Senate News & Analysis

2026 Senate Overview: Democrats Making Progress

January 22, 2026 · 2:26 PM EST

By Nathan L. Gonzales & Jacob Rubashkin

It’s been 20 years since one party flipped both the House and the Senate in the same cycle, but that’s exactly what Democrats are hoping to do in 2026. 

While Democrats can win the House majority by winning Democratic-leaning and toss-up areas, the…

2026 Senate Overview (Jan. 22, 2026): Alabama - Kansas

January 22, 2026 · 2:25 PM EST

Alabama. Open; Tommy Tuberville (R) running for governor. Primary May 19. Runoff (if necessary) June 16. Trump unexpectedly endorsed 1st District Rep. Barry Moore in the GOP primary, giving the congressman from Enterprise a big boost in the crowded race. Moore, a favorite of the Club for Growth, is running…

2026 Senate Overview (Jan. 22, 2026): Kentucky - New Mexico

January 22, 2026 · 2:24 PM EST

Kentucky. Open; Mitch McConnell (R), not seeking re-election. Primary May 19. With Trump keeping his distance from the GOP primary so far, the race has not developed significantly. Former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron still polls well ahead of Rep. Andy Barr and Lexington businessman Nate Morris, but he remains…

2026 Senate Overview (Jan. 22, 2026): North Carolina - Wyoming

January 22, 2026 · 2:23 PM EST

North Carolina. Open; Thom Tillis (R) not seeking re-election. Primary March 3. Runoff (if necessary) May 12. Former Gov. Roy Cooper may represent Democrats’ best chance at flipping a Senate seat this fall. Cooper is universally known, left office relatively popular, and has demonstrated fundraising ability, pulling in $24 million…

Podcast Episode 63: 2026 Predictions with Jonathan Martin of Politico

January 15, 2026 · 2:22 PM EST

Nathan Gonzales, Jacob Rubashkin and Jonathan Martin of Politico make their bold predictions for 2026, covering the fight for the House, Senate, governors and the beginning of the 2028 presidential race. Jacob and Nathan also cover the can’t miss headlines and latest news in races in Alaska, Florida, Wyoming and…

Alaska Senate: Peltola Puts Seat on Battleground

January 12, 2026 · 8:23 AM EST

Former Rep. Mary Peltola announced her Senate campaign on Monday, making Alaska a competitive race and giving Democrats a better chance at winning the majority in November. 

Getting Peltola into the race was a months-long effort for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer considering the former congresswoman probably had a better…

Wyoming Senate: Cowboy State Roundup

by Jacob Rubashkin January 8, 2026 · 2:29 PM EST

Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ retirement announcement took Capitol Hill by surprise, and she set off a domino effect in the least populous and most Republican state in the union. 

But the fight for her seat looks to be a few broncos short of a rodeo.

Rep. Harriet Hageman, the state’s…

Podcast Episode 62: Holiday Mailbag with Nathan & Jacob

December 22, 2025 · 1:35 PM EST

Nathan Gonzales and Jacob Rubashkin tackle tough end-of-the-year questions with a holiday mailbag episode. From the state of the midterm elections, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s electoral future, and each party’s recruitment holes in the fight for the House to the Roman Empire, Star Trek and the Seattle Seahawks, Jacob and Nathan cover…

Wyoming Senate: Lummis Not Seeking Re-election

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 19, 2025 · 4:38 PM EST

Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis announced she will not seek re-election to a second term in Wyoming. 

Lummis is the fifth Republican, and ninth senator overall, to be leaving the chamber. That’s nearly double the per-cycle average of five Senate open seats, going back to at least 1930. She joins…

North Carolina Senate: Tar Heel Target

by Jacob Rubashkin December 18, 2025 · 2:30 PM EST

It’s been 18 years since a Democrat won a Senate race in North Carolina. Even so, the Tar Heel State is the best chance Democrats have at flipping a seat next year — a clear sign of the difficult map facing Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus.

But there’s…