Democrats focus on Texas-wide elections
On November 1, 2026, Texas Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Texas Representative Gina Hinojosa (left) and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico take the stage at the “Dia de los Muertos” concert rally held at Espy in San Antonio, Texas.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
Democrats have not won a statewide victory in Texas since the 1990s, but they hope their losing streak will end on Tuesday. Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is in a tight race for U.S. Senate against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. State Representative Gina Hinojosa is challenging incumbent Republican Greg Abbott in the gubernatorial race, with Abbott expected to win. Hinojosa and Talarico are Democrats’ best two candidates to win statewide in Texas since Beto O’Rourke lost to Sen. Ted Cruz by less than 3 points in 2018.
— Justin Papp
S&P 500 and Nasdaq rise, Dow falls in voting day trading
Tuesday’s major 3 average average
Despite Tuesday’s mixed picture, stocks have performed well this year. The S&P 500 is up more than 10% in 2026, while the Dow and Nasdaq Composite are up about 8% and 9%, respectively.
Follow live market updates here.
— Alex Harring, Sean Conlon
Problem scanning paper ballots at polling place in Westchester County, New York
Voters in Westchester County, New York, reported problems scanning their paper ballots at polling places.
The Westchester County Board of Elections said it was aware of the issue, urged voters to get in line and said paper ballots would be placed in “designated orange emergency ballot bags” and securely monitored.
“These ballots will then be counted in accordance with applicable election procedures,” the board said. “Voters should not let this issue deter them from participating in elections. Your voice matters. Your vote matters.”
Westchester is located north of New York City.
— Dan Mangan
Consumer sentiment has worsened in recent months.
A man walks past a poster highlighting rising food and gas prices and urging people to vote in Dallas, Texas, on November 2, 2026.
Ricardo Arduengo | AFP | Getty Images
Consumers report feeling increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy last year. The question is whether that dissatisfaction will influence how people vote.
A consumer sentiment survey closely tracked by the University of Michigan found that sales were down about 10% in September compared to a year ago. The index fell to an all-time low earlier this year.
The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index reached its lowest level in September since 2014. Confidence rebounded in October, and the Conference Board cited easing gas prices as a contributing factor.
— Alex Harring
Senate seats once considered unaffordable for both parties are now up for grabs.
Democrats are vying for Senate seats in traditionally red states such as Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas, where the quality of Republican candidates and President Trump’s low popularity ratings are holding back Republicans. Meanwhile, Republicans look competitive in New Hampshire and Minnesota. Democrats tend to have the upper hand there, but are in close races against tough Republican opponents.
— Justin Papp
Voters face a job market with ‘fewer jobs and fewer layoffs’
Voters vote at a polling place inside the Guilford County Agriculture Center during the last day of early voting for the midterm elections in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Economists and monetary policymakers have largely said that today’s job market is stable but not booming, and this is the backdrop for today’s election.
The unemployment rate in September was 4.2%, down from 4.4% a year ago. Unemployment claims in recent weeks have fallen to the lowest level since the 1960s.
Still, there are some worrying signs beneath the surface. For example, the number of long-term unemployed people, classified as people who have been out of work for at least 27 weeks, has soared this year. This is characteristic of what many economists describe as a “low-hires, low-fires” job market, where companies are reluctant to lay off employees or hire new employees.
Average hourly wages increased 3% year-over-year in September, the slowest 12-month increase since 2021. However, consumer prices rose 3.7% over the same period, meaning shoppers had less purchasing power compared to the previous year.
— Alex Harring
Referendum on President Trump
President Donald Trump speaks at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2026.
Finn Gomez | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Tuesday’s election could be a referendum on Mr. Trump, whose policies have angered voters and weighed heavily on the Republican Party. A loss in the House, Senate, or both could derail his legislative agenda in the final two years of his term. And if the Republican Party performs poorly, there is a strong possibility that we will usher in an era of intense scrutiny by Congress targeting Mr. Trump, his associates, and the companies that have been collusive with the Trump administration over the past two years.
— Justin Papp
