By — Lisa Desjardins Lisa Desjardins Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/3-things-to-watch-on-election-night-and-beyond Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 3 things to watch on election night (and beyond) Politics Nov 3, 2026 10:30 AM EST Not a drill, nor a dream, we have at last arrived at Election Day. Months of work for campaigns, voters and our newsroom will culminate tonight. We'll be on air with results into the wee hours, where I have the job of tracking the races on our interactive "super screen." Stand with free and independent journalism. Join Press Pass from PBS News As you prepare your approach – watching minute-by-minute, or dipping in and out of results – here is a start to the conversation, with a short list of things I will be watching on election night. The early indicators: Kentucky and Florida Watch the segment in the player above. The midterm map has expanded and expanded again. At the moment, we are tracking the 89 House races and 15 Senate races rated by The Cook Political Report…
3 things to watch on election night (and beyond)
In short
The Cook Political Report classifies 89 House contests and 15 Senate races as competitive, making overall voter mobilization decisive for the balance of power. Republicans face the urgent task of retaining past supporters, as seen in Pennsylvania where Representative Ryan Mackenzie relies on matching prior presidential turnout. In Michigan's Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers, Black voter engagement has emerged as a crucial determining factor. In addition to ballot counting, an influx of campaign lawyers and potential Department of Justice lawsuits will shape the post-election landscape.
Key points
- Republican candidates depend heavily on matching Donald Trump's 2024 turnout numbers to s…: Republican candidates depend heavily on matching Donald Trump's 2024 turnout numbers to survive growing dissatisfaction among swing voters.
- The Michigan Senate matchup highlights the critical importance of Black voter turnout aft…: The Michigan Senate matchup highlights the critical importance of Black voter turnout after intensive campaigning at local churches.
- Ongoing legal disputes from Alaska to Pennsylvania indicate that court interventions will…: Ongoing legal disputes from Alaska to Pennsylvania indicate that court interventions will significantly impact final election outcomes.