Voters across the United States cast ballots on Tuesday in the 2026 midterm elections to determine which political party will control Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term, amid late polling models forecasting strong Democratic gains and a key legal defeat for the administration in California.
Polling locations began closing across the country, with the first results expected as voting concluded at 23:00 GMT on Tuesday. However, election officials and news outlets cautioned that final results in several key races could take days to emerge, a delay that experts noted is standard for American elections.
What was decided in the Supreme Court ruling on California ballots?
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a swift legal blow to the Trump administration on the eve of the 2026 midterm elections by refusing to halt the processing of disputed California mail ballots. The Department of Justice had appealed to the nation's highest court in an attempt to target alleged noncitizen voters and set aside 20,000 ballots in the state. By turning down the administration's emergency request, the Supreme Court essentially ended the federal attempt to disqualify the state's disputed votes, allowing California election authorities to proceed with counting the ballots.
The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene effectively brought an end to the Justice Department's attempt to force California officials to set aside 20,000 disputed mail ballots.
Where did Donald Trump make his final campaign pitch?
Donald Trump made his final campaign pitch to supporters at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool site, delivering his closing arguments ahead of Election Day. The rally was part of a final push by the president to mobilize conservative turnout and defend the Republican majorities in Congress. The midterm elections are widely seen as a defining moment for the closing chapter of Donald Trump's presidency, serving both as a referendum on his remaining time in office and a test of the nation's political landscape.
Which party is expected to win control of Congress?
Control of Congress remains the central focus of the 2026 midterm elections, with political models, financial markets, and final polling pointing toward a potential "blue tsunami." Pre-election projections widely favored Democrats to secure the majority in the House of Representatives. In contrast, the battle for control of the Senate remained up in the air as voters in key battleground states cast their ballots on Tuesday.
When will final midterm election results be announced?
The final outcome of the 2026 midterm elections may not be known immediately on Tuesday night, as ballot processing speeds vary by state. While initial returns will be reported as polls close across time zones, mail-in validation and close contests in battleground districts are expected to prolong the official vote count over the coming days.
