By The Republic Standard News Staff
Voters on Nov. 3 will decide control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, with Democrats favored to reclaim the House and pursuing enough Senate victories to erase the Republican majority.
Republicans hold 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats, while Democrats and their allies hold 47. Democrats need to win at least four Republican-held seats to take the chamber. Thirty-five Senate contests are on the ballot.
Seven Senate Races Rated Tossups
As of Oct. 21, the Cook Political Report listed seven Senate elections as tossups: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. The organization moved several contests toward Democrats during 2026. New Hampshire was rated as leaning Democratic, while South Carolina leaned Republican. Georgia was rated likely Democratic.
Texas is among the states considered competitive for Democrats despite its recent Republican presidential results. President Donald Trump won 56% of the state’s vote in 2024, compared with 42% for Kamala Harris. No Democrat has won a Texas Senate contest since 1988.
Democrat James Talarico held 48.5% support in the latest Texas polling, compared with 46.3% for Republican nominee Ken Paxton. Trump endorsed Paxton, who said, “Thank you very much, President Trump. We won’t let you down.”
Talarico has said, “It’s time to start flipping tables.”
Michigan Seat Is Open
Michigan’s Senate contest is another tossup, with a retiring Democrat leaving the seat open. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed held 48.0% in the latest polling, narrowly ahead of Republican Mike Rogers at 46.0%.
El-Sayed has backed Medicare for All. Michigan has shifted between parties in recent presidential elections: Trump carried the state in 2016 and 2024, while former President Joe Biden won it in 2020. No Republican has won a Michigan Senate seat since 1994.
Category: Republic
Tags: Congress, Elections, Donald Trump, U.S. Senate