# Senate races 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 28, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534 "2025-01-28T15:04:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1 "2025-01-28T15:04:17Z")
Didn’t see a thread, but forgive me if there’s one already. The first major news from an incumbent: [Gary Peters (D-MI) won’t seek reelection in 2026.](https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/politics/2025/01/28/michigan-sen-gary-peters-will-not-run-for-reelection-opening-a-key-senate-seat/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=wdiv&fbclid=IwY2xjawIFz41leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSS-xet937z48meBh0FZsEkMLBjddsQhk3E06eKkXb2rz9r32UIPVw3S9Q_aem_wNrQlD9d-Wyiv_NJf2aJww) He’s a two term Senator who led the Senate Dems election efforts in the past two cycles. I can see Buttigieg licking his chops this morning. ETA: Whitmer too. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/2 "2025-01-28T15:16:02Z")
Why would Buttigieg lick his chops? He is from Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/3 "2025-01-28T15:17:47Z")
And he lives in Traverse City, Michigan. He has for at least four years now ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/4 "2025-01-28T15:20:09Z")
Huh? I would have thought he would have lived in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for the last four years. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/5 "2025-01-28T15:22:41Z")
He is more from MI than Mike Rogers was, who listed an occupied property as his address for his Senate run last year. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/6 "2025-01-28T15:24:23Z")
Well he owns a home in Traverse City, his husband and kids live there and he’s registered to vote there, so… ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/7 "2025-01-28T15:27:34Z")
For context: Currently there are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats including independents that caucus with the Dems. In 2026, 13 D seats and 20 R seats are up for grabs. Tie goes to the Republicans as there will be a Republican President of the Senate. There are two Republicans that can be considered independent of the President, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Collins’ seat is up for election and Murkowski’s is not ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/8 "2025-01-28T16:35:18Z")
Actually there are two other Senate seats up for election in 2026: Senators Vance and Rubio (both Republicans) left their Senate seats and their partial terms will be filled. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/9 "2025-01-28T16:47:20Z")
The Vance and Rubio seats are guaranteed to go to the GOP. Ohio and Florida are dark, dark red. I was already anticipating Peters in MI would have a rough time hanging on. We will have to see if the Ds can come up with someone who may have a better chance. That may be Buttigieg or it may not. I don’t see the seat in ME flipping unless Collins decides to step aside. And finally, Ossoff in GA is likely to face popular governor Brian Kemp as the GOP opponent. If so he is definitely toast. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/10 "2025-01-28T17:02:31Z")
I think Michigan has a few well-known and popular Democrats who could successfully fill Peters’ seat. Buttigieg, Whitmer, Rep. Haley Stevens, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow… I would’ve added Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to this list of possibilities but he recently fell face-first off his donkey and decided to run for governor as a dadgum independent. I don’t see the Michigan GOP with anyone as well-known or popular to win this, but who knows? Mike Rogers again? John James again? Walking cardboard box Bill Schutte? Someone from the DeVos circle? Everyone else is pretty much a nutbird these days (Tudor Dixon, Meeshawn Maddock, et al). Surely not any of the unknowns in the state legislature. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/11 "2025-01-28T17:21:23Z")
I hope John James runs again; it worked out so well for the Democrats the other times he ran. I think Collins and her furrowed brow are ripe for a downfall. I wouldn’t rule out Ohio putting a Democrat back in, provided the new administration is the clusterfuck it seems like it’s becoming. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/12 "2025-01-28T17:32:58Z")
The one Republican who _might_ give me pause, and I know it sounds batshit bonkers, is Bob Ritchie, aka Kid Rock. He could excite the maga crowd, the “we need something to change in Washington” crowd, the blue collar low-info voters, union voters, low-info youth, nostalgic Gen Xers… he has name recognition, charisma, appeals to Trumpers as well as low-info suburban moms and dads who cranked his music from their Ford Probes and Chevy Celebrities in their youth. Not that I think he’s gonna do it, but we do live in an age of batshit bonkers politics. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few people from the state GOP at least have a conversation with him about it. He’s their most well-known supporter these days. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/13 "2025-01-28T18:18:54Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Actually there are two other Senate seats up for election in 2026: Senators Vance and Rubio (both Republicans) left their Senate seats and their partial terms will be filled. Good catch. I thought their appointed replacement served out their term. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/14 "2025-01-28T18:37:19Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > We will have to see if the Ds can come up with someone who may have a better chance. Whitmer says [it won’t be her](https://www.newsweek.com/gretchen-whitmer-senate-michigan-peters-rumors-2022242) but I don’t believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/15 "2025-02-18T18:50:20Z")
So I have been on record saying I thought Ossoff D-GA was likely going to have trouble keeping his seat but when I saw discussion that MTG might run as the R, I saw that as giving him a shot of holding on if she got the nomination. Now it appears that may well not be the case - Jewish voters are turning on him because of his position on Gaza and are actually encouraging Gov. Kemp to run in the R primary. This is not good. Support for Palestinians keeps haunting the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/16 "2025-03-13T02:50:52Z")
Bumped to mention that Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D of NH [will not be running for reelection in 2026.](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/politics/jeanne-shaheen-new-hampshire-senate-2026.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3k4.Yj_Y.btgJDUaiufT9&smid=url-share) I had considered this to be a previously safe seat. I now expect former Gov. Chris Sununu (R) will at the least take a serious look at running. He’s only 50 and has national ambitions. If he does he would have a decent shot of flipping the seat to the GOP. Either way, not good news for Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/17 "2025-03-13T12:25:29Z")
Looks like Mayor Pete doesn’t want to be Sen. Pete. [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/13/pete-buttigieg-michigan-senate-run-00227583](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/13/pete-buttigieg-michigan-senate-run-00227583) That’s a shame as I think he would’ve been the heavy favorite in both the primary and the general. He could’ve been set with a long career in the Senate if he’d wanted. No one on the left has the statewide name recognition that he does, aside from Whitmer. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/18 "2025-03-13T12:40:38Z")
Can someone explain why Collins is a sure shot in Maine? It’s a pretty Democratic state in national elections in recent years and she’s very unpopular with Dems ( in my household anyway) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/19 "2025-03-13T14:49:46Z")
She may be unpopular with Dems but not with the people of Maine. In the 2020 Senate Election Collins was considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the Senate. [She ended up winning by more than 8%.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Maine) Incumbency has power. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/20 "2025-03-13T21:59:45Z")
Yeah i don’t get that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=2)