With control of Congress at stake, results from states where polls close early could offer some of the first indications of how election night is unfolding. Several House contests in Kentucky, Indiana and Florida are among the races to watch, with all times listed in Eastern time.
Polls close at 6 p.m. across much of Kentucky and Indiana. In Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District, Democratic candidate Zach Dembo is challenging Republican Dr. Ralph Alvarado in a race rated a tossup by nonpartisan forecasters. Former federal prosecutor and Navy veteran Dembo is seeking to flip a district that President Trump won by 15 points in 2024. A Democratic victory could point to strength for the party beyond Kentucky.
Indiana’s Fifth District is another closely watched contest. Republican Representative Victoria Spartz won by about 19 points in 2024 and is favored to keep her seat, but her Democratic challenger, State Senator J.D. Ford, could make the race a signal of broader Democratic gains. Democrats rarely win rural white voters in either district, making victories in Kentucky or Indiana potentially significant for similar races elsewhere.
CJ Warnke, a spokesman for the House Majority PAC, said Democratic wins in one or both contests would suggest the party was gaining support in a way that could carry across the country. Republican victories, by contrast, could indicate the party may limit losses in other races.
At 7 p.m., attention turns to Florida, where Republican state lawmakers redrew several congressional districts to benefit their party. Analysts nevertheless say a number of races remain close. Democratic wins in the Seventh, Ninth, 14th, 22nd or 25th Districts could be a positive sign for the party in other parts of the country.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.