The polls have opened and closed, and Stevens’ Babbio Atrium was open for business! New Jersey’s general congressional election day was November 3, 2026, and citizens voted on who will control Congress for the next two years; in other words, how the rest of Trump’s second term is going to look. Up for election across the country are senators, state representatives, and local politicians, though New Jersey is only voting for a Senator and a District 7 representative this time around. Midterm primary elections were already held on June 2, with results turning out primarily Democratic for New Jersey, as is the norm with a solid blue state like ours.
Early voting for the general was held during the period of October 24 to November 1, with registered voters able to vote at any early voting location in their county. Statistics show that 19% of the 6.7 million registered voters in New Jersey voted early, though only 8% of early in-person/mail-in votes were from college-age students (aged 18 to 29). Despite this, Stevens itself is a particularly engaged campus; in fact, it was chosen by application as one of ALL IN’s most engaged campuses for student voting in 2024.
Predictions for this general midterm election were murky. The House, presently Republican-controlled with 53 seats to the blue 47, won’t stay that way if voters go the way they’re registered. Thirty-five seats were up for election, and Republicans only needed to hold onto their current majority, while Democrats needed to flip some Republican seats as well as win over the swing seats to gain control. However, Trump’s approval rating is currently at a historical low of 38%, which could be reflected in the polls in certain elections. The ability to handle the American economy is the key issue for voters this year, and trust is leaning towards the Democratic Party after what many view as missteps by the current administration regarding the average fuel price rising to $4 and distracting announcements on White House renovations. The House stands a very low chance of remaining red as it is, but the Senate is a steeper battle; one possible outcome is a blue House and a red Senate, which would result in even more gridlock and government shutdowns if the two entities clash. Even historically deep red states like Kansas and Texas are turned blue. The truth, though, is that the Senate really was a toss-up in pre-results. New Jersey House and Senate results can be found here.
