Midterm polls close across key states as Senate and gubernatorial races tighten
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Polls in several battleground states wrapped up on election night, with close contests for Senate seats in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and others, while the Trump administration faces low approval ratings.
Polling stations in six states, including Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia, closed on election night, delivering results for a range of Senate and gubernatorial contests. In Florida, Democrat Angie Nixon is seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Ashley Moody in a special election, while Republican Byron Donalds holds a narrow lead over Democrat David Jolly in the governor's race, with about 65% of votes counted.
Georgia's first-term Democratic senator Jon Ossoff is defending his seat against Trump-endorsed challenger Mike Collins. In South Carolina, appointed Senator Darline Graham, sister of the late Lindsey Graham, is running for a full term against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. New Hampshire sees former GOP senator John Sununu challenging incumbent Democrat Chris Pappas for an open Senate seat.
North Carolina’s open Senate seat pits former governor Roy Cooper against former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. Ohio’s special Senate race features former senator Sherrod Brown attempting to reclaim a seat from Republican Jon Husted, while the gubernatorial contest pits Republican Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton.
Presidential approval remains low; a recent New York Times/Siena College poll recorded President Donald Trump’s approval at 36%, the lowest in his tenure, with respondents citing concerns over the economy, cost of living and foreign policy.
"FoxNews Ratings are way down (27%!) because they’re spending too much time covering the Trump Deranged Dumocrats!" wrote President Trump on his Truth Social platform.
"Tell Tarlov – who is the WORST – gas prices are lower than they were for Biden and Obama, and they allowed Iran to have the nuclear bomb," read Fox News host Greg Gutfeld, relaying a message from the president.
In Florida’s 13th congressional district, Republican incumbent Anna Paulina Luna leads Democratic challenger Leela Gray by a slim margin, with 96% of votes reported.
Other notable outcomes include Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz winning a 12th term in Florida’s 20th district and Democrat Mark Warner securing re-election to the U.S. Senate in Virginia.
Voter sentiment in Kansas highlighted rising living costs, with a rancher noting that diesel prices and grocery bills have surged while incomes remain flat, and expressing mixed views on President Trump’s impact on the cost of living.