Early exit polls in nearly all states with competitive Senate races showed more voters disapproving than approving of President Donald Trump, according to a CBS News election update on Nov. 3. The findings came as the first polling places began to close and voters were choosing which party will control the Senate.
The poll results are not vote counts or projections of race winners. They also pointed to economic concerns: in each of the Senate battlegrounds, more voters said their finances had worsened than improved compared with previous years. Majorities of voters supporting both Republican and Democratic Senate candidates said control of the chamber was a major factor in their decision.
Four-seat gain needed for Democrats
Thirty-five Senate seats are up for election. Republicans entered the midterms with a 53-47 majority, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control.
Eleven states were classified as Senate battlegrounds in CBS estimates: eight seats held by Republicans and three held by Democrats. The Republican-held contests included tight races in Maine, Ohio, Texas and Alaska. Maine Republican Susan Collins is seeking another term in a state won by Kamala Harris in 2024.
Democrats also face a defense in Michigan, while their seats in Georgia and New Hampshire were considered more favorable. The balance of the Senate will determine whether Republicans can continue advancing President Trump’s agenda and nominations during the final two years of his term.
Nicole French