Welcome
Welcome to election night 2023! Polls are open today in at least 37 states, and Americans have been casting their votes on everything from governorships to local referenda. 538 analysts will be here throughout the evening to bring you live updates and analysis from races across the country.
We’ll be closely tracking returns in some of today’s biggest races, including governor’s races in Kentucky and Mississippi; state-legislative contests in Virginia, New Jersey and Mississippi; Ohio’s ballot question on whether to codify the right to abortion; a Supreme Court contest in Pennsylvania; and a handful of congressional and state-legislative special elections.
We’ll also be keeping an eye on down-ballot and local contests, like mayoral and school board elections, and we’ll be digging deeper on what these results mean — or don’t mean — for Democrats, Republicans and, of course, the 2024 election. In addition to battling over who will control state and local policy, parties and activists are testing the waters for even bigger organizing and messaging efforts heading into next year. Will abortion continue to drive Democratic turnout and enthusiasm over a year after the Dobbs decision? How will races play out in states with newly drawn maps? Will Republicans sweep all three governor’s races this fall? Will Democrats continue to overperform in special elections?
Keep this page open and stick with us to find out!
—Tia Yang, 538
