There are big races occurring all around the country, including some in our sister station markets that include Texas, North Carolina, and New York.

NEW YORK RACES TO WATCH
    
One of the state's most hotly contested races is taking place in New York's 19th Congressional District north of New York City, where Democrat  Zephyr Teachout is battling Republican John Faso to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Republican Rep. Chris Gibson. Faso, a former minority leader of the New York State Assembly, has been polling just behind Teachout, a Fordham University law professor who's received strong support from Bernie Sanders.

In southern New York's 22nd Congressional District, Republican state Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney and Democrat Kim Myers are battling it out to replace retiring Republican Richard Hanna. Polls show Tenney, a Trump supporter, outpacing Myers, a county legislator, although there are still a large percentage of undecided voters.

New York's senior Senator, Chuck Schumer, is facing a challenge from Republican Wendy Long as he seeks his fourth term in Congress. Interest in the race is high, not because it's close -- Long, who supports Trump, has been trailing in polls by as much as 45% -- but because if Schumer wins, the 65-year-old would be poised to become majority leader next year should the Democrats win control of the Senate.

More details on NY races to watch.



NORTH CAROLINA RACES TO WATCH

U.S. Senate Race
Former state house legislator Deborah Ross (D) is challenging incumbent Sen. Richard Burr (R). Burr, who is seeking his third term in the senate. Libertarian Sean Haugh is also on the ballot. The polls show there’s a chance this seat could flip from Republican to Democrat, so it is being closely watched around the country.

North Carolina Gubernatorial Race
Republican incumbent Pat McCrory is running against Democratic challenger Attorney General Roy Cooper and Libertarian Lon Cecil. The gubernatorial race is being called a virtual tie. One of the biggest issues in the campaign has been the governor’s support of the “bathroom bill,” which bans transgender people from using public restrooms that don’t follow their gender. The democratic challenger has said the bill is discriminatory and has vowed to repeal it if elected.

More details on NC races to watch.



TEXAS RACES TO WATCH

Austin:

Prop 1 Mobility Bond Package: Prop 1 is billed by proponents as "a transportation bond package that will change the face of the city." The plan aims to address congestion along some of Austin's biggest roads as well as include safety improvements such as bus pull-outs, wider bike lanes and sidewalk improvements. However, opponents of the measure say the plan is about 15 years premature and doesn't address other congestion issues.

Congressional District Races:

District 10: District 10 incorporates portions of Bastrop, Harris, Lee and Travis counties and all of Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Waller and Washington. The incumbent is Michael McCaul (R), who faces Tawana Cadien and Bill Kelsey in Tuesday's election. McCaul is chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

District 21: Lamar Smith hopes to retain his seat in the House of Representatives. Smith says he still needs more time to keep Washington working, but three others hope to end his reign, including Green Party candidate Antonio Diaz. Smith is chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. He also serves on the Judiciary Committee and Homeland Security Committee. Congressman Smith is also former chairman of the Judiciary and Ethics Committees and a former member of the Budget Committee.

District 25: District 25 stretches from Austin to Fort Worth as the result of redistricting signed into law in 2011. Tuesday's election will see incumbent Roger Williams challenged by Kathi Thomas and Laren Marc Schneiderman. Williams has recently come under fire by ethics investigators over a proposed amendment that would benefit automotive dealers. Williams owns a dealership in North Texas.

District 35: Lloyd Doggett seeks re-election in the Bexar/Comal/Hays/Caldwell district, another product of recent redistricting. Republican Susan Narvaiz again hopes to take over the district seat, as do Libertarian Rhett Rosenquest Smith and Green Party candidate Scott Trimble. Doggett serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and is a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

More details on Texas races