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Tuesday is Election Day, and voters across the country are casting ballots to determine which party will control Congress, who will serve in governors’ mansions and state policies in dozens of states.
Control of the Senate may be decided in a handful of high-profile races in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania, which drew last-minute campaign stops from President Joe Biden and former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
The fate of the House follows a similar storyline. Republican challengers in Virginia, Texas and Michigan are hitting candidates over the economy and other issues to gain enough seats to take control of the House. If Democrats lose control of either chamber, Biden’s ability to pass his agenda becomes more difficult.
Governor races in 36 states, including marquee matchups in Arizona and Michigan, will decide who will represent voters closer to home.
Ballot questions on policies ranging from abortion to marijuana and the environment are putting state policies in the hands of voters.
Here are the key races and ballot initiatives to watch this Election Day:
Republicans only need to gain one seat to win control of the Senate and with it the influence to stifle the remainder of Biden’s term.
Races have become closer in the lead-up to Election Day.
Pennsylvania: Mehmet Oz vs. John Fetterman: Democrat Fetterman, who faced health issues during the campaign after suffering from a stroke, faces Republican Oz, a former celebrity doctor and TV host.
Georgia: Sen. Raphael Warnock vs. Herschel Walker: Democratic incumbent Warnock is defending his seat against Walker, a former NFL running back who made headlines during the campaign over a Daily Beast report he paid for an ex-girlfriend’s abortion.
Arizona: Sen. Mark Kelly vs. Blake Masters: Democrat Kelly is running against Trump-backed venture capitalist Blake Masters. Fox News’ Tucker Carlson has called Masters “the future of the Republican party.»
New Hampshire: Sen. Maggie Hassan vs. Don Bolduc: Democratic Sen. Hassan, a former New Hampshire governor, faces Republican candidate Bolduc, a retired army general who has received Trump’s endorsement.
Ohio: Rep. Tim Ryan vs. J.D. Vance: Ryan, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, faces off against Republican Vance, a Trump-backed candidate and a former venture capitalist and conservative commentator.
