Bernalillo voters weigh national Senate races as polls open at 7 a.m.

Polls across Bernalillo County opened at 7 a.m. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the midterm election. Voters in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho are casting ballots for the U.S. Senate, the governorship, and all state House seats, along with local offices and ballot measures. The state's polls will close at 7 p.m. Today. Incumbent U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján is running for re-election in the Democratic primary. The governor's seat is open as no incumbent is seeking re-election. Every U.S. House seat in New Mexico is also on the ballot, alongside state supreme court races and local ballot measures including bond questions for senior facilities and public education.

While New Mexico decides its own leadership, the national picture centers on a tight fight for control of Congress. This is the midterm election, held halfway through President Donald Trump's second term. The results will determine which party controls the House and Senate for the president's final two years. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. The election is a referendum on Trump's second term, with voters struggling with high prices and angry over an unpopular war with Iran.

Thirty-five of the 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for grabs. Democrats currently hold 45 seats and Republicans hold 53, with two independents caucusing with Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take majority control of the Senate. Republicans can afford to lose only two seats. Eleven senators are not running again, including four Democrats and seven Republicans. Winners of these races will begin their six-year terms on January 3, 2027. The Associated Press notes that one or two seats could tip the balance in either chamber.

In North Carolina, the race is between Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. This is an open seat because incumbent Senator Thom Tillis retired after clashing with Trump. The state voted for Trump by 3.3 points in 2024. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff faces Republican Representative Mike Collins. Georgia is rated as leaning to likely Democratic by major ratings groups. The state voted for Trump by 2.2 points in the 2024 presidential election.

Ohio presents a special election to fill the seat of Vice President JD Vance. The matchup features Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown against Republican Senator Jon Husted. Ohio voted for Trump by 11.2 points in 2024. In Michigan, the open seat is contested by Republican former Representative Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Notably, El-Sayed's former primary opponent, Haley Stevens, endorsed Rogers on Sunday. Michigan is rated as a toss-up to lean Democratic race.

Texas sees a contest between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. President Trump backed Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn during the primary. The state voted for Trump by 13.6 points in 2024. In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins faces Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. Economic strain and tariffs have made this state competitive. Maine is currently a toss-up on all four major ratings. The state voted for Kamala Harris by 6.9 points in 2024.

New Hampshire is holding an open seat election following the retirement of Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. The race pits Democratic Representative Chris Pappas against former Republican Senator John E. Sununu. The state voted for Harris by 2.8 points in 2024. Minnesota is deciding the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith. The field includes Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster. Two other candidates are also in the race for this open seat.

Kansas has become central to the fight for Senate control despite being a reliably Republican state. The race is rated as a toss-up to lean Republican. The state voted for Trump by 16.2 points in 2024. In Alaska, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit related to the certification of the Senate result. The race is rated as a toss-up to lean Democratic. The state voted for Trump by 13.1 points in 2024. These ten states, along with others, are crucial to determining which party holds the majority in the upper chamber.

Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. Eighty-eight.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This includes more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more. The Associated Press analysis of AdImpact data highlights this concentration of spending in safe Republican areas.

A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting. Critics argue this risks disenfranchising eligible voters. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. Wall Street is watching the results closely, as outcomes could impact investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations. The mood in polling places is tense, with voters like James Moore, a librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, stating that he is paying more for taxes, healthcare, and everything else.

Voters in Bernalillo County should verify their polling place at vote.gov before heading to the polls. ID rules vary by state, so residents should check New Mexico's specific requirements. Anyone in line when polls close at 7 p.m. Is entitled to vote. The election administration is proceeding with heightened scrutiny as the Justice Department threatens to prosecute local election officials in some areas. Democrats are cautiously optimistic, while Republicans are bracing to lose the House and fighting to hold the Senate. The final outcome of these races will shape the legislative agenda for the next two years.