Midterms 2026Answers · Running for office
How does election night work, and when are results called?
Polls close at different times across the country, and results start arriving that evening. News organizations "call" a race when they judge one candidate can't be caught. Some races are called within minutes of polls closing, while close ones can take days. Official results come later.
How the night unfolds
- Polls close in waves. States span several time zones, so the first polls close in the early evening on the East Coast, and the last close much later in the West and beyond.
- Early calls. In lopsided races, outlets can project a winner right when polls close, based on past results and exit polling.
- Counting. Election officials tally ballots. Some states count mail and early ballots first, others later, which can make the numbers shift during the night.
- Close races. When margins are thin, outlets wait. Some races are only settled after more counting or a recount.
Who "calls" a race?
Media organizations and the Associated Press make projections using vote counts and statistical models. A call is not official. It's a judgment that the trailing candidate has no realistic path. Official results come when state officials finish counting and certify the outcome, which takes days to weeks and varies by state.
What's on the ballot in a midterm
All 435 House seats are up, and about a third of the Senate. In 2026, 35 Senate races are on the ballot including special elections. The goal is 218 House seats for a majority, and the Senate is decided by how many seats each side holds, with the VP breaking ties.
Why it can take longer than you expect
I think people forget that the US doesn't run one election. Each state runs its own, with its own rules on mail ballots, deadlines and counting order. That's why some states report quickly and others take longer. The delay isn't a sign of a problem, it's a function of how many ballots are being counted and how.
Experiencing the finish line
The game version of this is my favorite part of Midterms 2026, the free iPhone game I made. After 20 turns of campaigning, election night counts 35 Senate races and all 435 House seats, and you find out whether you hit 218 or became the kingmaker. Through the game there's a live "House if the vote was today" projection, so by the end you mostly know what's coming, but it's still tense.
What I'd do
- Expect early numbers to move
- Treat any early call as a projection, not a final result
- Watch the close races, since those decide majorities