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By Anna Skinner, Dan Gooding, and Steven Frank
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Control of the U.S. Senate hung in the balance as Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday in one of the most closely watched midterm elections in years.
The election will determine which party controls Congress as Republicans seek to defend their House and Senate majorities and Democrats look to capitalize on competitive races that could flip control of both chambers. A handful of competitive races are expected to determine which party sets the legislative agenda beginning in 2027, advances judicial nominations and shapes the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
Republicans are trying to fight off a potential blue wave to defend their narrow majorities. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win control of the Senate and a net gain of three seats to win control of the House.
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"Outcomes in the 2026 midterms will be determined mainly by how voters feel about Trump and the impact of his policies on national and economic conditions," Northeastern University distinguished professor of political science Costas Panagopoulos told Newsweek.
"In that sense, voting will primarily reflect perceptions about GOP performance, but candidate qualities also matter. Democrats have fielded some especially strong U.S. Senate candidates, for example, who are giving Republicans a run for their money in GOP strongholds like Texas, Iowa, Kansas and even South Carolina. Senate races in these places were never expected to be as competitive as they seemingly are."
2026 Senate Results
Current Senate Breakdown by Party Lines
Heading into midterms, the GOP has a narrow majority in Senate, 53-47, including the two independents who caucus with Democrats.
Thirty-five of the 100 Senate seats are up for election this cycle. Democrats need 51 seats to claim the majority of the upper chamber, as even if there’s a 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats, Vice President JD Vance can cast a tie-breaking vote.
To win control of Senate, Democrats must flip four seats while defending all of their own. Republicans can afford to lose three seats without flipping any if they want to maintain control.
Several states have emerged as key Senate battlegrounds, including races in Iowa, Michigan, Texas and Georgia. These races are for open seats where there is no incumbent.
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Iowa Senate: Ashley Hinson vs. Josh Turek
Representative Ashley Hinson, a Republican, and Democrat state representative Josh Turek are vying for Iowa’s vacated seat. While Iowa has not elected a Democratic senator since 2008, polls have shown the candidates neck-and-neck in a state where the economy and healthcare access are top of mind for voters.
Michigan Senate: Mike Rogers vs. Abdul El-Sayed
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican former Representative Mike Rogers are locked in a closely contested race for a vacated seat in Michigan, with both parties pouring resources into a battleground state where recent polling has shown a tight contest.
Texas Senate: Ken Paxton vs. James Talarico
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Representative James Talarico are battling for Senator John Cornyn's seat in a race that has become surprisingly competitive considering Texas’ Republican lean.
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Most Vulnerable Incumbents
Other states, including traditional Republican strongholds such as Kansas and Ohio, have also emerged as tight races in which Democrats have a chance to unseat Republican incumbents. In Georgia, Republicans have a chance to flip a Democratic-held seat.
Georgia Senate: Jon Ossoff vs. Mike Collins
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is facing Republican Representative Mike Collins in one of the nation's most competitive Senate races, with both parties viewing Georgia as a critical battleground that could help determine control of the chamber. Trump won the state in 2024, fueling Republican hopes that they could flip the seat in their favor.
Ohio Senate: Jon Husted vs. Sherrod Brown
Republican Senator Jon Husted is facing Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown in a highly competitive race, even as Ohio voters tend to lean Republican. Brown has led by several points in multiple different polls. Trump won the presidential election in Ohio for all three of his campaigns, including by 11 points in 2024.
Maine Senate: Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson
Republican Senator Susan Collins is defending her seat against Democratic former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson in a state Trump has lost three times, making the race a key Democratic pickup opportunity despite Collins' long-standing reputation as a moderate.
Alaska Senate: Dan Sullivan vs. Mary Peltola
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan faces Democratic former Representative Mary Peltola in a closely watched in which Alaska's ranked-choice voting system has emerged as a focal point of debate amid GOP allegations that Democratic operatives helped recruit another candidate, named Dan J. Sullivan, to run alongside the incumbent in an effort to confuse voters.
Kansas Senate: Roger Marshall vs. Adam Hamilton
Republican Senator Roger Marshall is facing a surprisingly competitive race in Kansas against Democrat Adam Hamilton. The two have been neck-and-neck in polls leading up to Election Day. The competitiveness of the seat is notable considering Kansas voters haven't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932 when George McGill was reelected.
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What Happens Next
Even after winners are declared and certified, the new Congress will be sworn in on January 3, 2027.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Dave Siminoff.
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