Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win control. Races in Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Alaska and North Carolina are among those in focus as Election Day arrives.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats need to net four seats to win the majority. They need four rather than three because, in a 50-50 Senate, Vice President JD Vance would cast tiebreaking votes that keep the GOP in control.
Kansas
In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor. Hamilton has pulled ahead in some polls against Marshall. A Democratic victory would end a streak dating to 1932, the last time the state elected a Democratic senator. On the Sunday before Election Day, President Trump campaigned in Salina for Marshall.
Maine
In Maine, five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, faces Democrat Troy Jackson. Jackson replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee. Platner was accused of sexual assault after the primary, denied it, and eventually dropped out.
Michigan, Iowa, Alaska and North Carolina
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, who has narrowly led recent polls, faces Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, endorsed Rogers over El-Sayed, who beat her in the Democratic primary. In Iowa, analysts categorize the race between Josh Turek and Ashley Hinson as a toss-up, with polls showing it essentially tied. In Alaska, former Rep. Mary Peltola is in a close polling race with GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. Roy Cooper is likely to flip the North Carolina seat held by outgoing GOP Sen. Thom Tillis.
