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Election 2026: Less than 100 days, with tight races for Congress, state bench
With 99 days until Election Day, voters in New York and North Carolina face pivotal contests featuring Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, alongside critical statewide and congressional races.
President Donald Trump remains a larger-than-life force shaping Republican strategy, with candidates embracing his brand to ensure voter turnout despite his absence from the ballot this November, according to Rice University's Baker Institute fellow Mark Jones.
In New York, Hochul maintains over $21 million in cash on hand, while leading Blakeman by 20 points in recent polls; her favorability ratings have ticked up in recent months.
Two nationally-watched toss-up races define North Carolina's landscape: the U.S. Senate contest between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, plus the 1st Congressional District seat, with control of Congress hinging on outcomes.
State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs says the party must offer "bolder policies" to appeal to younger voters as absentee ballots mail in 39 days, addressing internal tensions within Democratic ranks.