Pinellas voters weigh state races while 10 key Senate matchups decide Congress
Polls are open in Florida from 7 a.m. To 7 p.m. As Pinellas County residents vote on the governorship and House seats, while national attention turns to ten competitive Senate races across the country.
By Camila Herrera ·
Polling places in Pinellas County opened at 7 a.m. On Tuesday, November 3, and will remain open until 7 p.m. The county is divided between the Eastern and Central time zones, but the poll hours are the same for all locations. Residents in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas Park are heading to the polls to cast ballots in a midterm election that determines who controls Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. The Associated Press describes this vote as a referendum on the president's performance, with many voters expressing frustration over high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. More than 57 million people had already voted by Monday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.
In Florida, there is no regular U.S. Senate election on the ballot this year. However, voters are deciding on the governorship, an open seat with no incumbent running. The parties on the ballot include the Democratic, Libertarian, No Party Affiliation, and Republican parties. Every U.S. House seat in the state is also up for election. According to the source facts, Republicans hold 218 House seats and Democrats hold 214, with one independent and some vacancies. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to achieve a majority in the House, while Republicans can afford to lose no more than two seats. Ballotpedia identifies 46 battleground districts in the House, with 25 currently held by Democrats and 21 by Republicans.
While Florida voters focus on state and local races, the national Senate race is pivotal. Thirty-five of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs, including 33 regular elections and two special elections. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, while Democrats hold 45, plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate, whereas Republicans can lose only two. Eleven senators, four Democrats and seven Republicans, are not running again. The winners will begin their six-year terms on January 3, 2027. The Associated Press and Ballotpedia have identified 13 Senate races as battlegrounds, with specific matchups in states such as North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Kansas, and Alaska drawing significant national attention.
In North Carolina, Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper is challenging former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley for the seat left vacant by retiring Senator Thom Tillis. Tillis stepped down after clashing with President Trump. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff faces off against Republican Representative Mike Collins. The race in Georgia is considered lean to likely Democratic by several ratings services. In Ohio, Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown is running against Republican Senator Jon Husted in a special election. Husted is seeking to retain the seat that was vacated when Vice President JD Vance was elected to the full term in 2022.
The Michigan Senate race is another key matchup, pitting Republican former Representative Mike Rogers against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Notably, El-Sayed's former primary opponent, Haley Stevens, endorsed Rogers on Sunday. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom President Trump backed over Senator John Cornyn in the primary, faces Democrat James Talarico. The race in Maine features incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins against Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. The Associated Press notes that economic strain and tariffs have made Maine competitive, with the race rated as a toss-up by all four major ratings services.
In New Hampshire, Democratic Representative Chris Pappas is challenging former Republican Senator John E. Sununu for the seat of retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Minnesota presents an open seat with four candidates, including Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster. The Kansas Senate race is becoming central to the fight for Senate control in a reliably Republican state. In Alaska, the race is considered toss-up to lean Democratic, and the Trump administration filed a lawsuit related to the certification of the Senate result. These ten states, along with others, will determine the balance of power in the upper chamber.
Voters across the country are also electing 36 governors. Republicans currently hold 26 governor's offices, and Democrats hold 24. Of the offices on the ballot, each party holds 18. Nineteen of the races have no incumbent on the ballot. Democrats would need a net gain of two governorships to achieve a nationwide majority, a position Republicans have held since 2010. In Florida, the governor's race is an open seat. Nationally, the Associated Press calls the governor races in Texas, Florida, and Iowa competitive. Democrats are hoping to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades.
The mood in the electorate is marked by economic anxiety. A poll from the Associated Press and NORC found that 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of Trump's job performance, while only 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 people say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Most respondents blame President Trump for high prices. In Raleigh, North Carolina, James Moore, a 57-year-old librarian, said, "I'm paying more taxes. I'm paying more for my healthcare. I'm paying more for everything." In Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, voter Mark Barker said, "I've just been following Trump the whole time. I really think he's doing an awesome job."
