Election Day brings so many races, from governor and Senate down to the state legislatures, that it can be hard to know where to look. NPR laid out six things to watch as results come in Tuesday night to tell which party is likely to control Congress.
The first early signs come from Indiana and Kentucky, where results start in the 6 p.m. Eastern hour, and from Florida in the 7 p.m. hour. NPR pointed to Indiana's 5th District and Kentucky's 6th, two Republican seats that have become more competitive. If those are close or leaning Democratic, it could point to low Republican turnout. Florida's 22nd, held by a Democrat but redrawn to favor Republicans, and the heavily Latino 27th, which President Trump won by double digits, will show how Latino voters are leaning.
Second is independents. Since Trump entered politics, Republicans have done well when they win at least 46% of independent voters, and lost when they fall short.
Third is Black turnout, especially in Michigan's Wayne County. The Michigan Senate race is key to Senate control. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed needs a big margin around Detroit; NPR noted Democrats in the Trump era have needed about 68% or more in Wayne County to win the state unless they overperform in the suburbs.
Fourth is young voters. Only about one in five registered voters ages 18 to 29 turn out in midterms, but when Democrats win that group by more than 20 points, they have generally done well.
Fifth is Texas, where NPR said to compare the vote totals for Gov. Greg Abbott and Senate candidate Ken Paxton, both Republicans, and to watch the Latino vote in South Texas. Democrat James Talarico has held a lead within the margin of error in polling averages, but past polls in Texas have underestimated Republicans.
Other coverage noted that Democrats need a net gain of four seats in both the House and Senate to take control, that the Justice Department plans about 1,000 monitors at the polls, and that Republicans held a sizable overall spending edge.
Polls in Tennessee close at 7 p.m. Central. Raw 100.5 will follow the results.
Sources: NPR, The Straits Times.