Explainers
What you need to follow election night: race calls, counting, runoffs, certification, and how to read forecasts and market prices.
- Election nightWhen will we know the 2026 midterm results?Polls close from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET; race calls come from AP and DDHQ.
- MethodHow to read odds and forecastsForecast models and prediction-market prices: what they say, why they differ and why dates matter.
Frequently asked questions
Who won, and when will we know?
Polls close between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET on Nov. 3. When AP or Decision Desk HQ calls a race, we post it with the source and the time.
Does US Midterm 2026 call races?
No. We use the “Won” label only with an AP or DDHQ call. A victory speech or a concession is not a call on its own.
What’s the difference between “Too early to call” and “Too close to call”?
Too early: many votes are still out and the race is open. Too close: nearly all votes are counted but the margin is very narrow; AP may not call a race when the margin is under 0.5 points.
How many seats does a party need for control?
51 in the Senate and 218 in the House. A 50-50 Senate is decided by the vice president, so 50 seats are enough for Republicans.
Why do some races take days?
States such as California, Washington and Oregon keep counting mailed ballots after Election Day, and very close races may need a recount or a runoff.