US midterms on Tuesday: control of Congress at stake as nearly 50 million vote early

Americans vote on Tuesday, 3 November, in midterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress for the second half of President Donald Trump's term. Polls in the earliest states close at 6 pm Eastern time, which is 4:30 am IST on Wednesday. Close counts in some states could take days.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election. So are 35 of the 100 Senate seats, made up of 33 regular contests and special elections in Florida and Ohio. Voters in 36 states will also choose governors, and about 100 ballot measures are on the ballot across 37 states.

The numbers each side needs

Republicans control both chambers. In the Senate they hold 53 seats to 47 for Democrats and the two independents who vote with them, so Democrats need a net gain of four seats for a majority. A 50-50 split would leave Republicans in charge, because Vice President JD Vance would cast the deciding vote. The House majority is narrower, and Democrats need a net gain of about three seats, according to Al Jazeera's count.

The House map has also been reshaped since 2024. New district lines are in place in states such as Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Utah and California. Some of these maps were drawn mid-decade and some are still being challenged in court.

Races to watch

CBS News lists Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Alaska as Senate toss-ups. In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson. In Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers is running against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for an open seat. In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico. Democrats are defending seats in Georgia, where Senator Jon Ossoff is seeking re-election, and in North Carolina and New Hampshire, which are both open.

Early voting is heavy. University of Florida Election Lab data cited by CBS News showed about 49.6 million early votes by Friday evening, cast in person or by mail.

Final weekend

Both parties spent the weekend trying to turn out their supporters. Trump rallied in Florida and scheduled Sunday events in Iowa and Kansas. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told supporters in Virginia that his party was close to winning back the chamber. Polls point to the cost of living, including fuel, housing and healthcare, as voters' top concern, along with immigration, abortion rights and the war involving Iran.

For India, the result will shape how much Congress backs or pushes back on the administration's trade, tariff, immigration and visa policies. These areas matter to Indian exporters, technology firms and the large Indian-American community, several of whose members are on the ballot.