Live Senate Election Updates for 2026's High-Stake Midterm Races
What to Know About the 2026 Senate Races
- There are 35 Senate seats up for election in the midterms on Tuesday.
- Republicans are defending a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Initially, the map seemed favorable to the GOP, but affordability issues and the unpopular war with Iran have made several states in play for Democrats.
- Maine Republican Susan Collins is running for reelection in a state that Kamala Harris won in 2024. At least five other states are in tight races for Republicans to hold onto GOP control.
- Democrats are fighting to keep a seat in Georgia, where President Trump won in 2024, and in three other states following retirements.
- GOP control of both the Senate and the House has facilitated President Trump's agenda in his first two years in office. Tuesday's elections will decide if this continues.
What's at Stake in Senate Elections
In midterm elections, the party in the White House often experiences losses, and this, coupled with the GOP's current approval ratings, has cast doubt on what seemed like a favorable map for Republicans.
Democrats have pickup opportunities in several states to control the upper chamber: North Carolina, Ohio, Maine, Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, and Texas. However, they also face defensive battles in states like Michigan.
Democrats last won control of the Senate in 2022, maintaining a narrow majority throughout the Biden administration. Control of the upper chamber significantly impacts the White House's policy priorities and nominations, especially with Mr. Trump eyeing the final two years of his presidency.