US Senate races to watch in the 2026 midterms
Democrats need a four-seat gain to take control of the chamber, and a handful of close contests will decide the outcome.
Key points
- Democrats would gain control of the Senate with a net four-seat gain, according to BBC News.
- Seven races are rated toss-ups by the Cook Political Report.
- Alaska, Maine, Texas, Michigan, Iowa and Kansas feature closely watched contests.
- Some races have drawn large spending and sharp disputes over candidates and Trump.
Millions of Americans are voting in the 2026 midterm elections, which will shape the final two years of President Donald Trump’s time in office. As reported by BBC News, the outcome in the Senate is the main focus. Democrats would take control of the chamber with a net gain of four seats, a result that would let them check Trump’s agenda and block his judicial nominees.
Billions of dollars have been spent across 35 races. Only a small number are considered likely to swing either way. The Cook Political Report rates seven contests as toss-ups.
Read also: Americans vote in midterms seen as a test of Trump’s presidency
Alaska: a contest shadowed by a name mix-up
The Alaska race has been marked by a dispute over a second candidate named Dan Sullivan who appears on the ballot. Republican senator Dan Sullivan accuses the campaign of Mary Peltola of backing that candidate to confuse voters. Peltola denies the claim. A state investigation and a justice department lawsuit are linked to the matter, and a judge rejected the lawsuit on Sunday.
Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, and the state has been hard to poll in the past. Counting is also expected to be slow, so the result here could decide which party controls the chamber.
Maine and Texas: incumbents under pressure
In Maine, Republican Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term. She has often done better than her party in the state by presenting herself as independent. Her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, a former president of the state senate, replaced Graham Platner as the nominee. Both candidates oppose Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico, a state representative, faces Republican Ken Paxton. The contest has become the most expensive Senate race ever recorded. Paxton was impeached in 2023 by the state House on charges he denied, and he was later acquitted by the state Senate. Texas Republicans have won statewide races for more than 30 years, so a Democratic win would be a notable shift.
Michigan, Iowa and Kansas
In Michigan, left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a doctor, faces Republican Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent. If he wins, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim person elected to the Senate. Trump and Rogers have tried to link him to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed has rejected. The race has been bitter from the start.
Iowa is also a close race. Polls show Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek roughly level. Farms, tariffs and the war with Iran are central issues. The last Democratic win in a federal Iowa election came nearly 20 years ago.
In Kansas, Republican senator Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor. A Democratic win would end a run dating to 1932, when the state last elected a Democratic senator.
Related: US midterms 2026: when the results are likely to be known
Frequently asked questions
How could the Senate change after the 2026 midterms?
Democrats would gain control of the Senate with a net gain of four seats. That would give them power to limit Trumpu0026#039;s agenda and investigate his administration, according to BBC News.
Why is the Alaska Senate race so closely watched?
The race between Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola is close, and Alaska is expected to be one of the slower states to report. Its ranked-choice system and history of polling errors add uncertainty.
How many Senate races are considered toss-ups?
The Cook Political Report rates seven Senate races as toss-ups, according to the BBC report.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
