US midterm election campaigns enter final stretch as early voting surpasses 35 million

Early voting is rapidly expanding across the United States as political parties make their final push ahead of the Nov. 3 election. More than 35 million ballots have already been submitted nationwide, according to figures compiled by the University of Florida Election Lab.

Voters this cycle will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats, and 36 governorships across the country. According to analysis by CBS News, Democrats currently hold an advantage in the battle for the House majority, while control of the Senate hinges on a small group of highly competitive states.

CBS News projections indicate that House control will largely be determined by 47 tightly contested districts, 27 of which are held by Republicans and 20 by Democrats. Republicans currently possess a narrow governing majority with 218 members, alongside one allied independent, while Democrats hold 214 seats. Modeling suggests Democrats could flip the chamber, though Republicans retain a viable path to maintain power depending on late turnout.

In the upper chamber, where the GOP holds a 53-47 advantage, 10 crucial contests are poised to decide the balance of power. Seven Republican-held seats are among the primary battlegrounds, including races in Texas, Ohio, Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, Kansas, and Iowa. Three Democratic-defended seats in Georgia, Michigan, and New Hampshire are also considered pivotal.

Campaign activity has accelerated sharply in these key territories. President Donald Trump has undertaken an extensive multistate tour, holding rallies in Texas and Mississippi before heading to Ohio. In Texas, Trump appeared alongside attorney general and Senate candidate Ken Paxton, attempting to fend off a strong challenge from Democrat James Talarico in a contest CBS News categorizes as a toss-up. At stops in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Trump urged attendees to focus on the economy and pointed to domestic energy strength, while warning of potential legislative gridlock if Democrats take the chamber.

In Ohio, Trump is scheduled to campaign for Senator Jon Husted and gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. Husted faces former Democratic senator Sherrod Brown in another closely matched Senate contest, while Ramaswamy is competing against Democrat Amy Acton. Vice President JD Vance and former President Barack Obama have also made campaign appearances in the state in recent days.

Meanwhile, cross-party dynamics have emerged in Alaska's gubernatorial election. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her endorsement of Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, who faces three Republican challengers under the state's ranked-choice voting system. Murkowski criticized the outgoing Republican administration of Governor Mike Dunleavy, alleging it had failed to capitalize on federal opportunities and funding. Kreiss-Tomkins welcomed the endorsement, emphasizing his focus on cross-party cooperation.