By Islam El-Sakka
Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday for the final day of the high-stakes 2026 midterm elections, with key House and Senate races poised to determine control of Congress and significant gubernatorial contests underway across the country. The outcome will shape the effectiveness of President Donald Trump's agenda in the latter half of his second term.
DOJ Deploys Election Monitors Across All 50 States
The Justice Department announced it would dispatch roughly 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states, describing the effort as the largest federal monitoring deployment in history. A court hearing on Monday revealed the number may be closer to 900 due to initial difficulties in identifying and training personnel. Monitors are drawn from the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section, supplemented by clerical staff from the Bureau of Prisons and the Drug Enforcement Administration who are not authorized to carry firearms. A federal judge rejected an emergency bid by civil rights groups to limit the program, citing insufficient evidence of voter intimidation.
Schumer Expresses 'Nauseously Optimistic' Outlook for Democrats
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, after voting in Brooklyn, described his mood as "nauseously optimistic" and predicted Democrats would win Senate control, positioning him to return as majority leader. Schumer said any cooperation with President Trump would be "up to him," adding that Democrats would "fight Trump tooth and nail" on issues regardless of the president's stance. He previously served as majority leader from 2021 to 2025.
Ramaswamy Votes in Ohio Gubernatorial Race
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy cast his ballot in Columbus alongside his wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy. Speaking to reporters, Ramaswamy acknowledged economic challenges facing voters and said the election "comes down to who's going to allow your family to live a better life." He urged voters to hold him and his ticket accountable for delivering results. Ramaswamy did not directly address his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton.
Paper Ballot Issues Reported in New York's Westchester County
Officials reported that paper ballot thickness prevented voting machines from accepting ballots in Westchester County, part of the competitive 17th Congressional District where Republican incumbent Mike Lawler faces Democratic challenger Cait Conley. Voters were instructed to place ballots in secure orange bags for later counting. Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James said their offices were monitoring the situation as local officials worked on a solution.
