Riverside voters head to polls as national House fight narrows to 46 districts

Polls in Riverside County are open from 7 a.m. To 8 p.m. For the 2026 general election. Residents in Anaheim, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fontana, Moreno Valley, and Ontario are voting in what the Associated Press describes as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term. Voters in the county are casting ballots for every U.S. House seat in California, the governorship, and various state and local offices. California conducts its elections largely by mail, but many residents are also voting in person at polling places today.

The governor's race in California is an open seat with no incumbent running. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have placed candidates on the ballot for this statewide contest. This is one of 36 governorships up for election in 2026. Heading into the election, Republicans hold 26 governor's offices and Democrats hold 24. Democrats need a net gain of two governorships to achieve a nationwide majority, a milestone they have not held since 2010.

Nationally, the focus is on the U.S. House of Representatives, where all 435 seats are up for grabs. Republicans currently hold 218 seats, while Democrats hold 214, with one independent and some vacancies. This creates a delicate margin where Democrats need a net gain of three districts to secure a majority. Conversely, Republicans can lose no more than two seats to maintain their control. Ballotpedia counts 46 battleground districts in this year's race, split between 25 districts held by Democrats and 21 held by Republicans.

The competitive nature of the House race is heightened by redistricting. Six states, including California, are using new congressional maps following mid-decade redistricting. Other states using new maps include Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, with Ohio also adopting a new map. These changes have altered the political landscape, with 21 Democratic-held districts that voted for Trump in 2024 and nine Republican-held districts that voted for Kamala Harris in that year's presidential election.

Voters in Riverside County are also deciding the state's congressional delegation. Every U.S. House seat in the state is on the ballot. The outcome of these races will determine the balance of power in the lower chamber of Congress for the final two years of the current presidential term. The Associated Press notes that Republicans were bracing to lose the House, while Democrats were cautiously optimistic about their chances in the closely contested districts.

The mood among voters is described by the Associated Press as one where many are struggling with high prices and are angry over an unpopular war with Iran. An AP-NORC poll indicates that 35% of U.S. Adults approve of Trump's job performance, while only 25% approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 respondents said the country is heading in the wrong direction, with most blaming the president for high prices.

More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. In California, a judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens, a move that critics say risks disenfranchising eligible voters.

The Senate race involves 35 of 100 seats, including 33 regular elections and two special elections for the remainder of the terms held by Marco Rubio in Florida and JD Vance in Ohio. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate, while Republicans can afford to lose only two. Thirteen Senate races are considered battlegrounds, with states like Maine, Iowa, and Michigan described as toss-ups or leaning toward one party. The outcome of these races will determine which party controls the upper chamber starting January 3, 2027.

Money is playing a significant role in this election, which is expected to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees have outraised and outspent Democratic committees, aided by groups affiliated with Trump and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats have outraised their opponents. Analysis by the Associated Press shows that 88.1% of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts that Trump won in 2024, including more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

If Democrats win even one chamber of Congress, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings are likely to follow. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who would be the first Black speaker if Democrats take the House, has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight. A strong Democratic performance could also boost potential 2028 candidates such as Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg, while potentially complicating the path for Vice President JD Vance.

Voters are reminded that anyone in line when polls close at 8 p.m. Is entitled to cast a ballot. ID rules vary by state, so residents are advised to check their specific requirements before heading to the polls. The results of this election will shape the legislative agenda for the next two years, with Wall Street watching closely as the outcomes could impact investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations.