# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/241 "2026-07-16T18:11:00Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Meanwhile in Michigan, our Democratic frontrunner… " **Say more with Threads** Join Threads to share thoughts, find out what’s going on, follow your people and more." In other words, your link didnt work for me. But I found it on Youtube, and I dont see anything wrong with it. Currently she is ahead in the polls. Hmm- [https://ballotpedia.org/United\_States\_Senate\_election\_in\_Michigan,\_2026](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Michigan,_2026) > The \*Detroit Free Press’\*s Todd Spangler wrote that former Transportation Secretary [Pete Buttigieg](https://ballotpedia.org/Pete_Buttigieg "Pete Buttigieg") (D), who declined to run, “had been considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination for the seat.”[[10]](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Michigan,_2026#cite_note-10) Weren’t many of us saying the Mayor Pete would be a great candidate, but more experience would be great? And he didnt even try? ---
**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 16, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/242 "2026-07-16T20:43:51Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > …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… Right you are; the governor appointed the late senator’s sister: > **[Who is Darline Graham? Lindsey Graham’s sister sworn in to finish his Senate...](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/14/politics/darline-graham-lindsey-graham-senate)** > > Darline Graham, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s younger sister, was sworn into the Senate on Tuesday to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term after his sudden death over the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/243 "2026-07-16T20:46:24Z")
That is a little curious. I think most of us assumed that Buttigieg moved from Indiana to Michigan so that he could have a chance of being elected to statewide office. Maybe he just wanted the legal weed. 😎 ---
**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 16, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/244 "2026-07-16T20:50:30Z")
Honestly, a senator’s wife being appointed to take the place of her late husband has happened quite often in the past and some of them have even gone on to make it their own career. Graham didn’t have a wife so sister will have to do, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/245 "2026-07-16T22:08:59Z")
No it was mostly just one person saying it many many times. Current voters care very little about experience beyond maybe a minimal base line. Given how unpopular the senate is, it is hard to see that being on his resume helping much (and entirely possible would be viewed as a negative). I think he wants to president so he is going to run to be president. Also she is not ahead of the polls in the aggregate although the last couple have been promising for her. It is an interesting battle between the progressive and centric wings of the party. Do you go for the moderate in hopes she is more electable or the progressive who might energize the base (and certain non-voters) more. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/246 "2026-07-16T22:45:48Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Current voters care very little about experience beyond maybe a minimal base line. Current _Republican_ voters. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > No it was mostly just one person saying it many many times. > **[I love Pete Buttigieg, but sheesh, Mayor Pete is not ready to be president](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/11/22/pete-buttigieg-experience-president-mayor-donald-trump-campaign-2020-column/4260304002/)** > > Democrats attacked Donald Trump for his lack of government experience. We were right, and now we can't abandon our standards to elect Mayor Pete. > Experience matters. This feels like it should be an obvious point, but being president of the United States is a really hard and complicated job. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/247 "2026-07-17T01:51:11Z")
Your site is one person agreeing with you six years ago? At any rate Pete isn’t running for senate but it is pretty clear in the polling and results for senate and house primaries thus far there is a large contingent of Democrats who prefer fresh perspectives over experience. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/248 "2026-07-17T02:03:08Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Your site is one person agreeing with you six years ago? Disproved your claim, so i didnt need more. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > but it is pretty clear in the polling and results for senate and house primaries thus far there is a large contingent of Democrats who prefer fresh perspectives over experience. Such as Graham Platner? 🙀 (and no, I did not like Plater, but I did prefer him (and a ham sandwich) over Collins). Talarico has had four terms in the Texas House. Roy Cooper has been in politics since 1987, with two terms as Governor. Ossoff is the senior Senator from Georgia. Sherrod Brown has been in office since 1983, and recently 4 terms as US Senator. That just covers the more important Senate races. Maine is yet to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/249 "2026-07-17T02:59:39Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > At any rate Pete isn’t running for senate but it is pretty clear in the polling and results for senate and house primaries thus far there is a large contingent of Democrats who prefer fresh perspectives over experience. Buttigieg doesn’t have “fresh perspectives”. He’s Joe Biden minus forty years. ---
**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 17, 2026, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/250 "2026-07-17T11:38:01Z")
Still not sure how Buttigieg got brought into this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/251 "2026-07-17T18:27:05Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Still not sure how Buttigieg got brought into this discussion. He had a shot at running for the Senate but choose not to. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Hmm- > [https://ballotpedia.org/United\_States\_Senate\_election\_in\_Michigan,\_2026](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Michigan,%5C_2026) > > > The \*Detroit Free Press’\*s Todd Spangler wrote that former Transportation Secretary [Pete Buttigieg](https://ballotpedia.org/Pete_Buttigieg "Pete Buttigieg") (D), who declined to run, “had been considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination for the seat.”[[10]](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Michigan,_2026#cite_note-10) > > Weren’t many of us saying the Mayor Pete would be a great candidate, but more experience would be great? And he didnt even try? ---
**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 18, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/252 "2026-07-18T02:11:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He had a shot at running for the Senate but choose not to. I understand that. He made that decision 16 months ago. What’s that got to do with the current campaign? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/253 "2026-07-19T18:29:33Z")
[https://www.axios.com/2026/07/19/republicans-midterms-hate-election](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/19/republicans-midterms-hate-election) > Republicans admit the GOP’s [midterm](https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/2026-midterm-elections) forecast is bleak. But they’re clinging to two hopes: voters’ fear and loathing of Democrats. > > - “It’s going to be a hate election,” a Republican tied to President [Trump](https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump)’s political operation told Axios. “Voters have to hate the Dems more than they hate us. And we have material to work with.” > > **Why it matters:** There’s broad GOP frustration that Trump has made challenging midterm elections worse by not focusing heavily on pocketbook issues — especially the tax cuts Republicans won — while launching the Iran war, which raised gas prices and fueled inflation… **Zoom in** : Trump hopes his speech will pressure Congress to pass his controversial [SAVE America Act](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/30/house-republicansstuck-save-america-act) and excite his base voters to turn out. But GOP pollsters and election pros outside of the White House say it’s falling on deaf ears. > > - “We’ve studied this, and it’s not a winner,” said a Republican pollster working on multiple races nationwide. “Our research shows people want the president to make their life better, and they don’t believe he has.” > > **The pollster’s data** now indicate Democrats could wind up with a seven-seat majority in the House, where Republicans currently have a six-seat edge. Trump’s net approval rating is underwater by 10 points. I also could have posted this in “Messages of Hope”. ---
**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 19, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/254 "2026-07-19T18:42:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > - “It’s going to be a hate election,” a Republican tied to President [Trump](https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump)’s political operation told Axios. So, same old, same old. Name one that isn’t in the last generation. I’m not that enthusiastic about Democrats but they aren’t the one who turned political opponents into political enemies. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/255 "2026-07-22T00:28:17Z")
In Michigan there has been saturation level ads against El-Sayed accusing him of disrespecting women. I suspect they are from the right wing, afraid that he could be a better candidate than Haley Stevens. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/256 "2026-07-22T01:51:33Z")
I’m guessing it’s the Stevens/AIPAC campaign trying to throw whatever mud they can find at the wall in hopes it sticks. She is outspending AES about 50 million to 4 million, so she certainly has the money for it. Seems like the Republicans would be wisest to sit on their own campaign funds until they know who they’re facing, but you never know… ---
**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 22, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/257 "2026-07-22T02:03:08Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Republicans would be wisest That is a combination of words that rarely comes up anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/258 "2026-07-22T02:04:15Z")
Well, notice that it was phrased as a conditional 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/259 "2026-07-22T03:46:16Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > In Michigan there has been saturation level ads against El-Sayed accusing him of disrespecting women. I suspect they are from the right wing, afraid that he could be a better candidate than Haley Stevens. Having read his politics in Wiki, I prefer Stevens. But I dont live in that State, ---
**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:** [July 22, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/260 "2026-07-22T04:39:31Z")
My heart says El-Sayed, my head says Stevens. It seems to me that there may be just too many people who cannot bring themselves to vote for a Muslim. Of course, JFK defied anti-Catholic bias so perhaps I’m worried too much about bigotry. I could vote for either happily. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=14)