Midterm Election Day Begins With Control of the House of Representatives at Stake
Photo: CBS NewsVoters went to the polls on Tuesday in the 2026 midterm elections, with all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives up for grabs. Republicans currently hold 218 seats to the Democrats' 214, with one independent and two vacancies, so Democrats need to flip only a few seats to take control. Roughly 50 races were expected to be competitive, in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania. On the eve of the election, the Cook Political Report rated 18 races as pure toss-ups. Democrats entered the day optimistic, since the party out of the White House has historically gained seats in midterms when the president is unpopular. President Donald Trump's approval has suffered amid voter frustration over the economy and cost of living. A Democratic majority would let the party block legislation passed without bipartisan support and open the door to congressional investigations of the administration, while a Republican majority would strengthen Trump's ability to pursue his legislative agenda.
Left-leaning outlets frame the day as a guide to specific contests. CBS News says its correspondents Aaron Navarro, Adriana Diaz and Skyler Henry are covering closely watched races in Michigan, Texas and Georgia. NPR focuses on four types of House races that, as polls close and results arrive, will help explain how the midterms are unfolding. In the excerpts available, neither outlet gives seat counts, Trump's approval or the consequences of a change in control. Newsweek, an alternative outlet, differs: it opens with the current House split and the Democrats' path to a majority, ties the outlook to Trump's unpopularity and economic frustration, and spells out what a Democratic or Republican House would mean for the administration. All three offer a guide to races to watch. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while the left-leaning and alternative outlets had, and those outlets are concentrating on which races will signal the final result.
How the sides differ Left sources preview specific races and race types to watch; alternative sources add House seat counts, Trump's approval and what a Democratic win would mean. Right sources had not covered it.
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CBS News and NPR offer race-watching guides, with CBS citing its correspondents' coverage of Michigan, Texas and Georgia and NPR grouping House races into four types that explain how the midterms are unfolding.
Newsweek leads with the House balance of 218 Republicans to 214 Democrats, Trump's weak approval and the Cook Political Report's toss-up ratings, and outlines what a Democratic or Republican majority would mean.
Not covering this story. None of the right-leaning outlets Crosswire tracks has reported it yet. What one side leaves out can be as telling as what the others report.