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“It’s clear that Democratic efforts to expand the map to previously less competitive congressional districts have triggered a lot of enthusiasm among voters who are used to living in places where the contests were less uncertain.” — Stephen Farnsworth, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Mary Washington
Voters cast ballots in a past election at a Henrico polling place in 2025. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
By Markus Schmidt
Virginians will vote Tuesday in the 2026 midterm elections, with control of Congress and three proposed constitutional amendments at stake after a record early voting turnout.
Polls are open statewide from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., giving voters their final opportunity to weigh in on races for the U.S. Senate and all 11 of Virginia’s U.S. House seats, along with proposed protections for reproductive rights, marriage equality and voting rights.
Osbourn Park High School in Prince William County offers a hands-on automotive technology program as part of its Career and Technical Education offerings. (Photo courtesy of Prince William County Schools)
By Nathaniel Cline
Virginia’s career and technical education review found regional disparities in access to courses and credentials, according to a state report released Oct. 1. State agencies recommend expanding credentials in underserved areas, prioritizing high-demand fields, strengthening employer partnerships, and improving data transparency to better align student training with workforce needs.
During the last legislative session, the General Assembly authorized the Virginia Board of Education and the Board of Workforce Development to complete a statewide review of all CTE courses, pathways, and industry-recognized credentials offered in Virginia’s public schools.
President Donald Trump rallied with Iowa Republicans at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque on Nov. 1, 2026, two days before Election Day. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
By Jonathan Shorman
American democracy faces one of its biggest stress tests of the modern era, as President Donald Trump’s sprawling campaign for power over elections encounters a firewall of judges, state election workers and voting rights leaders heading into Election Day.
A cascade of courtroom losses over the weekend dealt a major blow to the Trump administration’s last-minute efforts ahead of Tuesday to assert authority over voting and hold the prospect of prosecutions over the heads of state election officials.
By Kevin Hardy
As broad affordability concerns define elections across the country, voters in several states on Tuesday will have a say on their future utility bills.
State utility regulators, who are facing heightened levels of attention and scrutiny amid high prices, are on the ballot in nine states: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
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