Polls Open in Key States that Could Determine House and Senate Control

Voters are heading to the polls today to cast their ballots in federal, state, and local elections. These elections could have a major impact on the political landscape of the United States for years to come.

The midterm elections will be a crucial test for both parties. Democrats will be fighting to keep their slim majorities in the House and Senate, while Republicans will be hoping to take control of one or both chambers of the legislature. It should be a close and exciting race, with the outcome having a big impact on the direction of the country.

The result of the upcoming vote could have a major impact on President Joe Biden's legislative goals. If Democrats are able to pass his agenda through a hyper-partisan Congress, it could mean a lot for his presidency.

Many Americans will also vote in important races for governor, secretary of state, and other positions on the ballot.

According to an NBC News poll released Sunday, Biden's approval rating stands at 44% going into Election Day.

This puts him on par with former Presidents Donald Trump (46%) and Barack Obama (45%) in the final NBC News/WSJ poll taken before the midterm elections.

The poll found that 48% of likely voters preferred Democrats to control Congress and 47% preferred Republicans. This is a reverse from October, when the NBC News poll found that 48% of likely voters preferred Republicans and 47% preferred Democrats. Both are within the margin of error.

Voters in Missouri and Arizona began heading to the polls at 6 a.m. local time. In Missouri, polls opened at 7 a.m. ET, while in Arizona, voting began at 8 a.m. ET.

The races for Senate in Missouri and Arizona are big ones to watch. Democratic candidate Trudy Busch Valentine is up against Republican rival Eric Schmitt in Missouri, while incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Kelly is up against Republican candidate Blake Masters in Arizona.

Polls open at 8 a.m. ET in Wisconsin (7 a.m. local time) for the state's Senate race between Republican incumbent Ron Johnson and Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes.

Voters in Utah will have the choice between Republican incumbent Mike Lee and Independent Evan McMullin for U.S. Senate, starting at 9 a.m. ET (7 a.m. local time).

Former President Donald Trump said Monday night that he will make a "big announcement" on November 15 at his Mar-a-Lago resort. It is widely expected that he will use this opportunity to launch his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump announced that he will be making a big announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. He made this announcement at a Save America rally in Vandalia, Ohio on the eve of the midterm elections.

Trump is eager to jumpstart his third run for president, and staffing conversations have ramped up significantly in recent weeks. An early list of potential top aides has already been released.

Near the end of a speech for GOP candidate J.D. Vance in Ohio, Trump made a comment about Nov. 15. Instead of focusing on Vance, Trump spoke out against Democrats, judges who have ruled against his family in court cases, the condition of U.S. airports, and President Joe Biden.

A Trump campaign spokesman did not respond to a request from CNBC to confirm that his Nov. 15 event will be a campaign launch.

As Trump gets closer to announcing his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, polls show that he has more support from Republican voters than any other candidate.

Trump would also enter the race with more than $60 million in cash held by his leadership PAC, Save America. Trump has a prodigious small dollar fundraising operation that vacuums up online donations from the Republican base.

Voters in Virginia can head to the polls as early as 6 a.m. ET, while voters in New Hampshire can start casting their ballots at 6 a.m. ET. North Carolina and Ohio will follow close behind, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. ET.

The polls open at 7 a.m. ET for voters in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Some big races to keep an eye on in these states are the battle between incumbent Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative Val Demings for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida. Democratic incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock is also running against controversial Republican first-timer Herschel Walker in Georgia, and incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is up against Republican Tudor Dixon for governor of Michigan.