U.S. Senate control hangs in the balance as 35 seats go to voters on Election Day

Jon Ossoff is defending his Georgia seat against Republican Rep. Mike Collins, and the race could decide who controls the Senate. The last time Georgia held a race this close, in 2021, Ossoff and Raphael Warnock won the runoff that handed Democrats the chamber, and both parties are watching this one just as closely.

Thirty-five seats are up for election, and Democrats need a net gain of four to reach 51 and take the majority. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, and Vice President JD Vance can break ties, which gives the party a cushion Democrats would have to overcome. Of the 35 seats up, Republicans hold 22 and Democrats hold 13.

Whoever controls the chamber decides which judges and nominees are confirmed and which legislation can pass the Senate, so in a race this close each individual seat carries real weight.

Collins beat Derek Dooley in a runoff to win the Republican nomination. Ossoff has called Trump "world's most famous sore loser" over his election fraud claims in the state. Fundraising as of late June stood at $6.5 million for Collins and more than $77 million for Ossoff.

In Alaska, Rep. Mary Peltola is running against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, so if no candidate clears 50 per cent the count could take days.

In Iowa, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is retiring, leaving an open seat for the first time since she won it for Republicans in 2014.

Voters go to the polls on Election Day, and if Alaska's count runs long, the final Senate balance may not be known for days after.