ANALYSIS — And we’re off. Voters in Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina went to the polls on Tuesday, officially kicking off the 2026 midterm elections. Some votes are still being counted and a handful of races are moving to a runoff, but there are a handful of important lessons and takeaways.
Top Senate race is set
Amidst all of the chatter about the Texas Senate race on the outskirts of the fight for the majority, the nominees are officially set in a race at the core of the battleground: North Carolina. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley will face Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in the race to replace GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, who is not seeking reelection.
