# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/221 "2026-06-25T01:45:35Z")
OK, if you insist: I think Josh Shapiro, Abigail Spanberger, and especially Josh Stein have done excellent jobs as elected Democratic officeholders as well as campaigners, and any of them would be about the best possible candidate for 2028 in terms of presenting appealing policies to the part of the electorate that will actually decide who becomes the next president. Two of them will have to deal with the question of “is it possible for a Jew to win the Democratic nomination in 2028” and Spanberger will have to deal with a track record of being vocally pro-sanity, pro-electability, anti-DSA, and pro-America’s interests in the world, attributes which a certain wing of the party loathes (and will probably be accused of being a Jew even though she isn’t, since she has a German name and leftists don’t like her.) Which real, electable Democrats who are not far-leftists would _you_ like to endorse? ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/222 "2026-06-25T03:21:26Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > because their primary issues of concern are public disorder and over-burdening of small business owners, no matter how much people yell at them that they are Not Allowed to care about those things Ok, I’m confused. If they actually cared about those things, they would vote D. The Republicans (at least since they became the party of Trump) don’t care about public disorder or over burdening small businesses owners. Anyone who thinks they do care about those things is an idiot. Just look at Ken Paxton. I don’t see how anyone can think he supports small businesses owners or having public order. Paxton only cares about enacting his version of asshole authoritarianism, even if that means causing disorder by turning legitimate law enforcement into modern day lynch mobs. ETA. In other words, those minorities who vote R do so because they’re also asshole authoritarians, not because they support small businesses owners or because they want public order. Those people are not reachable. The ones that are reachable are people who actually do care about small businesses owners and public order (AKA the old fashioned George Bush Republicans). And James Talarico can win the votes of those people. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/223 "2026-06-25T04:17:55Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > -Talerico has no chance of winning > **[Poll: Paxton and Talarico are virtually tied in Senate race](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/23/texas-us-senate-poll-ken-paxton-james-talarico-ut-austin/)** > > The vast majority of Republicans indicated they had moved on from the bitter GOP primary and now support Paxton. Talarico had commanding leads among independents and moderates. > Republican [Ken Paxton](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/ken-paxton/) and Democrat [James Talarico](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/james-talarico/) are neck and neck in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a [new poll](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/june-poll-finds-a-competitive-u-s-senate-race-in-texas-amid-continuing-economic-concerns-data-center-backlash) released Tuesday by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. > > Paxton led Talarico 43% to 42%, with a 3.5-point margin of error, the survey found, largely aligning with [other recent polls](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/texas-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html), which have reported a competitive race since the general election nominees were solidified last month. The result puts Paxton on a promising trajectory, coming after he trailed Talarico by 8 percentage points in the same pollster’s [April survey](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/u-s-senate-trial-ballot-paxton-vs-talarico-april-2026#overall). > **[June Poll Finds a Competitive U.S. Senate race in Texas amid continuing...](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/june-poll-finds-a-competitive-u-s-senate-race-in-texas-amid-continuing-economic-concerns-data-center-backlash)** > The latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll finds a neck and neck contest in [the U.S. Senate race](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/u-s-senate-trial-ballot-june-2026) between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Representative James Talarico, with Paxton the choice of 43% of Texas voters and Talarico preferred by a statistically indistinguishable 42%. > [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > because their primary issues of concern are public disorder and over-burdening of small business owners, > The June poll asked Texas voters to identify [the most important problems facing the state](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/most-important-issue-facing-texas-june-2026), with economic concerns predominating among Texans: a total of 33% cited “inflation/higher prices” (17%), “the economy” (10%), “gas prices” (4%), or “unemployment/jobs” (2%). An only slightly larger share, 33%, also cited the economy and prices as [the most important problems facing the country] > ([Most Important Issue Facing the Country (June 2026) | The Texas Politics Project](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/most-important-issue-facing-the-country-june-2026)). > > When asked to assess their own level of concern about various economic issues, more than half said that they were “very concerned” about the [“cost of healthcare”](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/concern-about-the-cost-of-healthcare-june-2026) (66%), [“the price of food and consumer goods”](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/concern-about-the-price-of-food-and-consumer-goods-june-2026) (65%), [“the price of gasoline and energy”](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/concern-about-the-price-of-gasoline-and-energy-june-2026) (60%), and [“the cost of housing”](https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/concern-about-the-cost-of-housing-june-2026) (52%). These four items also accounted for the largest shares of acute concerns in the preceding poll conducted in April. I dont see “public disorder” in there, something that the GOP always trots out. I see- Inflation (made worse by trump), Gas Prices (ditto). In fact in every one of those issues Texans are worried about, Democrats are doing better than Republicans this year. What media have you been reading? > [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Ok, I’m confused. If they actually cared about those things, they would vote D. The Republicans (at least since they became the party of Trump) don’t care about public disorder or over burdening small businesses owners. Anyone who thinks they do care about those things is an idiot. Just look at Ken Paxton. I don’t see how anyone can think he supports small businesses owners or having public order. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/224 "2026-06-25T09:32:39Z")
Spanberger is my governor and I voted for her and, in general, I’m pleased with her so far. Not as familiar with Shapiro and I know nothing about Stein. Your “real, electable Democrats who are not far-leftists” criteria is a largely meaningless one (or at least whatever it means to you is vastly different than to me or many others). If I have to pick someone now, I like AOC best right now because I think she’s the most talented communicator by far. A+ communicators like Obama win no matter the issues because they naturally appeal to so many people. And as much as I think “eat the rich” is the best and winningest issue argument for the next couple of cycles, the most important things Democrats need to do if they win a trifecta is eliminate the filibuster, expand SCOTUS, add states, ban gerrymandering, investigate and prosecute Trump admin illegality, and other measures to shore up our democratic system. Without that, nothing else matters, because nothing else (including eat the rich) could even be implemented. So I will probably support the Democrat who best argues that. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/225 "2026-06-25T15:19:59Z")
_Especially_ eating the rich. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/226 "2026-06-30T18:22:07Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Yeah that’s not his platform. He’s running against one of the most abhorrent people to have been nominated for major office and he has kept mostly to issues. > > So another campaign based on “my opponent is a Bad Person so I am decreeing you are Not Allowed to vote for him even if you expect that the actual policies he will support in office align with your values more than mine would”? I guess after the smashing success that had nationally against Trump it just makes sense to re-run it when trying to convert Republican voters in Texas. Just another win for the people who get paid $300K a year to advise Democrats on how to lose elections. That feels like a strawman. Is that a strawman? It certainly feels like a strawman. I mean right there where you quoted me I said Talarico is keeping mostly to the issues. His campaign is in no way based on how his opponent is a bad person. Even though he is. He can’t help but mention it given how negative Paxton and the rest of the machine are. Talarico is making a very good case for himself using just the issues. In fact the opposite is true. Paxton is the one running a campaign on how his opponent is supposedly a bad person. Just look at what he and the right wing media are pushing. Talarico isn’t a real Texan. He’s beta. He might be a woman. He’s vegan. He’s probably gay. He might be a pedophile (because when he was a teacher he sent a message to students and parents to contact him after school if they needed help. > [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > Which real, electable Democrats who are not far-leftists would _you_ like to endorse? You would only believe that Talarico is far left if you were listening to Paxton propaganda. He’s a Democrat but he’s far from being far left. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/227 "2026-07-03T04:52:46Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > …Synthesis: you, and the Republican establishment, hope that voters are too dumb to understand the nuanced argument he’s making about Christianity… If I were a Texan, I’m sure I’d vote for Talarico, who seems like a smart, thoughtful and honest guy, while Paxton is almost cartoonishly crooked and horrible. But Texas voters are not, shall we say, noted for their embrace of nuance, especially on hot-button issues like religion. And as the old political saying goes, if you’re explaining, you’re losing. I’d love to see Talarico win, but it wasn’t gonna be easy for him before, and I’m afraid it’ll be even tougher now. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/228 "2026-07-03T09:57:33Z")
If we can’t figure out how to draw a meaningful distinction between Christianity and Christian Nationalism, such that self-identified Christians can understand it, we’re cooked. This conflation may be the single biggest threat to our nation as a democracy. Talarico is literally the best I’ve ever heard at talking about this distinction. The right wing need him to fail at this project, thus the constant, desperate mockery of him, and the distortion of what he’s saying. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/229 "2026-07-05T18:09:19Z")
Michigan’s Democratic primary just went from three candidates to two: > **[Mallory McMorrow ends her U.S. Senate campaign](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/05/mallory-mcmorrow-michigan-senate-haley-stevens-abdul-el-sayed/90813567007/)** > > Mallory McMorrow's departure makes it a two-way race between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and former Wayne County health chief Abdul El-Sayed. For context: Rep. Haley Stevens is the establishment, centrist candidate. Abdul el-Sayed is the Democratic Socialist candidate. State Senator Mallory McMorrow was the in-between, sort if the safe lefty candidate, but she’s tanked in the polls while Abdul has shot into the lead. I’m hoping she throws her endorsement to Abdul. Bernie and AOC have endorsed Abdul, while Elizabeth Warren went with McMorrow. The usual establishment Dems have gotten behind Stevens. Now it really is establishment vs. change, centrism vs. Dem socialism. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/230 "2026-07-08T14:33:28Z")
_Cross-posted from the P&E Graham Platner thread:_ For those wanting to get a feel for Maine state senator Troy Jackson, who stands now as a potential opponent of Susan Collins in the general election, **[NPR’s A Martinez interviewed Jackson this morning on _Morning Edition_.](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/08/nx-s1-5885757/former-maine-senator-troy-jackson-calls-for-graham-platner-to-drop-out)** The audio, as of this writing, is not yet uploaded but it shouldn’t be too much longer now that the page is built. EDIT: My impressions are that Jackson is not an Obama-style shot of political lightning or anything … but he comes across as an earnest servant of the people. for what that’s worth. Interesting to me is that the big thing that’s going to distinguish Jackson from the “Establishment Democrat” (to whom that matters) is his accent – Jackson more or less sounds like a rural Canadian. Basically the Maine version of Adam Sandler’s Cajun Man. Jackson is in no way slick or polished compared to, say, a Gavin Newsom. That’s not to say Jackson came off as slow-witted or in-over-his-head–just that he’s a different flavor of politician than is usually seen on the national stage (US Senator John Kennedy [R-LA] is superficially similar, but is putting on an aw-shucks act). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/231 "2026-07-08T14:58:15Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > For those wanting to get a feel for Maine state senator Troy Jackson, who stands now as a potential opponent of Susan Collins in the general election, **[NPR’s A Martinez interviewed Jackson this morning on _Morning Edition_.](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/08/nx-s1-5885757/former-maine-senator-troy-jackson-calls-for-graham-platner-to-drop-out)** The audio, as of this writing, is not yet uploaded but it shouldn’t be too much longer now that the page is built. The audio was uploaded a few minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/232 "2026-07-08T19:45:56Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > US Senator John Kennedy [R-LA] is superficially similar, but is putting on an aw-shucks act I am reminded by a story about Lyndon Johnson talking to some Senator who said, “Well, I’m just an ol’ country boy—” Johnson interrupted him with, “I’m just an _ol’ country boy_ myself and whenever I hear that I feel for my wallet.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/233 "2026-07-12T17:31:07Z")
Down two GOP Senators (yes, I know McConnell isnt quite dead- yet, but he aint coming back to the Senate). 51- 47. And a couple GOP Senators arent MAGAs- Rand Paul for example. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/234 "2026-07-12T19:27:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > (yes, I know McConnell isnt quite dead- yet, but he aint coming back to the Senate). AIUI, properly applied CPR can break ribs or the sternum, which is especially bad for the elderly. So he may be bedridden due to the CPR, even if he’s conscious. > [@DrDeth](#): > > 51- 47. And a couple GOP Senators arent MAGAs- Rand Paul for example. And a couple others have been primaried for committing sins against the Orange One. As far as replacing Graham, the SC Governor can appoint a replacement for the rest of his term. No doubt will as soon as possible. A replacement candidate will be chosen by another primary on Aug 11 with a runoff (if no one gets a majority) on Aug 25. This is going to be a fast and messy election, with likely numerous people throwing their hats into the palmetto ring. The people at [electoral-vote.com](https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2026/Items/Jul12-1.html) suggested well over a dozen potential candidtates, everyone from Nancy Mace to the ghost of Strom Thurmond. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/235 "2026-07-15T16:02:52Z")
[https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/12/trumps-deportation-drive-tests-gop-gains-in-texas-00993955](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/12/trumps-deportation-drive-tests-gop-gains-in-texas-00993955) # **\> Texas Hispanics swung hard to Trump. A new poll shows they’re furious at his deportations.** > **A new survey of Hispanic business owners in Texas shows Democratic nominee James Talarico dominating.** > **… One in five Hispanic business owners in Texas say they’ve had an employee deported in the past year, according to a new survey commissioned by the U.S. Hispanic Business Council and [shared first with POLITICO](https://static.politico.com/9a/9c/1bbfaa044dd39bf97df2ed0916ae/ushbc-texas-member-midterm-pulse-key-findings.pdf). Seven in ten said their businesses had been impacted by Trump’s tariffs. Among those surveyed, Talarico holds a seven-point lead over Attorney General Ken Paxton, the GOP nominee, even though a plurality of the over 1,000 respondents self-identify as Republican. Almost one quarter who supported Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary now say they’ll back Talarico, while over half say they’ll back Paxton.** ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/236 "2026-07-15T17:06:13Z")
Maybe some people are finally starting to realize, and to admit to themselves, that they’ve been betrayed. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/237 "2026-07-15T20:07:56Z")
Even a blind squirrel can tell his acorn’s been stolen once in a while. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/238 "2026-07-16T15:53:54Z")
Meanwhile in Michigan, our Democratic frontrunner… > **[LateNighter (@latenightercom) on Threads](https://www.threads.com/@latenightercom/post/DayJT-okVN6?xmt=AQG0kI4L3xhO6ZMCMrIC81Qm2A-oOVu3I3AnCmB3FrW05_MiU3PfpXFo-18xVUgLLXxgr8M&slof=1)** > > Michigan Senate candidate Haley Stevens is giving off some serious Chris Farley energy here. 🫣 As a native Michigander, I have to ask what the fuck is that fucking accent she’s doing? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/239 "2026-07-16T16:11:06Z")
I don’t think she’s the front runner… ---
**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:** [July 16, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/240 "2026-07-16T16:13:53Z")
I’m referring to her as such based on the most recent polling, but I hope you’re right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=13)