Stocks Mixed as Midterm Voting Begins

Major U.S. indexes traded unevenly at the open of Tuesday's session as voting got underway in several East Coast states.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Investing

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.1% at 51,932.63 points while the S&P 500 rose 0.11% to 7,550.606 points and the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.4% to 28,102.61 points. The mixed open coincided with the start of voting in the U.S. midterm elections on November 3, 2026.

Why it matters

Investors are watching the midterm results because a decisive Democratic victory could pressure shares of artificial intelligence companies, while defense stocks could face pressure over possible spending restrictions.

Defense names opened lower, with Lockheed Martin down 0.65% to $639 and Northrop Grumman down 0.6% to $552, while Nvidia gained 2.11% to $206.32. The extraction does not indicate how these moves compare with prior sessions or sector averages.

The details

Shares of major technology companies traded higher while defense industry stocks declined at the start of trading. Polling stations opened at 2:00 p.m. Moscow time in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Virginia as voters cast ballots for House, Senate and gubernatorial races.

November 3, 2026: Regular trading session opened mixed and voting began in several East Coast states.

Market Dynamics

Midterm elections have historically been followed by sector rotation as markets price in expected changes to federal policy on spending and regulation. Trading on this session reflects that pattern, with technology and defense names moving in opposite directions ahead of the results.

Investors with exposure to technology or defense stocks may see portfolio values shift as midterm results are reported. Those managing retirement accounts may want to review sector allocations as market reactions to the election develop.

The takeaway

Election-related volatility can move individual sectors in different directions even when broad indexes look steady, so reviewing sector concentration can help investors understand their exposure.