Democrat Jason Hoskins and Republican Anthony Paesano will face off for an open Michigan Senate District 7 seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Both appear on the Michigan Department of State's candidate list.

Election results are pending. This article will be updated as election officials release vote totals.

The district includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township, among other Oakland County communities, according to the Michigan Chamber's explanation of the redrawn Senate districts. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Eastern, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's voting guidance. Voters still in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballots.

The seat is listed as open, according to MultiState Elections, meaning no incumbent is running.

The candidates

Hoskins won a three-way Democratic primary on Aug. 4 with 57% of the vote, according to WDIV primary results. WDIV reported 28,886 votes for Hoskins, with all 88 precincts reporting. Shadia Martini finished second with 34% (16,960 votes), and Rakesh Ramakrishnan took 9% (4,725 votes).

Paesano is the Republican nominee.

What's at stake

All 38 Michigan Senate seats are on the ballot for four-year terms, according to the state's candidate listing. The chamber is closely divided. Democrats hold 20 seats and Republicans hold 18, 270toWin reports.

Michigan has split legislative control. Democrats control the Senate, while Republicans hold a 58-52 advantage in the state House of Representatives, 270toWin reported.

That narrow margin means individual races like District 7 carry weight in determining which party controls the upper chamber for the next four years.

Early voting and statewide turnout

More than 2.3 million Michigan voters had voted early in person or returned an absentee ballot as of Nov. 2, according to the Michigan Department of State. That represented 31.2% of the state's 7.42 million active registered voters.

How to vote and track results

Voters can check their registration status, find their polling location and view a sample ballot at the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Unofficial returns will be available through Oakland County's elections page, which links to its November results viewer. Michigan Public reported that results could take time, noting that absentee ballots dropped off by 8 p.m. still must be collected and counted after polls close. Returns remain unofficial until canvassing and certification.