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When Will We Know the 2026 Midterm Election Results?

Facts checked Oct. 28, 2026 · Jamoke News does not project winners or call races; results link to the AP.

Some 2026 races will be called on election night; close ones can take days, and a few states have built-in waits. Here is what to expect, with official dates where they exist.

Election night: when polls close

The first polls close at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 3, in parts of Indiana and Kentucky; the last close at 1 a.m. ET Wednesday in Alaska’s western Aleutians. Key battleground closings (Eastern time): Georgia 7 p.m.; North Carolina and Ohio 7:30 p.m.; Maine, New Hampshire and most of Michigan and Texas 8 p.m.; Iowa, Wisconsin and the rest of Michigan and Texas 9 p.m.; Nevada 10 p.m.; most of Alaska midnight. Daylight saving time ends Nov. 1, so these are Eastern Standard Time. Full state-by-state table.

Sources: The Green Papers: 2026 poll closing times · 270toWin: 2026 poll closing times

How races are called

Most U.S. news organizations rely on the Associated Press for race calls. The AP says it declares a winner only when it determines that trailing candidates cannot catch up, based on the votes counted and the ballots still outstanding. A race can be “too early to call” while counting continues, and “too close to call” only when nearly all votes are counted and the margin is still very narrow. Calls can take hours, days or, rarely, weeks.

Sources: AP: How the AP calls elections

Places where results take longer, by design

• Alaska: only first-choice votes are reported on election night. Ranked-choice tabulation, if needed, happens after the final count 15 days after Election Day; the Division of Elections has scheduled it for Nov. 18, 2026. Alaska guide
• Maine: the U.S. Senate race and the 2nd Congressional District use ranked-choice voting. If no candidate wins more than 50% of first choices, the Secretary of State conducts a central tabulation, which takes extra days. Maine guide
• Georgia: a candidate needs a majority. If no one gets 50% plus one, the top two go to a runoff on Dec. 1, 2026. Georgia runoff rules
• Control of the House: with 435 races, including 17 the Cook Political Report rates as toss-ups, the majority may not be clear on election night if many close races remain uncounted.

Sources: Alaska Division of Elections: 2026 general election results page · Alaska Division of Elections: ballot counting schedule · Maine Monitor (via Penobscot Bay Press): How ranked-choice voting works in Maine, Oct. 22, 2026 · Maine Secretary of State: ranked choice voting information · Georgia.gov: General election runoff, Dec. 1, 2026 · Cook Political Report House ratings, Oct. 23, 2026

When winners take office

Senators and House members elected Nov. 3 begin their terms on Jan. 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress convenes.

Sources: Wikipedia: 2026 United States Senate elections (nominee lists, sourced to state election offices)

Follow the count: AP live results · Jamoke News midterm hub (headlines refresh every 30 minutes).