{"id":2644483,"date":"2026-08-13T15:03:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T19:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-states-will-make-or-break-a-senate-majority-in-november\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T15:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T19:07:12","slug":"these-states-will-make-or-break-a-senate-majority-in-november","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-states-will-make-or-break-a-senate-majority-in-november\/","title":{"rendered":"These states will make or break a Senate majority in November"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/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%2Fthese-states-will-make-or-break-a-senate-majority-in-november%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=2644483&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 article discusses key U.S. Senate races in 2026, highlighting several competitive or &#8220;toss-up&#8221; states. It notes that Democrats and Republicans will contest 35 states, with nine critical for determining control of the chamber, including Alaska, Ohio, Michigan, Maine, Georgia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Texas. Factors like polling, candidate quality, fundraising, and voter sentiment influence these races, which are often close and unpredictable.<\/p>\n<p>In Alaska, incumbent Republican dan Sullivan faces democrat Mary Peltola, a native and outdoorswoman, with the race complex by a surprise candidacy from Sullivan&#8217;s namesake, Dan Sullivan, which the courts approved. Despite Trump&#8217;s strong support for Sullivan and his statewide victory, Democrats see potential due to ranked-choice voting and Peltola\u2019s fundraising.<\/p>\n<p>In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown aims to reclaim his seat against Republican Jon Husted, with Brown having a significant fundraising advantage. The race is influenced by the broader political climate and potential impacts from third-party candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.<\/p>\n<p>Michigan features a contest between Democrat Abdul el Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, with ongoing debates over party unity, candidate quality, and electoral strategies amid the state\u2019s shifting political landscape.<\/p>\n<p>Maine\u2019s race is complicated by scandal and candidate upheaval, but Democrats hope former state Senate President troy Jackson can secure the seat against Republican Susan Collins, who has faced recent controversies.<\/p>\n<p>Georgia has a competitive race where Democrat Jon Ossoff seeks to defend his seat against Republican Mike Collins, with implications of coalition-building within the Democratic Party and campaign dynamics, including fundraising disparities.<\/p>\n<p>In North Carolina, popular former governor Roy Cooper is favored to succeed retiring Senator thom Tillis, facing Republican Michael Whatley, who has Trump\u2019s endorsement but lower name recognition.<\/p>\n<p>New Hampshire\u2019s race features Democrat jeanne Shaheen\u2019s successor, with Republican Chris Sununu, from a prominent political family, as a likely contender, though the race remains competitive.<\/p>\n<p>In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek, a Paralympic athlete with an inspiring background, is running against Republican Ashley Hinson, both vying to replace retiring Senator Joni Ernst. Hinson enjoys Trump\u2019s endorsement, and the state\u2019s political landscape remains competitive.<\/p>\n<p>Texas presents a high-stakes contest where Democrat James Talarico challenges incumbent Republican john Cornyn, with the race marred by intra-party conflicts, scandals involving Republican Ken Paxton, and massive campaign spending-about $130 million overall.Democrats aim to capitalize on Paxton\u2019s legal issues and the intra-party opposition to gain the seat.<\/p>\n<p>these races are vital for determining Senate control, with each campaign influenced by candidate profiles, fundraising success, political controversies, and voter preferences in swing states.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"288\">Democrats<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"514\">Republicans<\/a> will contest Senate seats in 35 states <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11675\">this November<\/a>, nine of those states will make or break each party\u2019s path to an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">upper chamber majority<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates four states \u2014 Alaska, Ohio, Michigan, and Maine \u2014 as \u201ctoss ups.\u201d It considers Georgia, North Carolina, and New Hampshire to be \u201cLean Democrat,\u201d while Iowa and Texas fall into the \u201cLean Republican\u201d category.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4686534\/these-states-will-make-or-break-a-senate-majority-in-november\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>These states will make or break a Senate majority in November<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4686322\/jack-reed-pete-hegseth-civilian-casualty-yemen-strike\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jack Reed calls for Hegseth \u2018reckoning\u2019 over civilian casualties in Yemen strikes<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4683180\/watch-live-ed-markey-speaks-robert-gilman-release-russian-prison\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Ed Markey speaks after former Marine Robert Gilman\u2019s release from Russian prison<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That map is unfavorable to Republicans, given that six of those nine seats have GOP incumbents. Yet neither party is poised to win a decisive majority in a chamber where real legislative action requires 60 votes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below is a breakdown of the \u201ctoss-up,\u201d \u201clean Democratic,\u201d and \u201clean Republican\u201d states that will give each party a path to the Senate majority in November.<\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"4d826cd2-12bc-4bfc-82a3-0c2d1ce03881\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings\"><\/div>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-toss-up-alaska\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Toss Up: Alaska<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two-term Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-sullivan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4861\">Dan Sullivan<\/a> will defend his seat against former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mary-peltola\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"6029\">Mary Peltola<\/a>. Sullivan\u2019s challenger was the last Democrat to represent Alaska statewide, serving in Alaska\u2019s sole House of Representatives seat from 2023 to 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sullivan is a reliable conservative, though he has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/alaskapublic.org\/news\/politics\/washington-d-c\/2026-06-05\/sullivan-votes-against-trumps-ballroom-and-compensation-fund\">occasionally broken<\/a> from President Donald Trump\u2019s agenda on topics like the White House ballroom and the Department of Justice\u2019s Anti-Weaponization Fund.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peltola, meanwhile, has stressed her independent streak as an outdoorswoman and Yup\u2019ik native. She is one of the few Democrats to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3108163\/nra-endorses-alaska-democrat-peltola-rare-move\/\">have received<\/a> a National Rifle Association endorsement in the past, though the NRA is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nrapvf.org\/grades\/alaska\/\">backing<\/a> Sullivan this cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump won Alaska by 13 percentage points in 2024. Yet ranked choice voting, a strong candidate, and a fundraising advantage all give Democrats hope they can flip the seat. Peltola raised $7 million in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4650740\/senate-campaign-cash-tracker\/\">second quarter<\/a> compared to Sullivan\u2019s $2 million, but the GOP senator had $2.3 million more on hand as of late June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race also took an unexpected turn when Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher, registered for the ballot. Republicans took that Sullivan to court, arguing that his political aspirations were a stunt to confuse voters who intended to vote for the similarly-named senator.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alaska Supreme Court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4629855\/alaska-supreme-court-second-dan-sullivan-ballot\/\">greenlit<\/a> his candidacy, however. Both Sullivans will appear on the ballot for the Aug. 18 nonpartisan primary, with Dan S. Sullivan\u2019s box <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elections.alaska.gov\/election\/2026\/Primary\/SampleBallots\/HD1.pdf\">specifying<\/a> that he is the incumbent. The top four vote getters will advance to the general election.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/AlaskaSenate?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AlaskaSenate<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>AdImpact: Senate candidate Mary Peltola (D) releases negative ad against Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho&#8217;s the real Dan Sullivan? He voted for Biden&#8217;s border czar, and Biden&#8217;s interior secretary. Sullivan even voted to keep the Epstein files hidden.\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/POloDRBfrb\">pic.twitter.com\/POloDRBfrb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Politics &#038; Poll Tracker \ud83d\udce1 (@PollTracker2024) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PollTracker2024\/status\/2087239548967276903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-toss-up-ohio\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Toss Up: Ohio<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Longtime Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sherrod-brown\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2353\">Sherrod Brown<\/a> is hoping to fight his way back to Capitol Hill. Brown served three terms before losing in 2024 to Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-moreno\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11273\">Bernie Moreno<\/a> (R-OH). Now, Brown hopes to serve alongside Moreno.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brown will face incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jon-husted\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"21320\">Jon Husted<\/a> (R-OH) in November. Husted has a long political record in his home state, having served as Ohio\u2019s Secretary of State and lieutenant governor. The November election will be Husted\u2019s first for the Senate, however. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3285054\/dewine-jon-husted-appointment-vance-senate-seat-ohio\/\">appointed him<\/a> in 2025 to replace then-Sen. J.D. Vance, who resigned to become vice president.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ohio was formerly a partisan battleground, though the Trump effect has turned it into a reliably Republican state. Trump won Ohio by more than 11 percentage points in 2024, an increase from his 2020 showing in the state. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recruited a strong candidate in Brown, who has the populist streak and Senate credentials to be a viable option in Ohio.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Given his political background, Brown is no stranger to fundraising. Brown <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4650740\/senate-campaign-cash-tracker\/\">brought in<\/a> $14.1 million in the second quarter, walloping Husted by $10 million. He finished the quarter with $16.2 million on hand compared to Husted\u2019s $9.4 million.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One factor that will make the Ohio Senate election even more of a nail-biter is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vivek-ramaswamy\/\">Vivek Ramaswamy\u2019s<\/a> appearance on the top of the ballot. Ramaswamy, a long-shot presidential candidate turned brief Trump adviser, is hoping to succeed DeWine as governor. It remains to be seen whether the conservative firebrand\u2019s campaign propels or pulls back Husted\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-toss-up-michigan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Toss Up: Michigan<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michigan\u2019s Senate election is turning from a proxy battle between the Democratic Party\u2019s progressive and institutional wings to a fight between the Republican and Democratic Parties more broadly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats are fielding 41-year-old progressive <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23138\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a>. El Sayed has an impressive resume: he spoke before President Bill Clinton at his University of Michigan graduation ceremony and won a Rhodes Scholarship to study public health. He later challenged Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) in the 2018 gubernatorial primary election, raking in just under a third of the vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every Democrat is dazzled by him, however. El Sayed only recently emerged from his hotly-contested primary election against Rep. Hailey Stevens (D-MI). Outside groups opposed to el Sayed\u2019s candidacy poured <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/08\/04\/us\/politics\/michigan-democratic-senate-primary-aipac.html\">vast sums<\/a> into the election, including some $32 million in ads from the pro-Israel organization AIPAC. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed is the son of Michigan\u2019s large Arab community, which may win him some support in November. Yet his progressive policies may prove out of step with voters in the midwestern swing state that Trump flipped by 1.4 percentage points in 2024.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0px; padding: 97.66% 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; will-change: transform;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/b7c09ac5-cc72-4ac7-93b6-8e0b7fbadded?src=embed&#038;embed_type=responsive_iframe\" title=\"michigan election\" allowfullscreen allow=\"fullscreen\" style=\"position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0px; left: 0px; border-width: medium; border-style: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For their part, major voices in the Democratic Party, including Stevens and Whitmer, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4678876\/what-abdul-el-sayed-could-gain-democrats-campaigning\/\">quickly coalesced<\/a> around el Sayed after the election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4677479\/democratic-party-big-tent-messaging-ideological-differences-2026-elections\/\"><strong>DEMOCRATS FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF PARTY ALL RALLY BEHIND \u2018BIG TENT\u2019 <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed will face former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-rogers\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1022\">Mike Rogers<\/a> in November. With incumbent Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3302634\/gary-peters-will-not-seek-reelection-michigan-senate-open-seat\/\">bowing out<\/a> of reelection, Michigan is a target for national Republicans. Rogers narrowly lost to Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) on the same 2024 ballot that Trump topped, a possible issue with voter enthusiasm. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet the real reason election observers will be watching the Michigan Senate primary is to see whether el Sayed will be able to coalesce the Democratic base, or whether Democrats will lose this critical seat for their Senate majority. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-toss-up-maine\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Toss Up: Maine<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine, one of the most important pickups for Democrats, has proven a thorn in the party\u2019s side. Democratic presidential candidates have won the popular vote in Maine since 1992, and one of the state\u2019s two senators is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those factors make the state an obvious Democratic target. Yet a candidate quality scandal embroiled Democrats over the summer, potentially jeopardizing their chances to defeat five-term Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME). <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. Janet Mills (D) and Marine Corps veteran <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a> were the two frontrunners for the Democratic nomination. Mills <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4549217\/janet-mills-drops-out-maine-senate-race-clearing-way-platner\/\">dropped out<\/a> of the race in April, however, citing financial challenges. That left the race open for Platner, who had previously been a political unknown.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner rocketed to national attention through his made-for-social-media campaign style, which <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4645945\/mamdani-continue-work-strategist-morris-katz-after-platner-scandal\/\">national political strategists<\/a> helped to cultivate. But he also had his fair share of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597477\/four-scandal-maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner\/\">skeletons in his closet<\/a>, including a Nazi tattoo and sexual assault accusations. The sexual assault scandals ultimately forced Platner to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638358\/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-campaign\/\">suspend his campaign<\/a> in July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine Democrats held a nominating contest in which they selected former state Senate President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4655298\/troy-jackson-delegate-sweep-maine-senate-race-platner-replacement\/\">Troy Jackson<\/a> as Platner\u2019s replacement. Jackson, like Platner, is a populist progressive. Yet Democrats hope that Jackson does not have as big of a target on his back for Collins to exploit in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The November contest will test whether Jackson can make up for that lost time, or whether the Platner saga sunk Democratic chances in this pivotal seat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lean-democrat-georgia\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lean Democrat: Georgia<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was a period in Georgia politics in which it would have been unthinkable for both senators to be Democrats. That period ended with two January 2021 special elections where Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jon-ossoff\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3194\">Jon Ossoff<\/a> (D-GA) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/raphael-warnock\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1999\">Raphael Warnock<\/a> (D-GA) both won election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Warnock defended his seat successfully in 2022. Ossoff now hopes to do the same against Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17647\">Mike Collins<\/a> (R-GA), a two-term congressman with a combative social media presence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Critics <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/08\/02\/jon-ossoff-georgia-hype-2028-election?utm_campaign=mrf-utm_campaign=editorial&#038;utm_source=x&#038;utm_medium=owned_social&#038;utm_source=twitter&#038;utm_medium=social&#038;mrfcid=202608026a6434c2b1cb157bb86f7b9b\">have argued<\/a> that Ossoff only succeeded in 2021 because he appeared on the ballot alongside Warnock, a prominent preacher in the state\u2019s black community. Ossoff, the youngest member of the Senate, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/06\/29\/politics\/jon-ossoff-georgia-senate-2028-speculation\">reportedly wavered<\/a> on whether he\u2019d run again because he wanted to spend more time with his wife and two children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ossoff has become a darling in the Democratic Party, however, with some pundits floating him as a possible 2028 presidential contender. Ossoff has repeatedly insisted that he isn\u2019t interested in a White House bid.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ossoff: Mike Collins was not present for the president&#8217;s rally in Georgia today.<\/p>\n<p>And the conservative paper, the Washington Examiner, was writing that this actually gave Donald Trump cover to avoid having to address Mike Collins&#8217; scandals \u2014 because we&#8217;ve learned in recent weeks\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BqLncujGv0\">pic.twitter.com\/BqLncujGv0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Team Ossoff (@TeamOssoff) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TeamOssoff\/status\/2080117050580537743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ossoff has also proven to be one of the Democratic Party\u2019s most gifted fundraisers. He <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4650740\/senate-campaign-cash-tracker\/\">finished the second quarter<\/a> with a $42 million war chest, a staggering figure compared to the $2.2 million in Collins\u2019s coiffures. The national GOP has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/senateleadershipfund.org\/press-releases\/slf-announces-initial-44-million-investment-in-georgias-u-s-senate-race\/\">intervened<\/a> in an attempt to prop Collins up financially, though Ossoff has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5atlanta.com\/news\/georgia-senate-race-ossoff-launches-aggressive-anti-trump-campaign-blitz\">saturated Georgia<\/a> with television ads using his campaign cash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ossoff has harped on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/07\/16\/politics\/kfile-mike-collins-georgia-senate-race-son-in-law-white-nationalist-social-media-content\">Collins\u2019s relationship<\/a> to his son-in-law, a white supremacist influencer. Collins, meanwhile, has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4660513\/collins-ossoff-out-state-funding\/\">criticized Ossoff<\/a> for his hefty out-of-state fundraising. The November election will test whether Collins can overcome a formidable fundraising disadvantage in what has become a perennial swing state.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lean-democrat-north-carolina\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lean Democrat: North Carolina<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats selected one of the best candidates possible in the North Carolina Senate races. Former Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/roy-cooper\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1063\">Roy Cooper<\/a> (D) is a popular moderate, and he is widely expected to succeed outgoing Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"973\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC) in January.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooper is a veteran of the governor\u2019s mansion, the attorney general\u2019s office, and the state legislature. He was elected twice on ballots where Trump won North Carolina, first in 2016 and then in 2020. He has historically been a palatable choice for split-ticket voters, which may be a boon for his campaign in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooper\u2019s opponent is former Republican National Committee and North Carolina Republican Party Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michael-whatley\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17723\">Michael Whatley<\/a>. The GOP operative has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\">Trump\u2019s backing<\/a>, which has proven decisive in races across the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide!\u201d Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/114911072057863888\">wrote last year<\/a> on Truth Social, even before Whatley declared his candidacy. \u201cBut I have a mission for my friends in North Carolina, and that is to get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatley may have Trump\u2019s valuable endorsement, but Cooper is more familiar to North Carolina voters than Whatley, who is still working to increase his name recognition across the state.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lean-democrat-new-hampshire\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lean Democrat: New Hampshire<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Democrats are doing in Ohio, New Hampshire Republicans are fielding a former senator as their pick to flip a seat held by the other party. Former Sen. John Sununu represented New Hampshire between 2003 and 2009 before losing reelection to Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanne-shaheen\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4575\">Jeanne Shaheen<\/a> (D-NH).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shaheen <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3344894\/jeanne-shaheen-no-reelection-2026-senate-new-hampshire\/\">announced last year<\/a> that she would not seek reelection. Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-pappas\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11726\">Chris Pappas<\/a> (D-NH) is all but certain to be the Democratic nominee to replace her, though neither Pappas nor Sununu have won their primary elections yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Sununu family is New Hampshire\u2019s preeminent political dynasty. John\u2019s brother, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-sununu\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1645\">Chris<\/a>, served as governor for four two-year terms. Their father, also a John, was governor in the 1980s and then chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush. The family has wide name recognition and deep political connections in the Granite State.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The November election will test that political clout. Though New Hampshire\u2019s margins are closer than many other states, it has reliably fallen into the Democratic column in presidential elections. Vice President Kamala Harris won the state by 2.8 percentage points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters in New Hampshire have not backed a Republican presidential candidate since 2000. Still, it would not be unprecedented for New Hampshire to send a Republican to the Senate. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kelly-ayotte\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"763\">Kelly Ayotte<\/a> (R) represented New Hampshire in the upper chamber until 2017.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lean-republican-iowa\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lean Republican: Iowa<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iowa was a swing state that twice backed President Barack Obama, though it has turned red under Trump. Democrats hope that state Rep. Josh Turek, a made-for-politics candidate, will give them a chance to flip this Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was born with spina bifida because of his father\u2019s Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. He is also a two-time Paralympic gold medalist.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">Josh Turek, right, controls the ball as Japan\u2019s Tomohiko Oshima tries to stop him during a wheelchair basketball match at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, in the Olympic Indoor Hall. The Athens Paralympic logo is seen on the left. (AP Photo\/Thanassis Stavrakis)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP04091804003.webp?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Josh Turek, right, controls the ball as Japan\u2019s Tomohiko Oshima tries to stop him during a wheelchair basketball match at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, in the Olympic Indoor Hall. The Athens Paralympic logo is seen on the left. (AP Photo\/Thanassis Stavrakis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turek and his opponent, Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ashley-hinson\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17670\">Ashley Hinson<\/a> (R-IA), are both vying to replace outgoing Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joni-ernst\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"970\">Joni Ernst<\/a> (R-IA).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hinson was a broadcast journalist and state legislator before winning election to the House of Representatives in 2020. Her district covers much of southeastern Iowa, including Waterloo and Cedar Falls. The congresswoman received Trump\u2019s coveted endorsement for the Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know Ashley well, and she is a WINNER! A Loving Wife and Proud Mother of two sons, Ashley is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Iowa, and will continue doing so in the United States Senate,\u201d Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115154159518653872\">wrote<\/a> on Truth Social last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hinson is the clear frontrunner in Iowa, which Trump won by more than 13 percentage points in 2024. Democrats hope that Turek\u2019s inspiring backstory, as well as dissatisfaction with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4686000\/social-security-cost-of-living-adjustment-2027-inflation\/\">cost of living<\/a> and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3827576\/trumps-trade-battle-with-china-puts-us-soybean-farmers-in-peril\/\">agricultural trade war<\/a> under Trump, could help them pick up the Hawkeye State.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lean-republican-texas\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lean Republican: Texas<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texas is a recurring target for Democrats. They have poured resources into backing candidates like former Reps. Beto O\u2019Rourke and Colin Allred, all of whom have come up short in recent Senate races. The party hopes to reverse its fortunes this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">State Rep. James Talarico <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4479024\/james-talarico-wins-texas-senate-democratic-primary-run-off-in-texas-senate-democratic-primary\/\">defeated<\/a> Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in the party\u2019s March primary election. Though Crockett has still not backed Talarico with the same enthusiasm that she has devoted to other candidates, the Democratic Party apparatus quickly backed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17710\">Talarico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Republican nominating process was not nearly as clean. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) had hoped to retain his seat even as Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583193\/trump-celebrates-ken-paxton-victory-congratulates-john-cornyn-truly-great-career\/\">lashed out<\/a> at the four-term senator for perceived disloyalty. Cornyn\u2019s most formidable challenge came from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a polarizing figure in Texas politics. Cornyn and Paxton eliminated Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) and advanced to a May runoff election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump provided Paxton a decisive boost when he intervened with an endorsement days before the runoff. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKen Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4574393\/trump-endorses-ken-paxton-ahead-texas-senate-primary-runoff\/\">wrote<\/a> in a May Truth Social post. \u201cOur Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\">Collage of Ken Paxton and James Talarico.<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-image-caption=&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Senate primary candidate, Texas state Rep. James Talarico participates in a debate with Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) during the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Convention, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Georgetown, Texas. (Bob Daemmrich\/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool)<br \/> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, waves as he takes the stage to speak during a primary runoff election night event after winning the Republican party\u2019s nomination Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Plano, Texas. (AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/image-collage-yl2qk5ji0-1782596567963-e1782600767376<\/a>.jpg?1782586409&#038;w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Rep. James Talarico (L) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) (Bob Daemmrich\/Texas Tribune via AP, Pool and AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4587220\/cornyn-philosophy-tale-after-loss-paxton\/\">pummeled Cornyn<\/a> by a 28-point margin, though not without both camps spending millions of dollars that could have been reserved for the general election. The primary race between the two men cost <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/26\/us\/politics\/cornyn-paxton-texas-senate-primary-spending.html\">nearly $130 million<\/a>, the highest sum of this cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats hope to exploit Paxton\u2019s scandal-plagued record. The attorney general was impeached by the Republican-led Texas House of Representatives in 2023 for allegedly using his office to help a political benefactor. The Texas Senate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2764148\/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-acquitted-on-all-16-impeachment-charges-by-senate\/\">acquitted<\/a> him on all charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton\u2019s campaign, meanwhile, has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627880\/paxton-wont-say-whether-james-talarico-going-to-hell\/\">drawn attention<\/a> to Talarico\u2019s past comments on race, religion, and transgender issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627854\/paxton-need-look-more-in-vitro-fertilization\/\"><strong>PAXTON SAYS \u2018WE NEED TO LOOK MORE INTO\u2019 IN VITRO FERTILIZATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet Talarico nevertheless has proven to be one of the most effective fundraisers this cycle. Talarico <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4650740\/senate-campaign-cash-tracker\/\">finished the second quarter<\/a> with $21.5 million in the bank as Paxton was working to rebuild his coiffeurs from almost nothing after his primary race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019ll remember, I had a runoff that lasted until May 26,\u201d Paxton said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/2087905981942411510\">Newsmax appearance<\/a> this week. \u201cOn the 27th, I had zero dollars left to spend. So my opponent had three months. He didn\u2019t have a runoff, so he raised about 30 million from mostly California. If you go look at it, most of his money comes from out of state.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key states shaping Senate control: Alaska, Ohio, Michigan, Maine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4301,"featured_media":2644484,"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\/2026\/08\/image-collage-napgzgu36-1786640889425-e1786645099672.jpg?1786630761&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[84105,34250,3740,35343],"class_list":["post-2644483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-electoral-states","tag-midterm-elections","tag-senate","tag-u-s-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-napgzgu36-1786640889425-e1786645099672.jpg?1786630761&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644483","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\/4301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2644483"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2644487,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644483\/revisions\/2644487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2644484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2644483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2644483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2644483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}