The National Desk

🚨 Polls are beginning to close in key Senate, House & gubernatorial races across the country. The National News Desk is tracking what the results could mean for control of Congress, with reporters from our local stations on the ground in Ohio, Texas, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, Maine & Michigan. Follow along for tonight’s biggest moments & updates from across the country. 🧵🧵🧵

Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi are still too close to call as outstanding votes are counted in both states. MORE ON THE DELAY: bit.ly/4AgoaLf

El-Sayed defeated his opponent, Mike Rogers, on Election Day by seven percentage points: bit.ly/4z7tujc

First Lady Melania Trump received a painting by an 11-year-old from Oleshky, presented by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev as a thank-you for her humanitarian work. Ukraine’s David Arakhamia also gave her a state award on behalf of Ukraine’s president and people, citing her efforts to help return children to their families. bit.ly/4izeLXU #melaniatrump #gift #firstlady #russia #ukraine

With the results from Tuesday's elections, there will now be four socialist mayors in the U.S.: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Janeese Lewis George for D.C., and Nithya Raman for Los Angeles: bit.ly/4sFoEry

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate victory “incredibly exciting,” saying he was impressed by what El-Sayed had to reckon with during the campaign. READ MORE: bit.ly/4iZe5LR

Massie said that with the discharge petition he is filing, it will allow survivors to get access to their own records: bit.ly/4BLurQC

“Such hubris.” A protester slams Trump’s proposed arch at a rally in Washington, D.C. READ MORE: bit.ly/4ixYgv5

Ontario Premier Doug Ford celebrated the U.S. midterm results, describing himself as “jumping up and down” as the votes came in. Ford, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, called the outcome a victory for Canadians. READ MORE: bit.ly/4iZe5LR

President Donald Trump likely has until January to appoint another justice: bit.ly/4elKhax

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he will commute the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in one of his final acts in office. Read more about Newsom's decision here: bit.ly/4kGad4u

61% OF INDEPENDENT WOMEN BACKED DEMOCRATS? Republicans are facing tough questions after losing control of Congress, and @Nikki_Beaver_ of @NFRW tells @janjeffcoat that women voters played a major role in the GOP's midterm defeat. Beaver cited a 61% figure for independent women supporting Democrats and argued that conservative voters staying home, economic frustration and the Iran conflict contributed to the losses.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s outreach to Congress, saying he has not built the relationships needed to secure funding for the Pentagon. “He’s just not the right guy for the job,” Tillis said, adding that President Donald Trump “deserves better.” READ MORE: bit.ly/4eg1UIX

The Department of Justice has been investigating allegations about efforts to recruit Sullivan to run against the incumbent: bit.ly/4iAwDBz

🚨Republicans are running out of time as America's national debt approaches $43 trillion. With Democrats set to take control of Congress in January, Republicans have just weeks left to tackle major issues, including the debt ceiling, government spending, soaring energy costs and IRS reform. @NTU's Brandon Arnold tells @janjeffcoat that waiting until next year could make it harder to secure spending cuts and taxpayer protections.

First Lady Melania Trump says she began working toward a ceasefire in Oleshky after learning of the humanitarian crisis in September. She directed her representative, Marc Beckman, to engage with Russia and Ukraine, drawing on communication channels previously used to reunite children with their families. Trump said both countries agreed to work with her as an intermediary. She described reviewing mine plans and aerial images, assessing roads and evacuation routes, and discussing hospital access, vehicles and medical supplies. She said Russia and Ukraine signed written agreements on Oct. 23, covering the ceasefire and humanitarian operation. bit.ly/4izeLXU #melaniatrump #russiaukrainewar #ceasefire #ukraine #oleshky

In September, the candidate suspended his campaign due to health issues: bit.ly/4ivYfYI

Police say three people were hurt in a shooting at a Des Moines postal facility. A suspected shooter was detained. READ MORE: bit.ly/3UzDnYG

Now that the Democrats have control of Congress, do you think they will deliver on their promises? Wall Street is welcoming the prospect of gridlock after Democrats took control of Congress. Stocks have often performed well under divided government, where legislative stalemates can limit major policy changes and give businesses more predictability. VOTE: bit.ly/4ehpfKj

President Donald Trump says incumbent Republican Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan should get the vote totals for Dan J. Sullivan, the Senate candidate in the state who has the same name as the incumbent lawmaker. “He easily wins. There is no other fair solution!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. As of Thursday around 9 a.m. EST, Democrat Mary Peltola is up in the race, with the Republican Sullivan trailing closely behind with 75% of the vote counted. bit.ly/3RUJMc7 #trump #dansullivan #alaska #midterms #marypeltola

Abdul El-Sayed outlined four priorities he says he would pursue in Washington: opposing scheduled Medicaid cuts, addressing the power of monopolies and oligopolies, supporting unions and changing how political campaigns are funded. “The worst of this big ugly bill has not yet happened,” El-Sayed said, referring to Medicaid cuts he says are set for January 2027. READ MORE: bit.ly/4iZe5LR