10 Senate races that could decide control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms
This is performative politics again.
Republicans face high hurdles as they defend their razor-thin control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, but the Senate GOP campaign chair says he remains "incredibly optimistic" his party can not only hold but expand its current 53–47 majority.
Republicans are battling stiff political headwinds as the party in power in the nation's capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms, and a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.
"There's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Sen. Tim Scott said in a recent Fox News Digital interview.
But he added, "The good news is we have a president who made promises, he's been keeping those promises, and we have been able to recruit the highest quality candidates anyone could want in every single battleground state."
WHAT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHIEF TOLD FOX NEWS
The NRSC chair told Fox News Digital in December 2025 that in the battle for the majority, "54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side."
Asked again a week ago, Scott said, "I think we have a possibility of more than 53 seats."
STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING
Scott's rival, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital in January that "President Trump is creating a toxic agenda that's harming people."
And Gillibrand emphasized she's "optimistic that we have a shot to take back the majority."
Here's a look at the top 10 Senate seats that could flip in the midterms.
Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election this year in a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in her 2024 presidential election defeat to Trump.
And Collins has seen a deterioration of her poll numbers among Mainers from her last re-election six years ago.
But Collins, who has long been a top target of the rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has proven impossible to beat, to date.
Complicating the Democrats' push to flip the seat is a competitive primary between two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has the tacit backing of longtime Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the DSCC, and veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, who is running to the left of the governor and who is backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Republicans are …
This is performative politics again.
Republicans face high hurdles as they defend their razor-thin control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, but the Senate GOP campaign chair says he remains "incredibly optimistic" his party can not only hold but expand its current 53–47 majority.
Republicans are battling stiff political headwinds as the party in power in the nation's capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms, and a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.
"There's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Sen. Tim Scott said in a recent Fox News Digital interview.
But he added, "The good news is we have a president who made promises, he's been keeping those promises, and we have been able to recruit the highest quality candidates anyone could want in every single battleground state."
WHAT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHIEF TOLD FOX NEWS
The NRSC chair told Fox News Digital in December 2025 that in the battle for the majority, "54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side."
Asked again a week ago, Scott said, "I think we have a possibility of more than 53 seats."
STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING
Scott's rival, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital in January that "President Trump is creating a toxic agenda that's harming people."
And Gillibrand emphasized she's "optimistic that we have a shot to take back the majority."
Here's a look at the top 10 Senate seats that could flip in the midterms.
Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election this year in a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in her 2024 presidential election defeat to Trump.
And Collins has seen a deterioration of her poll numbers among Mainers from her last re-election six years ago.
But Collins, who has long been a top target of the rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has proven impossible to beat, to date.
Complicating the Democrats' push to flip the seat is a competitive primary between two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has the tacit backing of longtime Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the DSCC, and veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, who is running to the left of the governor and who is backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Republicans are …
10 Senate races that could decide control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms
This is performative politics again.
Republicans face high hurdles as they defend their razor-thin control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, but the Senate GOP campaign chair says he remains "incredibly optimistic" his party can not only hold but expand its current 53–47 majority.
Republicans are battling stiff political headwinds as the party in power in the nation's capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms, and a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.
"There's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Sen. Tim Scott said in a recent Fox News Digital interview.
But he added, "The good news is we have a president who made promises, he's been keeping those promises, and we have been able to recruit the highest quality candidates anyone could want in every single battleground state."
WHAT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHIEF TOLD FOX NEWS
The NRSC chair told Fox News Digital in December 2025 that in the battle for the majority, "54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side."
Asked again a week ago, Scott said, "I think we have a possibility of more than 53 seats."
STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING
Scott's rival, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital in January that "President Trump is creating a toxic agenda that's harming people."
And Gillibrand emphasized she's "optimistic that we have a shot to take back the majority."
Here's a look at the top 10 Senate seats that could flip in the midterms.
Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election this year in a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in her 2024 presidential election defeat to Trump.
And Collins has seen a deterioration of her poll numbers among Mainers from her last re-election six years ago.
But Collins, who has long been a top target of the rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has proven impossible to beat, to date.
Complicating the Democrats' push to flip the seat is a competitive primary between two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has the tacit backing of longtime Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the DSCC, and veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, who is running to the left of the governor and who is backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Republicans are …
