2026 Senate — Competitive Races

Snapshot: 2026-11-02 (election eve; polls through Nov 2). Election: Tue Nov 3. Earlier versions: Oct 24, 28, 30.

Archived 2026-11-07. This page is an election-eve snapshot and will not be updated further. The closing update below gives the results as of Nov 7; the full results are in the sources named there.

Closing update (2026-11-07): Democrats won the Senate, 54 to 44, with two races uncalled

Sources: search summaries and page fetches by Claude on 2026-11-07 (AP counts via a Yahoo live blog and NBC/CBS/CNBC trackers; no AP page opened). Numbers move daily, so check AP for the latest.

Here’s why this matters

The Senate confirms judges and cabinet officers, and every bill has to get through it.

Bottom line

Election night update (2026-11-03, ~8:15 PM PT) — PROVISIONAL

Source: search snippets of live trackers (NPR, NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox 13, WaPo via search summary). No page opened; partial counts; timestamps in snippets are inconsistent. Verify against AP before relying on any figure. A second search for ME/MI returned only pre-election material.

Race Result so far vs. our outlook
TX Talarico (D) called over Paxton (R) by AP. At 57% counted: Talarico 58%, Paxton 40% Silver 74% D, DDHQ 57%. The call fits, but the margin is far past the polls (D+2.8 avg). Early counts can lean urban, so the final margin may narrow. First Dem statewide win in TX since 1988 or 1994 (sources differ)
OH Brown (D) projected over Husted (R) by NBC. Brown 48.6, Husted 46.5 at ~87% in Silver 74% D, PollCheck D+2.8. In line
NC Cooper (D) over Whatley (R), flip, AP call Silver 95%. In line
NH Pappas (D) over Sununu (R) Held, in line
GA Ossoff (D) won reelection. A snippet said 64%, which looks too high Held. Treat the share as unverified
FL Moody (R) held, 51–48 with 96% in Held by only 3 points. Closer than “safe R”
ME Conflicting. NBC: Collins 50.3–49.7 at 39% in. Later ABC table: Jackson 50.3–49.7 at 86% in Coin flip. Not called
MI Uncalled at ~39% in. Oakland County only: El-Sayed 55–43 at 63% in (county, not statewide) Not called
IA, KS, AK, NE, SC No results found n/a

Election night update 2 (2026-11-03, ~9 PM PT) — PROVISIONAL

Source: search snippets (NBC Senate results page, Yahoo live blog, WaPo). No page opened. NBC’s own counts are internally inconsistent (ME shown at both ~68% and 60% reporting). Verify with AP.

Wednesday update (2026-11-04, morning): provisional, superseded by the closing update above

Source: search snippets (NBC, CBS, Forbes, CNBC, Axios). No page opened. Sources conflict on the tally; verify against AP.

Snapshot history

Key numbers each update — so we can see how they track.

Date Silver Bulletin Senate D odds Proj. seats Generic ballot Closest 3 Notes
2026-10-24 76% ~52 D D+8.7 KS, IA, SC Initial snapshot
2026-10-28 “holding steady” (no new % found; last 76.4%, Oct 23) ~52 D (Oct 23) not found n/c Silver page updated Oct 28 shows poll leads: TX D+2.5 (was 2.4), OH D+3.0 (was 3.7), AK D+3.6 (was 3.5), ME D+2.4 (was 2.8). All “within a normal polling error.” Partial refresh; the race table above is not re-ranked.
2026-10-30 “clearly favored” (no % in text; ~76% last confirmed Oct 23) DDHQ 51 D (Oct 26) not found n/c DDHQ Senate 57% (Oct 26, unchanged). Silver page: Montana Alme (R) 93%. No new state poll averages found; table not re-ranked. Final refresh before Nov 3.
2026-11-02 77.7% (~Oct 29, via Newsweek/IBTimes); Silver said “79” Oct 30; Nov 2 page: “new highs in FLIPR,” no number PollCheck 68% D; DDHQ 51 D (Oct 26) D+8.4 (PollCheck) IA, SC, NE Election-eve refresh. Re-ranked by PollCheck Nov 2 averages (IA D+0.3, SC R+1.0, NE R+1.8, AK D+2.2, ME D+2.5, KS/OH/TX D+2.8, MI D+4.2). Inside Elections (~Oct 29) moved OH, TX to Tilt D; IA, KS to Toss-up; SC, NE to Tilt R; GA Likely D. Kalshi Senate D 74%. Changes since Oct 30: Silver and DDHQ Nov 2 topline % not found; Cook/Sabato final moves not found.
2026-11-03 (am) no new topline found (Silver, DDHQ not refreshed) CBS House tracker 229 D (215–237); Senate not projected not refreshed n/c (IA, SC, NE) Election Day morning sweep, news only; no polls or odds changed. ME: CBS lists Collins vs Troy Jackson, which resolves the Oct 31 “unverified” Platner-withdrew item. MI: Stevens’ Rogers endorsement still drawing backlash; Trump attacked El-Sayed on Truth Social; MI may not be called until Wed. TX: Paxton says it will “come down to the wire.” AK: ranked-choice count (~2 weeks); DOJ appeal pending. Fox calls the Senate a toss-up; tracker keeps D favored. Turnout: 54–59M early ballots (sources differ); about a third of MI’s registered voters had voted by 7 a.m.
2026-11-03 (night) not refreshed 3 D flips called or projected (NC, TX, OH) not refreshed ME, MI uncalled Election night partial returns from search snippets. TX Talarico called, 58–40 at 57%; OH Brown projected; ME conflicting (Collins 50.3 at 39% vs Jackson 50.3 at 86%). See the section above.
2026-11-03 (9 PM PT) not refreshed NBC and Yahoo report Democrats won Senate control (count conflicts: 51 D, “six flips”) not refreshed ME, MI, AK uncalled IA flipped D (Turek 50.7–46.2 at 93%), well past the D+0.3 average. ME Jackson 51.8 at ~68%. MI El-Sayed 49.5–48.5 at ~44%. See “Election night update 2”.

Realistic read

Range 49–54 D, most likely 51–52. Midterm polls have been accurate lately (2018/2022 error < 1 pt), but a 2–3 pt correlated R-ward miss → ~48–49 D. Discount polls most in AK, SC, NE, ME (history of misses / thin polling). Silver race odds (~Oct 6, older): NC 95% D · TX 74% · OH 74% · ME 71% · AK 65% · KS 51% R; Oct 23: OH Brown 73.9%. Newsweek (~Oct 29): TX, OH, AK, ME “all just a normal-sized polling error away from flipping.” PollCheck’s own Nov 2 view: D 68% / R 29% / neither 3% for the Senate, 80% range 47–56 D seats. Details: 2026 Midterms — Realistic Forecasts & Nate Silver.

Ranked — closest first

Ranked by polling-average margin (Silver Bulletin where available, else 270toWin). Poll sources: SB = Silver Bulletin (Nate Silver) · RCP = RealClearPolling · 270 = 270toWin · DDHQ = Decision Desk HQ. Ranks 1–9 are all within ~4 pts — reorder freely as polls move.

Likely/Solid RLean RToss-upLean DLikely/Solid D
# State Race (D vs R; * = incumbent) Held Poll avg Cook / Sabato / Inside Why it matters
1 Iowa (open, Ernst retiring) Josh Turek vs Ashley Hinson R D+0.3 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+0.7 (FPO, undated); SB D+1.2 (Oct 24) Toss / Toss / Toss Pure coin flip. Inside moved Tilt R → Toss-up (~Oct 29)
2 South Carolina Annie Andrews vs Darline Graham* R R+1.0 (PollCheck, Nov 2); tied 45.8–45.8 (FPO, undated) Lean R / Likely R / Tilt R Lindsey Graham died Jul 11; his sister Darline appointed, then won nomination. Inside moved Lean R → Tilt R; Newsweek mentions a new tied poll. Thin polling; SC polls have flattered Dems before
3 Nebraska Dan Osborn (I) vs Pete Ricketts* R R+1.8 (PollCheck, Nov 2); R+1.9 (FPO) Likely R / Lean R / Tilt R No D nominee. Osborn win scrambles majority math. Inside moved Lean R → Tilt R
4 Alaska Mary Peltola vs Dan Sullivan* R D+2.2 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+2.3 (FPO); SB D+3.6 (Oct 28) Toss / Lean D / Toss Red-state flip; ranked-choice ballot
5 Maine Troy Jackson vs Susan Collins* R D+2.5 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+4.7 (FPO); SB D+2.4 (Oct 28) Toss / Toss / Toss Core D flip target
6 Kansas Adam Hamilton vs Roger Marshall* R D+2.8 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+4.4 (FPO); SB D+1.1 (Oct 24) Toss / Toss / Toss Deep-red seat at coin-flip = wave signal. Dems haven’t won KS Senate since 1932. Inside moved Tilt R → Toss-up; Newsweek: Hamilton leads in most recent polls
7 Ohio (special) Sherrod Brown vs Jon Husted* (appointed) R D+2.8 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+2.9 (FPO); SB D+3.0 (Oct 28) Toss / Toss / Tilt D Brown comeback; core flip target. Inside moved Toss-up → Tilt D
8 Texas (open) James Talarico vs Ken Paxton R D+2.8 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+3.7 (FPO); SB D+2.5 (Oct 28) Toss / Toss / Tilt D Paxton beat Cornyn in runoff. No D Senate win in TX since Bentsen. Inside moved Toss-up → Tilt D. Polymarket ~70% Talarico (Oct 30, Daily Beast)
9 Michigan (open, Peters retiring) Abdul El-Sayed vs Mike Rogers D D+4.2 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+5.4 (FPO); SB D+3.0 (Oct 28) Toss / Lean D / Tilt D Only D-held Toss-up — R’s best pickup shot
10 Minnesota (open, Smith retiring) Peggy Flanagan vs Michele Tafoya D D+6.3 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+6.2 (FPO) Lean D ×3 D hold R’s need to make close
11 New Hampshire (open, Shaheen retiring) Chris Pappas vs John E. Sununu D D+7.4 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+8.8 (FPO) Lean D / Likely D / Tilt D R’s star recruit, trailing
12 Florida (special) Angie Nixon vs Ashley Moody* (appointed) R R+6.2 (PollCheck, Nov 2); R+6.1 (FPO) Solid R / Safe R / Likely R D reach
13 Georgia Jon Ossoff* vs Mike Collins D D+9.4 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+9.6 (FPO) Likely D ×3 Most exposed D incumbent — looking safe
14 North Carolina (open, Tillis retiring) Roy Cooper vs Michael Whatley R D+10.4 (PollCheck, Nov 2); D+11.5 (FPO) Likely D / Lean D / Lean D Likeliest D flip
15 Montana (open, Daines retiring) Bodnar (I) / Bankhead (D) vs Kurt Alme R R+18 over Bodnar Solid R ×3 3-way with independent
16 Mississippi Scott Colom vs Cindy Hyde-Smith* R n/a Likely R ×3 Long shot. Cook and Inside both moved to Likely R

Long shots: Louisiana (Davis vs Letlow — Cassidy lost renomination; Inside moved to Likely R ~Oct 29; PollCheck’s Nov 2 average oddly shows D+0.5, labeled toss-up, likely thin polling), Arkansas (Shoffner vs Cotton*), Idaho (Achilles (I) vs Risch*), New Mexico (Luján* vs Marker).

Safe: R — AL, KY, OK, SD, TN, WV, WY · D — CO, DE, IL, MA, NJ, OR, RI, VA

Issues by race

Cross-cutting themes: Iran war + gas prices · tariffs (farm states, autos) · health-care costs / Medicaid & rural-hospital cuts (OBBB) · electricity bills & data centers · proximity to Trump · incumbent scandal.

State Issues Oct developments On the ballot
Kansas Medical debt (Marshall sued his patients); cost of living; Trump ties; church-camp abuse ad vs Hamilton Trump rally for Marshall ~Oct 18; $50M+ race Citizens-only voting amendment
Iowa Tariffs on farm inputs; OBBB rural-hospital cuts; Iran war/gas; Turek’s missed votes (“two Tureks”) Marist: Turek +3 (was +8 in Sep) —
South Carolina Qualifications (Darline Graham never held office); Iran war; economy; “socialist” attacks Oct 11 debate = qualification fight —
Nebraska Tariffs & beef-import waiver; cost of living; Iran war; Osborn’s independence vs billionaire money Little Oct reporting found Trans sports measure
Texas Paxton corruption (impeachment, “Most Corrupt” ads); Paxton dodging debates; Talarico’s faith; affordability; immigration Paxton declined ≥4 debates; $500M+ ad spend; early vote began Oct 19 —
Maine Collins’s closeness to Trump admin; costs & debt; data centers; Collins avoiding town halls Oct 15: Jackson told Collins to “shut up” —
Michigan Tariffs (Canada, autos); Iran war; gas; Social Security; El-Sayed outspent ~2:1 Marist: El-Sayed 50–48 Proposal 2 (utility/contractor donation ban) · Proposal 1 (constitutional convention)
Alaska Energy costs; Iran war/Hormuz; Social Security & health care; fisheries; mutual misconduct charges Oct 15 debate nearly lost mics; Sabato → Lean D; DOJ sued Oct 22 to block certification if Sullivan loses (see Election Watch) Measure 2 (repeal ranked-choice) · Measure 3 (citizens-only voting)
Ohio Husted & FirstEnergy bribery scandal; electric bills & data centers; gas; Brown as “creature of Washington” $400M+ in ads; $9M FirstEnergy campaign vs Husted Issue 3 (photo ID)
Minnesota Walz-era fraud scandals; taxes; immigration; tariffs/Iran war (Tafoya tied to Trump) Strib/KARE: Flanagan 47–43 —
New Hampshire Referendum on Trump; costs; health care; border (Pappas tied to Biden) Sununu kept Trump at arm’s length; AARP: Pappas 51–44 —
Florida Hope Florida scandal ($10M Medicaid settlement diverted); Moody won’t debate; housing & property tax Kalshi ~90% Moody —
Georgia Immigration (Laken Riley); Iran war; Collins ethics probe; Epstein; data centers Ossoff: won’t run in 2028 —
North Carolina Helene recovery (Whatley was “recovery czar”); Duke Energy rates; Medicaid/ACA cuts; crime & ICE No debate confirmed Photo-ID amendment · income-tax cap · property-tax limit

Majority math, quick

Dems’ cleanest path to 51: hold MI/MN/NH/GA + flip NC + three of {ME, OH, AK, TX, IA, KS}. Each flip beyond that is cushion.

Caveats

Sources