Which key races remain undecided one week after the US midterms? | US Midterm Elections 2026 News
More than a week after the midterm elections, the final tallies for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate remain uncertain, with several congressional races still undecided.
As of this week, Democrats have secured 54 Senate seats, with the possibility of gaining one or two more as votes continue to be counted in Alaska and Mississippi. In the House, they have achieved their largest majority since 2008, with 255 seats in the 435-member chamber, although they may add to that total as remaining races are finalized.
In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom holds a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, with about 2,600 votes separating the two candidates. Key deadlines surrounding the vote-counting process are approaching: mail-in absentee ballots must be received by Tuesday, and counties are required to submit certified results, including provisional ballot counts, by Friday. The state is set to certify its results on December 3. However, it remains unclear how many ballots are still outstanding.
Unlike other states, Mississippi lacks a centralized vote reporting system, leading to a reliance on local county officials for updates on vote counts. Michael Watson, the state’s Secretary of State, indicated that approximately 14,200 provisional ballots had been processed, with around 80 percent accepted. Additionally, about 2,700 mail-in absentee ballots had not yet been returned. Mississippi does not have provisions for automatic recounts; recounts can only occur if ordered by a court.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola is leading Republican Senator Dan Sullivan by approximately 2,500 votes, with around 76 percent of the vote reported. Absentee ballots are still being counted, and those mailed from outside the U.S. will be accepted until November 18. Peltola is slightly below the 50 percent majority needed to win outright, which could prompt a ranked-choice voting process if no candidate exceeds that threshold. Alaska’s election results are expected to be certified by November 25.
At the House level, a dozen races remain undecided, many with margins of victory under one percentage point. North Carolina has the most unresolved races, with four contests still to be called. There, Republican incumbents face challenges in all four districts. Candidates may request a recount if the margin is one percent or less, and requests must be submitted by noon Eastern Time on November 17.
In California, only one undecided race in the 23rd District will impact the party balance in the House. In South Carolina’s 2nd District, a recount is underway with Republican Joe Wilson leading Democrat Zyon Khalifa by about 3,000 votes. A similar situation persists in Minnesota’s 1st District, where around 300 votes separate the leading candidates. In Tennessee’s 4th District, Democrat Victoria Broderick trails Republican Scott DesJarlais by about 300 votes.
Additionally, two governorships remain uncertain. In Kansas, Democratic state Senator Cindy Holscher leads Republican Ty Masterson by less than one percentage point. An audit has been initiated in six close Kansas races, including the gubernatorial contest, and must be completed by November 16. In Alaska, approximately 76 percent of votes have been counted in the gubernatorial race, with Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leading by about 45,000 votes. Should no candidate cross the 50 percent threshold, the race will proceed to ranked-choice tabulation.
