Pinellas voters watch 10 key Senate races as Florida picks its next governor

Polls in Pinellas County are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, marking the start of the general election for residents of Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas Park. Florida is split between the Eastern and Central time zones, but the poll hours remain consistent for the day. Voters can find their specific polling places at vote.gov or through their local state election office. According to Ballotpedia, anyone in line when the polls close is entitled to cast a ballot. The state has no regular U.S. Senate election this year, but a special election for the remainder of the term vacated by Marco Rubio is on the ballot. The incumbent, Republican Ashley B. Moody, is seeking to hold the seat.

Locally, the most significant race for Florida voters is the gubernatorial contest. This is an open seat with no incumbent running, as the current governor is term limited or has chosen not to seek reelection. The candidates on the ballot include nominees from the Democratic, Libertarian, No Party Affiliation, and Republican parties. Every U.S. House seat in the state is also up for grabs, alongside various state and local offices. Florida is one of six states using new congressional maps following mid-decade redistricting, a change that may alter how districts vote compared to previous cycles. The AP notes that new districts in Florida and elsewhere may not vote exactly as drawn by the party that controlled the redistricting process.

Nationally, voters are deciding who will control Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. All 435 House seats are up, with Republicans currently holding 218 and Democrats 214. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to secure a majority, while Republicans can lose no more than two seats to maintain their slim advantage. In the Senate, 35 seats are up for election, including 33 regular races and two special elections. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, and Democrats hold 45, plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats require a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber, a higher bar than the House majority requirement.

The Associated Press and PBS NewsHour have identified ten specific Senate matchups that are central to the fight for control. In North Carolina, Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper faces former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley in the seat vacated by retiring Senator Thom Tillis. In Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff is running against Republican Representative Mike Collins. The Ohio special election features Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown against incumbent Senator Jon Husted. In Michigan, Republican former Representative Mike Rogers is competing against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for the seat left open by retiring Senator Gary Peters.

Other high-stakes contests include Texas, where Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, backed by President Trump in the primary, faces Democrat James Talarico. In Maine, Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, is challenging Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. The AP reports that economic strain and tariffs have made this race competitive. New Hampshire is holding an open seat election following the retirement of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, with Democratic Representative Chris Pappas running against former Republican Senator John E. Sununu. Minnesota is selecting a successor to retiring Senator Tina Smith, with Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya among the candidates.

Kansas, traditionally a reliable Republican state, has become a focal point for Senate control, featuring a toss-up to lean Republican rating according to Ballotpedia. In Alaska, the race is rated toss-up to lean Democratic, and the Trump administration has filed a lawsuit related to the certification of the result. These ten races are considered the battlegrounds that could determine which party holds the majority in the upper chamber. The AP describes the overall election as a referendum on Trump's second term, with many voters expressing frustration over high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while about 7 in 10 say the country is heading in the wrong direction.

The mood among voters is mixed, with Republicans bracing for potential losses in the House while fighting to hold the Senate. Democrats are described as cautiously optimistic about their chances. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing early voting totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. The 2026 elections are expected to be the most expensive in history, with Republican committees outspending Democratic ones at the committee level, though Democrats outraised their opponents at the candidate level. The AP analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024.

Voters are also weighing in on the economic outlook, with a majority blaming President Trump for high prices. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized that turnout is the deciding factor, stating that if Republicans turn out their voters, they will win. DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene countered that the American people are angry and want change. These sentiments reflect the broader narrative of a midterm election where the president's party often faces challenges in retaining seats. The results of these races will begin to take shape as polls close across the country, with the final terms for Senate winners set to begin on January 3, 2027.