As Democratic control of Congress hangs in the balance as polls close this Election Day, here is what you need to know about the timing for closures and which competitive races to watch.
Races are considered “competitive” based on ratings from the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, and poll closure times are based on what time the first polls close in each state.
When the Associated Press called the presidential result in 2020: 8:52 p.m.
Races to watch: In the First Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan’s chances of winning another term are rated as a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report. MarketWatch visited that district, adjacent to Chicago in the northwest corner of the state, for an August feature story on its House contest.
Kentucky
AP presidential call in 2020: 7 p.m.
7 p.m. Eastern
Florida
AP presidential call in 2020: 12:35 a.m.
Races to watch: One House seat is rated as “lean” Republican — Rep. Maria Salazar’s district in Miami-Dade County.
Georgia
AP presidential call in 2020: More than two weeks after Election Day (Officials told the New York Times that results will be reported faster this year due to fewer people voting by mail.)
Races to watch: All eyes are on the state’s Senate seat as Democratic Rep. Raphael Warnock seeks to fend off a challenge from Republican Herschel Walker, who is backed by former President Donald Trump. Should neither Senate candidate obtain at least 50% of the vote — which recent polling indicates may occur — then the race would go to a Dec. 6 runoff.
Related: Senate control may not be determined until December due to Georgia law
New Hampshire
AP presidential call in 2020: 10:54 p.m.
Races to watch: Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas’ seat is rated as a toss-up. On the Senate side, Democrat Maggie Hassan’s re-election bid has attracted national attention due to her marginal lead in recent polls. Cook Political Report rates her seat as “Lean D.”
South Carolina
AP presidential call in 2020: 7:56 p.m.
Vermont
AP presidential call in 2020: 7 p.m.
Virginia
AP presidential call in 2020: 7:36 p.m.
Races to watch: Two Democratic-held congressional seats are toss-ups: those held by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, whose district was heavily impacted by redistricting, and Elaine Luria, who faces a competitive challenge from Republican Jen Kiggans.
And see: Luria-Kiggans race could tell us early on if Republicans are going to have a big night
7:30 p.m. Eastern
North Carolina
AP presidential call in 2020: Three days after Election Day
Races to watch: Rep. Ted Budd’s Senate bid is rated as “lean” Republican by the Cook Political Report. The House seat he vacated for his campaign, however, is rated as a “toss-up.”
Ohio
AP presidential call in 2020: 12:19 a.m.
Races to watch: Longtime Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who has represented Ohioans since 1983, is in a race that leans Democratic, according to CPR. Another two House seats in Ohio are rated as toss-ups: Republican Steve Chabot’s seat in the First Congressional District, and the seat left open by Rep. Tim Ryan in the 13th district. Ryan vacated his seat to run for Senate; polls show him down against Republican J.D. Vance by an average of 8-points.
West Virginia
AP presidential call in 2020: 7:30 p.m.
8 p.m. Eastern
Alabama
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Connecticut
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Races to watch: Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Democrat, is in a close contest against Republican state Sen. George Logan. The race is considered a “toss-up” by CPR.
Delaware
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Illinois
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Races to watch: The race to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos in Illinois is a “toss-up.” Three other seats “lean” Democratic — Reps. Sean Casten and Lauren Underwood’s seats, as well as the seat for Republican Rodney Davis, who lost in the GOP primary.
Kansas
AP presidential call in 2020: 9:59 p.m.
Races to watch: Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids’ seat leans Democrat, according to Cook Political Report.
Maine
AP presidential call in 2020: 3:06 a.m.
Races to watch: Two-term Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is running for re-election against Republican Bruce Poliquin, who he beat in 2018 by about 3,000 votes through ranked-choice voting.
Maryland
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Massachusetts
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Michigan
AP presidential call in 2020: 5:58 p.m. the next day
Races to watch: Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s race is rated a toss-up as she faces a challenge from Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett. Two other House seats in the state are rated “lean” Democratic — Democrat Dan Kildee’s seat and its Third Congressional District, held by Republican Peter Meijer, who lost his August primary by about 3 points.
Mississippi
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Missouri
AP presidential call in 2020: 10:31 p.m.
New Jersey
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Races to watch: Two Democratic-held congressional seats are competitive in New Jersey. They are rated as “lean” Democratic and “lean” Republican respectively: those held by Rep. Andy Kim and Rep. Tom Malinowski.
North Dakota
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
Oklahoma
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Pennsylvania
AP presidential call in 2020: Four days after Election Day
Races to watch: On the House side, three Democratic-held seats are considered “toss-ups.” Those incumbents are Reps. Susan Wild, Matt Cartwright and Conor Lamb, whose seat is open due to his unsuccessful Senate bid. On the Senate side, Pennsylvania may ultimately play a role in determining which party holds control of that chamber. Republican Mehmet Oz holds a narrow edge over Democratic nominee John Fetterman in recent polls, and the race could go either way as a “toss-up,” per CPR.
Rhode Island
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Races to watch: Rhode Island may have a Republican House representative for the first time in three decades following the retirement of Democratic incumbent Jim Langevin. Candidate Allan Fung is widely viewed as a moderate Republican, and has maintained a competitive race against Democratic state treasurer Seth Magaziner. CPR rates the match-up as a “toss-up.”
South Dakota
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
Tennessee
AP presidential call in 2020: 8 p.m.
Texas
AP presidential call in 2020: 1:06 a.m.
Races to watch: The recently merged 34th Congressional District is a toss-up that will see two incumbents face off: Republican Mayra Flores and Democrat Vicente Gonzalez. One other House seat is rated as “lean” Democratic; it’s held by Rep. Henry Cuellar, who scraped by in his June primary by fewer than 300 votes.
8:30 p.m. Eastern
Arkansas
AP presidential call in 2020: 8:30 p.m.
9 p.m. Eastern
Arizona
AP presidential call in 2020: 2:51 a.m.
Races to watch: Republican Rep. David Schweikert’s seat could flip, as it is a toss-up and he has been out-fundraised by his Democratic opponent, Jevin Hodge. Two other House seats are rated as “lean” Republican: the redrawn Sixth Congressional District and Democrat Tom O’Halleran’s seat. The Senate contest, considered a toss-up, will also be a key race to watch to see whether incumbent Democrat Mark Kelly fends off a challenge from Peter Thiel-backed venture capitalist Blake Masters.
Colorado
AP presidential call in 2020: 9:37 p.m.
Races to watch: The newly created Eighth Congressional District is a toss-up, in which a Democratic state House member and a Republican state senator are facing off. And Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet’s seat leans Democratic, although polls show the two-term senator with a comfortable lead of 5.7 points on average.
Iowa
AP presidential call in 2020: 12:21 a.m.
Races to watch: Three House seats in Iowa are rated by CPR as “lean” Republican, one of which is held by Democrat Cindy Axne. The other two competitive seats are held by Republican Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson.
Louisiana
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
Minnesota
AP presidential call in 2020: 12:13 a.m.
Races to watch: Democratic Rep. Angie Craig is a “toss-up” race. She faces the same Republican challenger as she did in 2018, when she won with 48.2% of the vote.
Nebraska
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
Races to watch: Republican Rep. Don Bacon’s seat is a toss-up, as he faces off against Democratic state senator Tony Vargas.
New Mexico
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
Races to watch: Freshman Rep. Yvette Herrell, a Republican, is running for re-election in a “toss-up” race.
New York
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
Races to watch: New York has a number of competitive congressional seats following several hotly contested primaries. Four toss-up races feature open seats in the third, fourth, 19th and 22nd districts. One seat leans Republican — the seat left open by Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin’s gubernatorial bid — and one seat leans Democratic, the seat narrowly won in a special election this summer by Democrat Pat Ryan.
Wisconsin
AP presidential call in 2020: 2:16 p.m. the following day
Races to watch: There are no competitive House races in Wisconsin, but Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes’ bid against Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is much closer. That race leans Republican, and polling shows Johnson with an average lead of less than 4 points.
Wyoming
AP presidential call in 2020: 9 p.m.
10 p.m. Eastern
Idaho
AP presidential call in 2020: 11 p.m.
Montana
AP presidential call in 2020: 12:20 a.m.
Races to watch: The new congressional seat in Montana leans Republican, meaning former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is somewhat favored.
Nevada
AP presidential call in 2020: Four days after Election Day
Races to watch: Democratic Reps. Susie Lee and Dina Titus are at risk of losing their “toss-up” House seats. Democrat Steven Horsford similarly faces a challenge, though his seat leans Democratic. On the Senate side, Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has been neck to neck in the polls with Republican challenger Adam Laxalt. That contest is a “toss-up,” per CPR.
Oregon
AP presidential call in 2020: 11 p.m.
Races to watch: Three open House seats in Oregon are competitive. The new sixth congressional district is a toss-up, and the Democratic-held 4th and 5th districts “lean” Democratic and Republican respectively.
Utah
AP presidential call in 2020: 11:08 p.m.
11 p.m. Eastern
California
AP presidential call in 2020: 11 p.m.
Races to watch: Five congressional seats in California are “toss-ups,” including districts that incumbent Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Mike Levin and Republican Reps. David Valadao and Mike Garcia are running in. The open 13th district seat is a toss-up as well. Four other seats are rated as “lean” Democratic and “lean” Republican: California’s ninth, 26th, 41st and 46th districts.
Washington
AP presidential call in 2020: 11 p.m.
Races to watch: Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier’s seat is a toss-up, and Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler’s seat is “lean” Republican. Beutler, one of the 10 House Republicans to vote for impeachment, lost her primary bid in August.
12 a.m. Eastern
Hawaii
AP presidential call in 2020: 12:06 a.m.
Alaska
AP presidential call in 2020: About a week after Election Day
Races to watch: Democrat Mary Peltola is slightly favored to win reelection. She won a special election in August to replace the late Republican Don Young. The state’s new ranked choice voting system, however, may mean results won’t be known until Nov. 23 if no candidate wins the majority of first-round votes.
