Live Senate Election Updates for 2026's High-Stake Midterm Races
What to know about the 2026 Senate races:
- 35 Senate seats are up for election in the midterms on Tuesday.
- Republicans are defending a 53-47 majority in the Senate, with a map initially appearing favorable to the GOP. However, affordability issues and the unpopular war with Iran have put several states in play for Democrats. If Democrats net four seats, they will take the majority.
- Maine Republican Susan Collins is fighting for reelection in a state that Kamala Harris won in 2024. At least five other states see Republicans in tight races to hold onto GOP control. Democrats are fighting to keep a seat in Georgia, where President Trump won in 2024, while in three other states, they're defending seats following retirements.
- GOP control of both the Senate and the House has facilitated President Trump's agenda in the first two years of his term. Tuesday's elections will determine whether this continues.
Exit Polls Show Voters in Key Senate Battlegrounds Disapprove of Trump
Trump's job approval is currently underwater in nearly all the Senate battleground states, according to early exit polls, including states he won by double digits in 2024. In all Senate battlegrounds, more voters say their finances are worse, not better, compared to years ago. Party control of the Senate was a significant factor in voters' decisions, with majorities of both Republican and Democratic voters citing it as a major factor in their votes.
Peltola: Fraud Accusations May Have Been the "Push" Needed
Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola suggested that accusations of fraud by her GOP opponent, incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, and other Republicans might have been the "push we needed at the final end to get people reengaged." She emphasized that Alaskans are aware of Sullivan's votes for the Iran war and that "you cannot hide from that." Peltola expressed confidence in the rule of law and the courts, despite ongoing legal challenges.
Voters in Anchorage Weigh In on Controversial Race
In Anchorage, Alaska, voters offered differing opinions on the controversy surrounding the two Dan Sullivans. Michael Hanson, a Republican, favored the incumbent and wanted the decision left to voters. Barbara Konrad, a moderate voter, criticized Mary Peltola for being "corrupted too quickly" and was frustrated by the intensity of political ads in the race.
Eight GOP-Held Senate Seats Considered Battlegrounds, Three are Democratic
Based on CBS News estimates, 11 states are considered Senate battlegrounds, with eight currently held by Republicans and three by Democrats. Two of the Democratic-held states, Georgia and New Hampshire, lean Democratic, while Michigan is considered a toss-up.