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A Paralympian vs a former TV news anchor – and other US Senate races to watch
Seven US Senate races are considered toss-ups in the midterm elections, which could determine control of the Republican-led chamber and shape President Donald Trump’s final two years in office. Democrats need to gain four seats to take control, giving them greater power to scrutinise the administration and decide on judicial nominations.
The article profiles contests including Alaska, where Republican Dan Sullivan faces former congresswoman Mary Peltola amid a dispute over a second candidate with the same name, and Maine, where Republican Susan Collins is challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson. Alaska’s ranked-choice voting and slow result count could make it pivotal; in Maine, Collins is testing whether a centrist Republican can win by keeping distance from Trump. The text also introduces Iowa’s race between Democrat Josh Turek and Republican Ashley Hinson.
In short
- Seven Senate contests could decide control of Congress’s upper chamber.
- Democrats need a four-seat gain to take control.
- Alaska and Maine feature high-profile, closely watched match-ups.
Explained simply
The US Senate is one of two chambers of Congress, which makes federal laws and oversees the government. Senators serve six-year terms, with roughly a third of the seats contested every two years; midterm elections take place halfway through a president’s term.
Republicans currently lead the Senate, while Democrats would need to win four seats to take control. The balance matters because the Senate reviews presidential appointments, including federal judges, and can investigate the administration.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, in which voters rank candidates, and counting can take longer than in a simple one-choice contest. In Maine, Susan Collins is a Republican senator facing Democrat Troy Jackson; the race is also a test of whether a Republican can appeal to voters while keeping some distance from Donald Trump.
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