Updated 33m ago · Politics
Midterm Senate Battlegrounds Tighten as Democrats Eye Majority
Democrats are gaining in Senate polls two weeks before the midterms. Republicans are now defending seats once considered safe.
- 18 of 19 Texas polls since July show Democrat James Talarico leading Ken Paxton.
- 9.2 points: Roy Cooper's average lead in North Carolina; Republicans pulled funding.
- Cook Political Report moved the Kansas Senate race from lean Republican to toss-up.
- $24 million in outside spending backs independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska.
Why it matters: Few observers expected Democrats to contest the Senate after Republicans won 53 seats in 2024. Strong candidates in Republican-leaning states have changed that math.
- Washington Monthly's Bill Scher counts 12 Democratic-aligned candidates outpolling their states' partisan baseline.
- Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot by roughly eight points.
How 40 sources split on this story
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40 sources · 78 articles · 35% Left coverage
Where they split: Coverage divides over whether Democratic gains reflect strong individual candidates or a collapse in Republican turnout and support.
Center14 sources
RealClearPolitics15hA Tale of Two Election AdsForbes17hThe Eyes Of Global Investors Are On Republican Domination Of TexasAxios1dWhat Axios Dallas readers are feeling about the electionBloomberg15hDemocrats’ Midterm Map Expands in Warning Sign for RepublicansThe Hill10hTrump’s former campaign manager on GOP ahead of midterms: ‘It’s ugly’Associated Press2dFear and hope in Texas: Paxton vs. Talarico in an expensive US Senate showdownFlorida Politics13hJohn Mina throws political support to Darren Soto in critical CD 9 raceKXAN Austin2hTexas Senate candidates bring closing pitches to Austin area votersCook Political Report1d🎧 Could Democrats Really Pull Off Wins in Iowa, Texas and Ohio?National Journal1dGOP groups spend hundreds of millions in final stretchNewsweek2d‘26 must add to ‘32 | OpinionThe Economist19hChecks and Balance newsletter: If American voters lived under one roofWSAV Savannah2dSenate race could come down to a few thousand votes, Ossoff saysYahoo News9hDem infighting erupts over which candidates to fund in midterms homestretch
Left coverage, 14 sources: The left sees a strong Democratic candidate field outperforming the national environment on Republican turf.
Washington Monthly2dMeet the Democratic Senate Candidates Who Are Overperforming. And Underperforming.The New York Times12hWhy Democrats Could Find It Hard to Win the Senate Despite Their Strong PollsPolitical Wire15hIowa Ad Calling Democrat ‘Dangerous’ BoomerangsMediaite6hNew Poll Reveals Nearly Half of All Democrats Have ‘No Clue’ Who They Want to Be 2028 NomineeGeorgia Recorder2hGeorgia draws high-profile boosters to the campaign trail as candidates enter the homestretchOhio Capital Journal2dMost US House races aren’t competitive. What does that mean for how lawmakers govern?Cleveland.com1dTop Democrat strategist doubles down on shocking Trump predictionFlorida Phoenix2dMost US House races aren’t competitive. What does that mean for how lawmakers govern?Houston Chronicle2dRepublicans spend heavily to win the South Texas seats they redistrictedNBC News1dFocus groups: Their candidates lost in the Michigan and Texas primaries. Now what?Politico15hWhite whale or competitive contest? Dems squabble over midterms fundingRaw Story5hDems already bracing for a wounded — and dangerous — post-midterm TrumpTampa Bay Times17hIs a Democratic blue wave going to miss Florida ... again?The New Republic19hMake Susan Collins Pay for Her Big Abortion Lie
Right coverage, 12 sources: The right sees Republicans on defense and looks to turnout messaging or a Fetterman party switch to hold the Senate.
The Epoch Times3dSenate Republicans on Defensive in Unexpected States as Midterms Enter Final WeeksReason2dDemocrats could take the Senate in 2026. John Fetterman could change that.Newsmax11hCalifornia GOP Hopes for Upset Despite Polling DeficitDaily Mail10hMeet Republicans secretly voting Democrat in the midtermsCitizen Free Press2dHow John Fetterman could save republicans if Democrats win the Senate.Power Line1dEvidence of a Blue WaveThe Center Square2dPollster says environment 'toxic' for Republicans ahead of legislative electionsThe Daily Caller1dRepublican In Deep-Blue Territory Turned GOP Comms Upside Down — National Republicans Should Take NoteThe Daily Signal10hCould Florida Go Blue? Byron Donalds Addresses Polling Showing Democrat Gaining SteamThe Western Journal18hNBC Analyst: Tim Walz Fraud Disaster May Help the GOP Pull Off a Massive Minnesota UpsetWall Street Journal11hThe MAHA-MAGA Alliance Is Fracturing...Washington Examiner2dThe Republican Party's best closing ad is already on tape
What’s next: Soave predicts a 51-49 Democratic Senate. He argues Fetterman could then switch parties, restoring Republican control.
- Peter Roff urges Republicans to run ads quoting Sen. Elissa Slotkin on investigating Trump administration staff.
- Will thinly polled races in Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and South Dakota hold up on Election Day?
- Would Fetterman consider leaving the Democratic caucus? No source reports him saying so.
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