitive, and two use ranked choice voting, which can prolong the count. Control of the Senate may hinge on a single seat.

Polls close in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Attention turns to the Senate and gubernatorial races in Georgia. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is favored to defeat Republican Rep. Mike Collins. The governor's race is closer, pitting billionaire Republican Rick Jackson against former Atlanta Mayor 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.

In South Carolina, the Senate race is unexpectedly tight between appointed Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews. National polls show a toss-up, while the Cook Political Report gives Republicans an edge. North Carolina polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Senate seat is the most likely Democratic flip, featuring former Gov. Roy Cooper against Michael Whatley, a former RNC chairman and Trump ally. Democrats last won a Senate race there in 2008.

Ohio joins the watch list at 7:30 p.m. ET. Republican Sen. Jon Husted and former Dem Sen. Sherrod Brown are deadlocked. For governor, Democrat Amy Acton leads polls against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy recently ran an attack ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. The backlash may hurt both Husted and Ramaswamy.

Polls close in 18 more jurisdictions at 8 p.m. ET, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Maine. In Florida, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has a slight poll edge over Democrat David Jolly. Incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody is poised to win over Democrat Angie Nixon. Florida's redistricted House maps will be tested, with seven competitive seats according to the Cook Political Report. In Pennsylvania, three House toss-ups now lean toward Democrats. In Maine, Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces a tough challenge from Democrat Troy Jackson.

At 9 p.m. ET, polls close in 15 states, including Texas, Michigan, Iowa, and Kansas. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton for governor. Talarico may take an early lead from mail-in ballots, but Paxton is expected to gain ground as counties report. In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in a race that has become too close to call. In Iowa, Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson trails Democrat Josh Turek in the open Senate race. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers remain a toss-up for governor.

Mountain west states close at 10 p.m. ET. Montana's 1st District House race is a toss-up between Democrat Sam Forstag and Republican Aaron Flint. In Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo faces Attorney General Aaron Ford in a competitive race. Pacific states close at 11 p.m. ET. California voters redrew congressional boundaries in 2025, reducing Republican competitiveness. Close races there have tilted toward Democrats in recent weeks.