Senate
Coverage of U.S. Senate races and the fight for control of the chamber.
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Democrat Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Seat as Hyde-Smith Concedes
Democrat Scott Colom defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate race there since 1982 and the first Black senator from the state since Reconstruction. Hyde-Smith conceded Wednesday after a week of counting.
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Cruz Warns Republicans Could Lose Up to 8 Senate Seats Without Stronger Turnout
Sen. Ted Cruz said Republicans could end up with anywhere from 45 to 53 Senate seats depending on turnout, and warned his party could lose every statewide race in Texas. Here’s what he said and what early voting data actually shows.
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The Senate Map in the Final Week: Where Each Party Sees Its Path
Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, and Democrats need a net gain of four to win control. With six days left, here’s where operatives in both parties see the map, the math behind the majority, and why final results in some states could take days.
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Maine Senate Race Tied in Fox Poll as Trump Grants Tariff Relief Collins Requested
A Fox News poll has Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson tied at 49% among likely voters, while most other October polls show Jackson slightly ahead. The same week, the Trump administration exempted some Canadian goods used by Maine farmers from tariffs, at Collins’ request.
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Justice Department Sues Over State Senate Race Before Elections
The Justice Department asked a federal court to block Alaska from certifying its Senate result if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and the votes of a second candidate named Sullivan could have changed the outcome. Here’s what the lawsuit asks for, how the ballot fight got here, and what legal experts say.
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Trump-Backed Paxton Loses Support of Big Primary Donor in Texas Senate Race
Texas personal injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry, whose law firm gave more than $640,000 to a pro-Paxton super PAC before the GOP runoff, says he now supports Democrat James Talarico. His announcement came a day after Neil Bush said he voted for Talarico.
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Trump Blames Cornyn and Rove as Paxton Trails Talarico in Texas Senate Race
As early voting opens in Texas, President Trump says Sen. John Cornyn and Karl Rove would be to blame if Ken Paxton loses. Here’s what each side says, what the leaked Paxton recordings show, where the money and polls stand, and why there’s been no debate.
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Texas Senate Poll: Talarico and Paxton Within the Margin of Error Ahead of Early Voting
As of October 13, 2026. Polls change; every number below names its pollster, dates and margin of error. The race for Texas’ open U.S. Senate seat is within the margin of error in the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll. Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has 50% among likely voters and Republican Attorney General…
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The Senate Races That Will Decide Control in 2026
Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win the Senate. A state-by-state guide to the races that will decide it, with current forecaster ratings as of October 14, 2026.