The first polls close at 6 p.m., Eastern time, and the last closes seven hours later in Alaska. Key states to watch as the vote counting begins. All times are Eastern.
JIM HEATH”S COMPLETE GUIDE TO CONGRESSIONAL RACES HERE.
JIM HEATH’S COMPLETE GUIDE TO GOVERNORS RACES HERE.
WHAT TIME DO THE POLLS CLOSE ACROSS AMERICA
6PM
Most of Indiana ▪ Eastern half of Kentucky
What to watch Keep an eye on the most watched race in Kentucky: the Sixth Congressional District, where Amy McGrath, a former Marine, is trying to unseat a male Republican incumbent. This race is likely to provide an early glimpse into whether the so-called blue wave is on. The big prize in Indiana is the Senate race, where Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, is trying to hold on to his seat.
7PM
Georgia ▪ Most of Florida ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Rest of Indiana ▪ Western Kentucky ▪ South Carolina ▪ Vermont ▪ Virginia
What to watch The critical contests closing at this hour include a hotly contested governor’s race between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp in Georgia, and races for governor and a Senate seat in Florida. With a focus on the Fifth, Seventh and 10th Congressional Districts in Virginia, Democrats are hoping the state will launch them into a dream scenario, where the control of the House is virtually settled before 8 p.m. Eastern.
7:30PM
Ohio ▪ North Carolina ▪ West Virginia
What to watch In Ohio, the 12th Congressional District remains the Democrats’ best hope for a House pickup in the state. North Carolina has several swing districts, and in West Virginia, Senator Joe Manchin — once considered an endangered incumbent— is now a front-runner, particularly after becoming the lone Democrat to support Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.
8PM
Alabama ▪ Connecticut ▪ Delaware ▪ District of Columbia ▪ Florida panhandle ▪ Illinois ▪ Most of Kansas ▪ Maine ▪ Maryland ▪ Massachusetts ▪ Most of Michigan ▪ Mississippi ▪ Missouri ▪ New Jersey ▪ Oklahoma ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Rhode Island ▪ Eastern half of South Dakota ▪ Tennessee ▪ Most of Texas
What to watch By this time, voters in more than half of the states will have cast their ballots, and polls will have closed in a number of high-profile races. One of the most talked-about races in the country — and among the most expensive — is the Texas Senate race between Democratic candidate, Beto O’Rourke, and Ted Cruz, a Republican.
Led by Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor candidate, Michigan’s almost all-female ticket is set to create big gains in state and federal races. Ms. Whitmer is one of the Democrats’ best hopes to win a governor’s seat in a state Mr. Trump won in 2016.
In Tennessee, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of two Democrats has added excitement to a House and Senate race there. In Missouri, Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, faces one of the nation’s toughest re-election races.
In deeply blue New Jersey, Bob Menendez, the Democratic incumbent, is in an unexpectedly close race, partially fueled by ethics troubles. There are also critical House races in New Jersey, including the Republican-held Seventh Congressional District, one of Democrats’ prime targets.
9PM
Arizona ▪ Colorado ▪ Rest of Kansas ▪ Louisiana ▪ Rest of Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ Nebraska ▪ New Mexico ▪ New York ▪ Western half of South Dakota ▪ Rest of Texas ▪ Wisconsin ▪ Wyoming
What to watch Two women are vying for the open seat in Arizona vacated by Jeff Flake.
In Wisconsin, all eyes are on Scott Walker, who after years of seeming invincible, is facing his toughest re-election yet. Democrats are also hoping for a symbolic victory in the seat vacated by the retiring House speaker, Paul Ryan.
In Minnesota, Republicans see an opportunity to flip a seat previously held by a Democrat in the First Congressional District. Republicans also have their eyes set on the attorney general race, where accusations of domestic abuse against Keith Ellison, the Democrat, has created an opening for his opponent.
10PM
Southern half of Idaho ▪ Iowa ▪ Montana ▪ Nevada ▪ Most of North Dakota ▪ Southeast corner of Oregon ▪ Utah
What to watch Important Senate races dominate this collection of states: Senator Dean Heller, a Republican, faces a tough re-election in Nevada; and Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota is considered the most vulnerable Democrat.
Expect results from these races to trickle in. The fate of the House may well be decided at this point in the night.
Democrats are also eyeing Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District, where Representative Steve King has repeatedly rankled feathers by supporting white nationalists and neo-Nazi sympathizers on Twitter.
11PM
California ▪ Hawaii ▪ Northern part of Idaho ▪ Rest of Oregon ▪ Rest of North Dakota ▪ Washington
What to watch If control of the House comes down to California, you may as well go to sleep. The notoriously slow-counting state has multiple swing districts, and it allows mail-in ballots all the way until Election Day. If the races are close, this could lead to high drama.
The best hope for Democrats in Washington is the open seat in the Eighth Congressional District, which crosses the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle.
