{"id":2526566,"date":"2025-12-30T06:46:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-fight-for-the-senate-where-2026-battleground-races-stand-in-the-polls\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T06:49:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:49:03","slug":"the-fight-for-the-senate-where-2026-battleground-races-stand-in-the-polls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-fight-for-the-senate-where-2026-battleground-races-stand-in-the-polls\/","title":{"rendered":"The fight for the Senate: Where 2026 battleground races stand in the polls"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-fight-for-the-senate-where-2026-battleground-races-stand-in-the-polls%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2526566&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The battle for control of the Senate in the 2026 midterms is likely to come down to about six competitive races, though the overall map still favors Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority. with Vice President J.D. Vance able to break ties, Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to take control &#8211; meaning they must defend vulnerable democratic seats in New Hampshire, Michigan, and Georgia while flipping Republican seats in Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio (and possibly win a long shot like Texas or Iowa).<\/p>\n<p>RealClear polling early averages show the tightest contests as:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Georgia: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) is the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent. GOP front-runner Rep. Mike Collins trails Ossoff by about two points in head-to-head surveys; other GOP contenders perform slightly worse. The race is treated as a toss-up.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Michigan: With Sen. Gary Peters retiring, GOP nominee Mike Rogers leads potential Democratic nominees (Rep. Haley Stevens, Sen.Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul el\u2011Sayed) by small margins. the race is a toss-up.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; New Hampshire: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring; Rep. Chris Pappas is the likely Democratic nominee. Former Sen. John E. Sununu leads the GOP primary; Pappas holds modest advantages in general-election polling.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Maine: Sen. Susan Collins faces a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-line-up-behind-manchin-and-sinema-amid-their-independent-streak\/\" title=\"...ublicans Line Up Behind Manchin And Sinema Amid Their Independent Streak\">competitive reelection bid<\/a> against Democrats Janet Mills and Graham Platner. Polling shows Collins narrowly ahead of Mills but slightly behind Platner.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; North Carolina: With Sen. Thom Tillis retiring, a probable matchup between Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper shows Cooper up by roughly 4-5 points.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Ohio: Appointed Sen. Jon Husted leads former Sen. Sherrod Brown by about one point in a special election to finish the term; forecasters rate the race leaning Republican.<\/p>\n<p>these early polls indicate multiple close contests that will determine whether Republicans can hold their Senate majority.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The fight for the Senate: Where battleground races stand in the polls<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2397743\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The battle for control of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate <\/a>is likely to hinge on a half-dozen of the most competitive races in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>, as Republicans fight to retain their majority in an election year that Democrats are poised to outperform them.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the map heavily favors the Republicans holding on to the upper chamber, which the party controls 53-47.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4363572\/wyoming-secretary-of-state-chuck-gray-running-house\/\">Wyoming secretary of state running for state&#8217;s lone House seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4355501\/wesley-hunt-texas-gop-joe-biden-problem\/\">Wesley Hunt says Texas GOP has a Joe Biden problem<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4074899\/2026-battleground-congress-most-vulnerable-seats\/\">The 2026 battleground: Congress&rsquo;s most vulnerable House and Senate seats<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>With Vice President JD Vance as a tiebreaker, Democrats would need to net four seats. That means defending all three of their competitive races in New Hampshire, Michigan, and Georgia while also flipping all three of the Republican-held seats in Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio, in addition to capturing a long-shot seat such as Texas or Iowa.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s where the six most competitive 2026 Senate races stand based on early survey averages from RealClear Polling.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-seats-held-by-democrats\">Seats held by Democrats<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-georgia\">Georgia<\/h3>\n<p>Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is seeking a second term as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent this cycle. Georgia Republicans are in the midst of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3895433\/georgia-messy-gop-senate-primary-needs-trump-endorsement\/\">crowded and messy primary<\/a> that has yet to see President Donald Trump become heavily involved. The contest is considered a toss-up by nonpartisan election forecasters.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), the GOP front-runner based on recent surveys, has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/senate\/2026\/georgia\">tied or slightly trailed<\/a> Ossoff by an average of just over two points in head-to-head matchups. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is losing by slightly more, an average of 3.5 points, and former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley trails by roughly six points.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-michigan\">Michigan<\/h3>\n<p>Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is retiring at the end of his second term. Former Michigan GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost in 2024 to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) is running another campaign and is the presumptive Republican nominee.<\/p>\n<p>But the Democratic side remains a contentious three-way contest between Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed.<\/p>\n<p>Early polling shows Stevens with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/senate\/2026\/michigan\">slight primary lead<\/a>, followed by McMorrow, then El-Sayed. Rogers <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/senate\/2026\/michigan\">leads all three<\/a> in head-to-head matchups, beating Stevens by 2.4 points, McMorrow by four points, and El-Sayad by 8.5 points.<\/p>\n<p>The race is considered a toss-up.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-new-hampshire\">New Hampshire<\/h3>\n<p>Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is retiring at the end of her third term from a seat that forecasters say leans Democratic. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) is the presumptive Democratic nominee.<\/p>\n<p>On the Republican side, it&rsquo;s a two-man contest between former senators: John E. Sununu, former New Hampshire senator and brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu, and Scott Brown, a former Massachusetts senator. Establishment-backed Sununu currently <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/senate\/2026\/new-hampshire\">leads by double digits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In general election matchups, Pappas leads Sununu by an average of four points and Brown by 11 points.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-seats-held-by-republicans\">Seats held by Republicans<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-maine\">Maine<\/h3>\n<p>Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the GOP&rsquo;s most vulnerable incumbent, is seeking reelection to a sixth term for her toss-up seat. Democrats Graham Platner and Gov. Janet Mills are locked in a competitive two-person primary, where the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >establishment-backed governor maintains<\/a> an average single-digit edge over the more liberal outsider.<\/p>\n<p>Recent surveys suggest Collins has an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/senate\/2026\/maine\">average lead<\/a> over Mills of just two points, but trails Platner by 2.5 points.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-north-carolina\">North Carolina<\/h3>\n<p>Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is retiring at the end of his second term. The race is considered a toss-up and is likely to feature a general election between former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper maintains a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/senate\/general\/2026\/north-carolina\/cooper-vs-whatley\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-are-the-states-where-trumps-endorsement-actually-matters\/\" title=\"These Are The States Where Trump\u2019s Endorsement Actually Matters\">single-digit lead<\/a><\/a> over Whatley by an average of about 4.7 points.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ohio\">Ohio<\/h3>\n<p>Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) is running for reelection in a special election to serve the remainder of Vance&rsquo;s term that ends in early 2028. Husted was appointed to the seat earlier in 2025 by Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH). Forecasters rate the contest as leaning Republican.<\/p>\n<p>Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who was ousted by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), is the presumptive Democratic nominee. Husted leads Brown by an average of just <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/senate\/special-election\/2026\/ohio\/husted-vs-brown\">one point<\/a>, well within the margins of error.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate control may turn on six key 2026 races<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2526567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25006724602003_37c2ff-e1761336361314.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[59362,33002,37728],"class_list":["post-2526566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2026-senate","tag-battleground-states","tag-senate-races"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25006724602003_37c2ff-e1761336361314.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2526566"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2526570,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526566\/revisions\/2526570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2526567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2526566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2526566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2526566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}