‘Twas the Morning After Midterms

And the polls had all closed; the yard signs were tossed, but the ballot counters never dozed. 

Tens of millions of Americans across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., voted in this year’s midterm elections, including a midterm-record 59M+ in early voting. The ballot featured:

• All 435 seats in the House of Representatives,
• 35 seats in the Senate (including two special elections),
• 36 governorships,
• and thousands of state legislative seats, local offices, and ballot measures.

Exit polls showed pocketbooks, prescriptions, and the Iran War weighed most heavily on voters’ minds.  

What’s at stake?
Control of Congress. 

For the last two years, Republicans have held a razor-thin majority—218-214 in the House and 53-47 in the Senate—but historically, the sitting president’s party loses seats in one or both chambers during midterms.

So, when will we get the results?
The first polls closed at 7:00 pm ET yesterday, and the Associated Press* began calling races immediately. 

Here are some of the notable early calls (see live results):

• Democrats took control of the Senate by flipping control of seats in Texas, South Carolina, Ohio, North Carolina, Kansas, and Iowa
• Keisha Bottoms (D) flipped Georgia’s gubernatorial seat, becoming the first Black female governor in history
• Virginia passed a state constitutional amendment legalizing abortion in the first two trimesters

The latest polls closed at 1 am ET, and some results could take days (California) or even weeks (Alaska) to come in.

(*Note: The Associated Press makes projections based on raw data reported by county clerks. Election results aren’t official until certified, which happens on a state-by-state timeline, usually days or weeks later.)

RADIATE HOPE
While it’s easy to believe a certain Election Day outcome will be better for your neighbors, Christians have reason to praise God no matter which way things go. Demonstrate your faith in Him by giving thanks regardless of the outcome. 

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength...”
Habakkuk 3:17-19a (CSB) (read full passage)

Tension and uncertainty can grip us long beyond Election Day. Join TPO’s Praying the News to hear a free, 5-minute guided prayer that will grow your peace. Sign up here, and we’ll text the episode right to you.