Americans Vote for Congress as Israel Aid Divides Key Senate Races

Americans began voting in the November 3 congressional midterm elections, with control of Congress at stake and competing positions on military assistance to Israel featuring in several Senate races. Republicans entered Election Day holding the presidency and both chambers of Congress. The policy differences include whether Washington should continue supplying Israel with offensive weapons, defensive weapons, or neither. In Maine, Democratic nominee Troy Jackson, a former state Senate leader, is challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Jackson opposes further offensive weapons shipments to Israel, while Collins is a longstanding supporter of Israel. The contest is among the Senate races where the candidates differ over the terms of American support. Other races present different choices. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico supports defensive assistance but opposes offensive weapons shipments, while Republican Ken Paxton supports Israel and opposes the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. In Georgia, Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff, who has voted against certain arms shipments to Israel, faces Republican Mike Collins, a supporter of assistance. These are candidates' policy positions, not election results. Voting continues under each state's election timetable. North Carolina's election board lists polling hours of 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and says voters in line at closing may still cast ballots. Its official election record identifies November 3 as the date of the 2026 general election.