Tarrant County voters weigh Senate control in 2026 midterms

Polls across Tarrant County opened at 7 a.m. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, marking the final step in a midterm election that will determine control of the U.S. Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's second term. In Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Flower Mound, voters are casting ballots for a U.S. Senate seat, a governor, and every congressional district in the state. Texas is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones, so residents should verify their specific polling place hours at vote.gov, though the general closure time is 7 p.m. Local time.

The state's U.S. Senate race is an open seat because incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn did not run again. The ballot includes candidates from the Democratic, Independent, Libertarian, and Republican parties. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was backed by President Trump over Cornyn in the primary, faces Democrat James Talarico. This race is one of 13 designated battlegrounds nationwide, a status that reflects the tight national margins in key states.

Nationally, 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for election, comprising 33 regular elections and two special elections for the terms previously held by Marco Rubio and JD Vance. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, while Democrats hold 45, plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. To achieve a majority, Democrats need a net gain of four seats, whereas Republicans can lose no more than two. Eleven senators, including four Democrats and seven Republicans, are not seeking re-election, adding to the number of open seats voters are addressing today.

Ballotpedia identifies 13 Senate races as battlegrounds, including Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. In these states, the 2024 presidential margins were relatively close, with Trump winning by 13.1 points in Alaska and Florida, and by 13.6 points in Texas. Conversely, Kamala Harris won Maine by 6.9 points and New Hampshire by 2.8 points in the 2024 cycle, making those states competitive for Democratic candidates.

Race ratings compiled from Cook, Decision Desk, Inside Elections, and Sabato as of October 27 describe Maine as a toss-up on all four scales. Iowa is rated a toss-up or tilt to Republican, while Kansas is a toss-up to lean Republican. Alaska and Michigan are rated toss-up to lean Democratic, and Georgia is rated lean to likely Democratic. These ratings suggest that the Senate majority will likely depend on the outcomes in these specific contests, particularly as the AP notes that economic strain and tariffs have made states like Maine highly competitive.

Beyond the Senate, voters in Texas are deciding the governor's race, where incumbent Republican Greg Abbott is running for re-election. The Associated Press describes the governor's race in Texas, along with Florida and Iowa, as competitive. Nationally, 36 governorships are at stake, with Republicans currently holding 26 offices and Democrats holding 24. Democrats would need a net gain of two governorships to claim a nationwide majority, a position Republicans have held since 2010. Nineteen of the governor's races do not feature an incumbent, as several leaders are term-limited or chose not to run.

The mood surrounding the election is described as a referendum on the president's performance, with many voters citing high prices and an unpopular war with Iran as key concerns. 35% of U.S. Adults approve of Trump's job performance, while 25% approve of his handling of the economy. Approximately seven in ten respondents said the country is heading in the wrong direction, with most blaming the president for rising costs. More than 57 million people had already voted before Tuesday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.

Financially, the 2026 elections are expected to be the most expensive in history. The Associated Press analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1% of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts that Trump won in 2024. This includes more than $850 million in spending in areas where he won by 10 points or more. While Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees at the committee level, Democratic candidates outraised their opponents at the individual candidate level, aided by significant fundraising efforts.

In Tarrant County, voters are also choosing representatives for all of the state's U.S. House districts, along with state and local offices that vary by county. The election uses new congressional maps in six states, including Texas, following mid-decade redistricting. These new maps may influence the outcomes in congressional races, as Republicans had hoped to use redistricting to beat the typical midterm pattern of a president's party losing seats. However, new districts in Florida and elsewhere may not vote as drawn, adding an element of uncertainty to the final tallies.

As polls remain open, the Justice Department's involvement in election administration has drawn attention. A federal judge temporarily barred the administration from a plan to prevent noncitizen voting, which critics argue risks disenfranchising eligible voters. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours and staff to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. For Tarrant County residents, the outcome of these races will shape the legislative agenda for the next two years, including potential investigations and oversight roles in Congress.

If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight if his party gains control of the House. The results of the Senate races will also impact the 2028 presidential cycle, potentially boosting candidates like Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg if Democrats perform well, while complicating the path for Vice President JD Vance. The final counts will determine which party holds the balance of power in Washington.