From the South to the Great Lakes, the contested primary and open Senate seats fight determine who has served President Trump in the past two years.
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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s agenda late in his second term will depend on whether Republicans can maintain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections.
In the Senate, where the GOP currently has a majority of 53-47, being a party in charge is essential to his ability to pass president and key legal priorities, and will confirm candidates including potential Supreme Court vacancy.
Heading into 2026, Republicans in Congress are trying to maintain legislative advantages, but face precedent challenges. A party that often does not own the White House – currently has better fares in medium-term parliamentary elections. Democrats are trying to turn the upper room back to blue by acquiring a handful of states scattered across the Great Lakes from the south, as they need to pick me up after last year’s presidential and congressional elections.
On their side, Republicans, who are trying to defend their majority in the November race next year, will need to first get through some basic split primary.
Here are 11 Senate races seen nationwide heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
1. North Carolina
Republican Tom Tillis, a two-term North Carolina Senator, announced in June he would not seek re-election.
His news, which Tillis called “not a difficult choice,” has repeatedly debated over Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy bills, involving Congress and opposed GOP members to each other.
The news was music to the ears of Democrats.
The North Carolina race, the Liberals’ biggest target for next year’s midterm, was set to be one of the most competitive Senate fights in 2026, even by Tillis’s vote.
Now open seats attracted famous candidates on either side of the aisle.
Former Democrat North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper officially announced his campaign on July 28th following weeks of speculation.
On the Republican side, Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said she had considered diving in.
However, after she announced on July 24 that she would not run for a North Carolina seat, President Trump gave support to Republican National Committee chairman and former North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley.
The state primary election will take place on March 3rd.
2. Michigan
Michigan set the stage for a race next year brought by another retired incumbent.
Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, announced in January that he would not seek a third term representing the Senate’s Great Lakes State.
His absence leaves the race open for either party.
Republican Mike Rogers, a former Trump-backed lawmaker, is his party’s predicted candidate. Rodgers ran in 2024 and lost slightly to Senator Elissa Slotkin.
Among Democrats, Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow lead the 2026 candidate pack. The state primary election will take place on August 4th, 2026.
3. Georgia
Georgia Democratic Sen. John Ossoff has to dodge a swarm of conservative lawmakers in 2026 to stick to his seat.
Alongside Georgia’s Democratic Sen. Rafael Warnock, Ossoff’s victory in the January 2021 leaked election secured his first term in Congress and a majority of his party.
Again, his race is key to determining whether Democrats will gain control of the Senate.
Republicans trying to free him include Rep. Buddy Carter, a former pharmacist who represents the Savannah area.
Carter first threw his red hat into the ring. But others, including Rep. Mike Collins, later entered the contest. Both Carter and Collins are eager to support Trump. This is Georgia’s deep red voter pocket and potentially heavy support.
The Georgia primary election is set for May 19th.
4. Texas
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn could win his fifth term against a Democrat challenger in the Red Solitary Star State next November.
But first, he must do so through what he promises to be a tough primary against state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Cornyn has been in the Senate since 2002, but early polls showed the second digit to Paxton.
National Republicans have expressed concern that Paxton, who faces charges, ammunition each and recently a very public divorce, could cost the GOP on a Texas seat that is held safely in the general election.
Democrats and former Rep. Colin Allred, who fought Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, announced their 2026 campaign. Texas Rep. James Tarico said he is also “seriously considering it.”
The Lone Star State primary is scheduled for March 3rd.
5. South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, attracted GOP challengers in his 2026 reelection bid.
Paul Dans, the original author of Project 2025, is an extensive conservative agenda for overhauling the federal government, and announced his admission to the race at the July 30 event in Charleston.
The major contests will likely bring voters in the Palmetto State of Maga against each other.
Graham previously was a regular target of criticism from Trump – sometimes displeased by lawmakers who infiltrate from GOP leaders – he is now a presidential ally and already has “full and full support” of Trump.
Dan’s main challenge is a difficult battle. If Graham gets to the top, he would highly like to win a fifth term representing the Palmetto State.
South Carolina is generally considered a safe red seat, but Democrats are about to face Graham and the general. The primary elections for both parties will take place on June 9th.
6. main
R Maine Sen. Susan Collins is about to wrap her fifth term in the Senate and has not officially announced her reelection bid, but many colleagues hope she will run again.
Her position as one of the Upper Chamber’s most independent voices, took office in her left-leaning state, in favour of her, but Democrats see this upcoming race as one of their top pick-up opportunities if Janet Mills decides to run.
Collins has gained a reputation as one of the few Congressional Republicans trying to tell Trump no. She voted against two of his two major legislative priorities this summer. This is a $9 billion cut in public broadcasting and foreign aid funds, while also openly criticizing some of the presidential candidates.
The willingness to oppose Trump is usually accompanied by the president’s complete rage and the major opponents that often line up in the Magazine.
But Collins is the only Republican senator to win the state that Democrats won the popularity vote in 2024. For now, at least, her unique position seems to make Trump not oppose many views as the best chance for GOP to keep a seat in Maine.
Several Democratic candidates announced a campaign against Collins, including David Costello, who failed in 2024 against Maine’s independent Sen. Angus King. Maine will hold its primary election on June 9th.
7. Minnesota
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced her plans to retire earlier this year at the end of her current term, calling the decision “a complete individual.”
The blue leaning of the state could leave Smith’s seat in Democrats’ hands.
Minnesota Lt. Colonel Peggy Flanagan and Annie Craig are among the forefront of their party’s nominations. Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, a running buddy of 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, returned to running for the Senate in February.
On the Republican side, former NBA player Lois White is running again after losing his bid for Senator Amy Klobuchar in 2024. The Minnesota primary election will take place on August 11th.
8. Ohio
The Buckeye state represents one of the few Democrats’ pick-up opportunities, and yet it’s not an easy flip.
Republican Sen. John Husted was elected by the governor of Ohio to fill a vacant seat by Vice President J.D. Vance earlier this year, and Husted will be taking part in the poll to keep his spot in November next year.
Ohio has certainly turned red in recent years, and for Democrats, they’ve been fighting to turn it over.
Their best shot is former Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his bid for reelection to Senator Bernie Moreno last year. Axios reported that Brown met with majority leader Chuck Schumer in late July as part of a Senate Democrats’ top efforts to lobby Brown for him to run again.
9. New Hampshire
New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced that he would not seek another term in 2026.
Democrat Chris Pappas, who launched the campaign in April, is widely seen as a strong candidate to succeed Shaheen.
Scott Brown, a Republican, a former Massachusetts Senator and former Massachusetts Senator from New Zealand and Samoa, is one of the few candidates competing on the GOP side.
Like Minnesota, culinary political reports assess New Hampshire’s race as leaning towards Democrats.
10. Iowa
In Iowa, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst has the advantage, and the chef’s political report rates her race against Republicans.
So far, three Democrats have launched their bids in the hopes of breaking these odds. Nathan Sage, former Chamber of Commerce director of Knoxville. State Sen. JD Scholten; State Sen. Zach Walls;
Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy bills will be passed to the law earlier this summer and are expected to become a critical issue for Iowa’s race.
Ernst was one of 50 Senate Republicans who voted in favor of legislation that her democratic enemy accused of “moving to thwart Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of Iowa children and families.” The Iowa primary is scheduled for June 2nd.
11. Nebraska
Nebraska is widely seen as a Republican home with incumbent GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts, but there was an incredibly competitive race in 2026, with independent candidate Dan Osborn returning to the statewide election.
Osborne came within 7 percent points since beating Sen. Deb Fisher in 2024.
Former Labour leader Osborne, registered independent, but received campaign contributions from Democrats in his last campaign (he told NBC he didn’t ask). Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor and owner of some of the Chicago Cubs family, is now maturing after being appointed to the office in January 2023 with the resignation of Republican Sen. Ben Sasse.
