35 million voters cast ballots early as election enters final week

More than 35 million Americans have already voted ahead of Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. The final stretch of the 2026 midterm campaign is underway, with candidates focusing on key battleground states to secure control of Congress.

The House race hinges on 47 specific districts. CBS News has identified these seats as likely deciding factors for the majority. Currently, Republicans hold 218 seats, plus one independent who caucuses with them, while Democrats hold 214 seats. Two vacancies remain. Of the 47 battleground seats, 20 are currently held by Democrats and 27 by Republicans. The network's Battleground Tracker model projects Democrats on track to win 229 seats, though a range of 215 to 237 Democratic seats is possible.

Senate control may turn on voters in ten specific states. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, and Democrats hold 47. The seven Republican-held seats in the mix are in Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, and Alaska. The three Democratic-held seats are in New Hampshire, Michigan, and Georgia. Voters in 36 states will also elect their governors on Nov. 3.

President Donald Trump continues a multi-state campaign tour to support Republican candidates. He held rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday to support Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Senate candidate, and Rep. Monica De La Cruz. CBS News rates the Texas Senate race between Paxton and Democrat James Talarico as even, despite Trump winning the state by more than 13 points in the last election. Trump is scheduled to campaign in Ohio on Wednesday for Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. This will be his third visit to Ohio this month.

In Alaska, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor on Tuesday. Murkowski, who often breaks from the party line, told KTUU-TV that Kreiss-Tomkins, known as JKT, is a young Alaskan with the perspective the state needs. She said he will work with the legislature and encouraged Alaskans of all political stripes to consider him. Kreiss-Tomkins said in a statement he was honored by the support. He faces three Republican challengers in a ranked-choice voting system. Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy cannot run for reelection due to term limits.

Ohio presents a tight contest for both Senate and governor. The Senate race between Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown, who served from 2007 to 2025, is considered a toss-up by CBS News. The governor’s race between Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton is also close. Former President Barack Obama campaigned in Cleveland over the weekend for Brown, Acton, and other Democrats. Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native, has made several recent visits to the state, including one last week.

Vivek Ramaswamy addressed crowds in Hebron, Ohio, on Tuesday. He avoided mentioning a controversial ad that featured Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar. The ad has drawn criticism, including from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Acton’s campaign provided court documents showing her stepfather was charged with abusing her when she was 12. Ramaswamy framed the election as a fork in the road and warned that Democratic socialist wins could infect Ohio. He also criticized Acton for leaving her public health director post during the pandemic.

During his Texas rallies, Trump touted the state’s oil industry and predicted gas prices would drop rapidly. He told voters in Lubbock to look at their 401(k)s before deciding how to vote for Paxton. He also defended a previous comment where he described examining Sen. Husted’s physical attributes, including his backside. Trump said he complimented Husted’s hands, feet, and shoulders, and lamented that media outlets focused only on the comment about his rear. He suggested he might use a similar tactic with Paxton but doubted Paxton’s body would qualify.

The election will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. All 35 Senate seats previously on the ballot are up for election this cycle. The outcome in the ten key Senate states and the 47 House districts will shape the legislative agenda for the next two years.