All Times Central
5:33 p.m.
For starters, elections are often messy, especially on a national scale. Chad Groening tells us more.
Elsewhere in our run-up to Election Day, Robert Knight, a columnist for The Washington Times and an AFN contributor, tells us of the dangers presented by the Democratic Socialists of America, and the State of Texas never thought it would be, perhaps, the epicenter of Senate control, but elections often take unexpected turns.
And, will an 11th-hour endorsement of Democrat Haley Stevens for Republican Mike Rogers make a difference in Michigan against socialist Abdul El-Sayed? Almost 2 1/2- million votes had been cast by the time Stevens, at her own peril, decided to stand against antisemitism.
"Everyone in America understands you want to blame all of your problems on Jewish Americans," Stevens said of El-Sayed during the Democrat Primary.
El-Sayed had previously taken aim at the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC.
5:37 p.m.
Polls in parts of Indiana and Kentucky closed at 6 p.m. ET, but both states have counties in two time zones, so other polling places remain open.
5:45 p.m.
A Fox News report Tuesday morning described voters in Rochester and other Michigan communities making what could be considered as surprising choices.
Marjorie Mehney, who described herself as a former Democrat, said she voted for Rogers but also acknowledged seeing enthusiasm for El-Sayed in a traditionally Republican hot spot, Petoskey.
Tom Wright, who described himself as a lifelong Republican, said he voted for El-Sayed because he didn't like Rogers' alignment with President Donald Trump.
Michigan polls close at 7 p.m. The state hasn't elected a Republican Senator since 1994.
5:50 p.m.
Polls close in a number of eastern time zone states in 10 minutes.
5:55 p.m.
If James Talarico wins in Texas it will be the Democrats' first statewide electoral win in 32 years. At the state level, Republican Greg Abbott is seeking a record fourth term as governor.
6 p.m.
The Michigan and Texas Senate races have kind of sucked the air out of the room at times, but there's an interesting race in North Carolina.
Polling has not been kind to Republican Michael Whatley against former two-term governor and state attorney general Roy Cooper.
Democrats have to pick up four seats to control the Senate, and many of them no doubt believe North Carolina is in the bag. The seat is open because of the retirement of Republican Thom Tillis.
If Whatley performs better than expected that would be a lift for the GOP.
6:08 p.m.
With just 4% in, Republican Byron Donalds is trailing in the Florida governor's race.
6:19 p.m.
The power of Trump's name in South Carolina is getting a test in the Senate race between Darline Graham, running for a full term after being appointed to fill the unexpired term of her brother, Lindsey Graham, and her opponent, Dr. Annie Andrews.
Graham has had Trump's backing from the get-go.
Andrew is a pediatrician, who previously challenged Nancy Mace for a U.S. House seat in 2022.
A recent New York Times-Siena poll had the race at 48%-48%.
As Republican-affiliated groups across the country reshuffled last-minute campaign spending, Senate Republicans’ primary super PAC sent reinforcements to deep-red South Carolina to shore up Graham, even as Republicans said they remained confident they would retain the seat, according to media reports.
Trump's forceful support of Graham didn't go over well with all South Carolinians.
6:29 p.m.
With 61% of the vote recorded in Florida, Democrat Angie Nixon leads Republican Ashley Moody 50.5%-48.5%.
6:31 p.m.
With 1% reporting, Andrews leads Graham 55.5%-43.1%.
6:33 p.m.
With 26% reporting in the Georgia Senate race, Democrat incumbent Jon Ossoff leads Mike Collins 66.4%-33.6%.
Much of the Atlanta area has reported, but DeKalb and Henry counties, where Kamala Harris won big in 2024, have not.
6:36 p.m.
With 15% reporting in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, Republican Andy Barr leads Democrat Charles Booker 53.0%-45.1%.
6:37 p.m.
Polls will close in Mississippi, home of AFA, in 23 minutes. Democrats have spent a lot of money here trying to unseat Cindy Hyde-Smith. One state-wide political reporter predicted a five-point win for Hyde-Smith with her challenger, Scott Colom, reappearing in the governor's race next year.
6:43 p.m.
Democrat Angie Nixon maintains a 1% lead in the Florida U.S. Senate race with 78% of the vote in. Florida is still waiting on results from GOP-heavy areas in its panhandle, much of which rests in the Central time zone. Major urban centers like Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami have reported.
7 p.m.
Polls are closing in the Central Time Zone now.
7:15
Florida Sen. Ashley Moody is projected to win in a nail-biter race, Decision Desk HQ reports. Her opponent is Angie Dixon, a well-known Florida Democrat. Dixon went viral for embracing socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America, and for suggesting Moody should be jailed.
7:27
In the race for Michigan governor, Decision Desk HQ projects Democrat Jocelyn Benson will win easily, defeating Republican candidate John James.
Fox News calls North Carolina Senate race: Roy Cooper is projected to defeat Michael Whatley. That win will flip a red seat to blue. The seat is currently held by Thom Tillis, who did not seek re-election.
7:30
Looking at close election finishes in red-state Florida, conservative activist Robby Starbuck comments on X:
Looks like we narrowly escaped real disaster in Florida. I blame the Iran war, inflation and congress wasting a generational trifecta. Oh and Congressional leadership for largely being out of touch dorks and/or RINO’s. People are over it and want more results + their cost of living to go down. Thankfully Dems didn’t get the Senate seat or Governorship.
7:40
Multiple news outlets projecting Democrat Annie Andrews will win South Carolina Senate race and defeat Darline Graham. Graham is the sister of late Sen. Lindsay Graham.
7:45
Daniel Horowitz of The Blaze, who was warned of a GOP defeat for months, states the "warning signs were there for 18 months" in a post on X.
7:50
Decision Desk HQ projects Rep. Paulina Luna will win re-election in Florida's 13th District.
In an X post, Rep. Luna states she was "outspent by millions" but credits door knocking for her win.
7:55
Fox News calls a U.S. Senate Kentucky race for Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican, to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell.
8:05
Brilyn Hollyhand, a young conservative activist on X, states the midterm results should be a "wake up call" for the Republican Party regarding young adult voters.
8:15
Mary Margaret Olohan, White House correspondent for The Daily Wire, quotes a White House official: "Republicans are going to run through the tape and win as many races as possible."
8:20
Fox News calls West Virginia U.S. Senate race for Republican Sen. Shelley Capito.
8:30
In Georgia, Fox News calls the governor's race for Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. She is the former Atlanta mayor.
8:35
In an X post, Republican podcaster Todd Starnes describes a "devastating night" for freedom and liberty. He blames a "complete disconnect" between the American people and the Republican Party. "Months ago I said the White House needed more advisors from Mayberry and fewer from Mar-a-Lago," he wrote.
8:40
Fox News calls Oklahoma U.S. Senate race for Republican Kevin Hern.
8:45
Among others doing so online, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh blames the GOP midterm losses partly on the Iran war. He calls it a "catastrophically stupid decision" and an "unforgivable betrayal of America First principles."
8:52
In a stark post-election prediction, SBC professor Denny Burk says of President Trump: "My prediction for election night: President Trump will learn no lessons from this."
8:55
AFA Action reports Virginia voters enshrined abortion in the state constitution after approving Question 1 on the statewide ballot.
9:00
Quoting a White House official, Wired reporter Hugo Lowell says the White House is "defiant" after the midterm losses. "President Trump was not on the ballot," the White House official tells Lowell.
On his midterm campaign tour, President Trump repeatedly told voters to "pretend my name is on the ballot."
