U.S. Senate races will decide balance of Congress in 2026

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

The U.S. Senate could see a major shakeup in 2026 as Democrats and Republicans battle for control of Congress.

In 2024, Republicans flipped the U.S. Senate from blue to red and hold a 53-47 majority. Two senators are independents who caucus with Democrats.

In the 2026 midterm elections, 35 Senate seats are up for grabs; several key races could determine whether Republicans hold onto their Senate majority or if Democrats will regain the ground lost in 2024.

The Cook Political Report ranks nine Senate races with at least a potential to become competitive. Out of the nine possibly competitive races, four are considered true toss ups.

The general Midterm Election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Here are some of those close races.

Georgia

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., looks to defend his seat in the 2026 midterm elections. U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., and Mike Collins, R-Ga., willl compete in the Republican Party’s primary. Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach, also entered the race as a Republican candidate. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Dooley in August.

“Derek is a fighter, a leader we can trust, and a true political outsider who has what it takes to defeat Jon Ossoff and make sure our state finally has a voice in the U.S. Senate that reflects our values,” Kemp said.

Carter and Collins have touted their accomplishments in the U.S. House of Representatives throughout their campaigns and have often said they are aligned with President Donald Trump, who has not yet made an endorsement in the race.

In his reelection campaign, Ossoff has highlighted the work he is doing to ban members of Congress from trading stock and ban politicians from accepting corporate PAC money.

The Republican party will hold a primary in Georgia on May 19.

Maine

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, will seek a sixth term in 2026 among a crowded field of challengers. Collins is unique as a Republican senator from a state Trump did not win in 2024.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is vying for the Senate seat as her term expires at the end of 2026. Mills has several other notable challengers to her candidacy as the Democratic nominee, including Graham Platner, an oyster farmer.

Platner is campaigning on raising taxes on billionaires, stopping deportations, and on federal LGBTQ anti-discrimination legislation.

“We need to use the tax code to get the money back that was stolen from the working people of this country,” Platner said in a video posted to social media.

Mills has focused her campaign on targeting drug companies for opioid sales and lowering health-care costs. Mills has also been praised by abortion advocacy groups for her support.

“Under Gov. Mills’ leadership, Maine has expanded and protected access to abortion, prevented protestors from blocking health clinics, and significantly invested in family planning services,” said Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom For All.

Maine will hold its primary on June 9.

Michigan

After U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., announced he would retire at the end of current his term, a crowded field of candidates has emerged to take his place.

Four Democrat candidates and four Republican candidates are vying for Peters’ Senate seat in the Great Lakes state.

U.S. Rep Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-08, Abdul El-Sayed and Rachel Howard are all competing for the Democrat nomination to Peters’ seat.

Stevens and McMorrow appear to be the Democratic frontrunners for the primary election.

In the Republican primary field, Mike Rogers is returning for a Senate run after losing to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin in the 2024 general election. Rogers will be challenged by Michigan Republican party leader Bernadette Smith.

Trump endorsed Rogers in the race for U.S. Senate. He highlighted Rogers’ record as an ally to the president.

“As your next Senator, Mike will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE by keeping the price of Gasoline, Oil, and all forms of Energy VERY LOW (CHEAP!), Help Secure our now VERY Secure (Record Setting!) Southern Border, Support our Incredible Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote in a post to social media.

Michigan will hold its primary elections on Aug. 4.

North Carolina

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, also is not seeking reelection in 2026, leaving an open Senate seat in a hotly contested state. While North Carolina has not elected a Democrat senator since 2008, the state has a reputation for electing candidates across party lines. In 2024, the state elected a Democrat governor while selecting Trump as president.

With little primary competition, North Carolina is set to see Democrat former Gov. Roy Cooper face off against former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley.

Cooper has an extensive record of wins as a state legislator and governor, having never lost a race in his political career. Whatley worked in various posts during Trump’s first presidential administration and helped the Republican effort in 2024.

Cooper has highlighted his achievements as governor to expand Medicaid in North Carolina and relieve medical debt.

“We expanded Medicaid to more than 690,000 North Carolinians to lessen that worry and lower health care costs for everyone, and that’s the same type of bipartisan problem solving I’ll bring to the Senate,” Cooper said.

Whatley has aligned himself closely with Trump and received an endorsement from the president. Trump has campaigned in North Carolina with Whatley.

“I’m running for senate because North Carolina needs a strong conservative voice who will put America first and President Trump needs an ally in Washington,” Whatley wrote in a social media post.

North Carolina’s primary election is March 3.