The 2026 Midterm Elections: Key Races and Issues

The 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to be pivotal, influencing the control of Congress, assessing Silicon Valley’s political reach, and revealing the extent of backlash against AI. Notably, SpaceX’s CEO Elon Musk plays a significant role, funneling substantial support to preserve a Texas Senate seat and potentially safeguard the GOP majority.

Ohio Senate Race

In Ohio, the Senate race between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown is highly competitive. Husted, previously a lieutenant governor, seeks to maintain Vice President JD Vance’s Senate seat but faces strong opposition from Brown, a former three-term senator. Brown has criticized Husted for his past support of tax incentives for data center development, a policy Husted has since opposed, advocating for community decision-making instead.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. EST, with Cook Political Report classifying the race as a “Toss-Up.” In previous elections, Trump secured Ohio by 11 points, illustrating the state’s Republican lean.

Texas Senate Battle

The Texas Senate contest sees Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton clashing with Democrat State Rep. James Talarico. Despite controversies and personal scandals, Trump’s endorsement helped Paxton surpass Sen. John Cornyn. Musk’s intense backing of Paxton includes a $158 million donation to a supportive super PAC.

Polls close at 8 p.m. EST in most locations in Texas, and at 9 p.m. EST in the Mountain Time Zone areas. Cook Political Report also marks this race as a “Toss-Up.” Past results have favored Republicans, with Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz winning the state by significant margins.

Michigan Senate Showdown

The Michigan Senate race offers a stark policy divide. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed advocates government equity in AI companies and divestment of tech giants from AI firms, aligning with sentiments of Bernie Sanders and Trump. His opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, proposes a moratorium on data center development in Michigan.

With polls closing at 8 p.m. EST (and 9 p.m. in the Central Time Zone), the Cook Political Report rates the race as “Lean Democrat.” Despite a tight race in past elections, Michigan has not elected a Republican senator since 1994.

California Wealth Tax Vote

California voters face a significant decision on a ballot measure proposing a one-time 5% tax on residents with over $1 billion. The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West labor union backs the tax, with support from influential figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna. Opposition includes Governor Gavin Newsom and Silicon Valley leaders like Google cofounder Sergey Brin.

Polls close at 11 p.m. EST, and current surveys show mixed public opinion. California’s vote-counting process could delay final results; multiple initiatives mean the one with the highest affirmative votes would prevail, underscoring the need for patience.