# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/361 "2026-08-12T16:24:02Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Minnesota: > Peggy Flannagan gets 411,456 (59.02)% of the DFL vote despite all the negative ads. Angie Craig gets 274,582 (39.38%) > On the GOP side Michele Tafoya gets 211,631 (52.06%) with Adam Schwarze coming in second with 97,410 (23.96%) votes. What I came in to say. Craig couldn’t shake her association with voting for Trump’s ICE bill and the resulting deaths in Minneapolis, despite her experience as a Representative in Washington. Now she’s on unemployment. Flannagan shouldn’t have any trouble with Tafoya, but it could get nasty. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/362 "2026-08-12T16:26:55Z")
Any other interesting primaries coming up? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/363 "2026-08-12T16:31:55Z")
I was surprised to see that there are still some left, with less than 3 months to the general election. According to the site linked below: August 18: Alaska, Florida, Wyoming September 1: Massachusetts September 8: New Hampshire September 9: Rhode Island September 15: Delaware > **[2026 State Primary Election Dates](https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/2026-state-primary-election-dates)** > > State primary dates for 2026 are listed here, explaining how political parties use primaries to select candidates for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/364 "2026-08-12T16:43:12Z")
Hmm, Alaska’s is interesting in that one of the people running against the incumbent (in a jungle primary, top 4 get on the final ballot) has the same name and party as the incumbent. > **[2026 United States Senate election in Alaska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Alaska?wprov=sfla1)** > > Dan S. Sullivan > Republican ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/365 "2026-08-12T18:43:18Z")
Solid article- [https://www.npr.org/2026/08/12/nx-s1-5928112/four-takeaways-primaries-six-states](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/12/nx-s1-5928112/four-takeaways-primaries-six-states) > Voters in half a dozen states went to the polls Tuesday. The results highlight the ongoing conflicts within both parties ahead of the November midterms. > > Democratic primaries in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Connecticut signaled what the party’s base may want from new leaders: a harder line against President Trump’s immigration crackdown and younger, more progressive nominees, as a [14-term congressman](https://larson.house.gov/about/meet-john) was swept aside by a candidate under 50. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/366 "2026-08-13T20:27:04Z")
Here in the TX Senate race, we’re starting to see the favorable polls reflected in the Predictit market. Talarico has pulled ahead to 54 / 46 as of right now. > **[PredictIt](https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/8173/Which-party-will-win-the-2026-US-Senate-election-in-Texas)** ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/367 "2026-08-14T00:40:08Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > Talarico has pulled ahead to 54 / 46 as of right now. Quite a lead, thanks for the cite. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/368 "2026-08-14T00:43:53Z")
No, a very small lead. That’s probability of win, not estimated vote share. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/369 "2026-08-14T00:46:22Z")
Sure, but in _Texas!?!_ Any Dem lead is news. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/370 "2026-08-14T01:18:50Z")
It’s just a lead on a gambling site. It means there’s a lot of gossip about the Dem winning. It says nothing about fundamentals. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/371 "2026-08-14T01:31:58Z")
The New Hampshire race looks bad for the Democrats. The Democrat is stepping down, leaving an open race in a purple state. The primary is in September, but it looks like one person has a big lead in each major party, and it’s likely to be Sununu, who used to br a NH senator, and who has masses of name recognition (in addition to his prior electrical success, his father and brother were both governor of the state) vs. Chris Pappas, currently serving in the House. Amusingly, the other person seriously running as a Republican is Scott Brown, former R senator from Massachusetts. How many people have served as senators for multiple states? Meanwhile, the MA Democratic primary is interesting. Massachusetts will likely elect the Democrat, whoever wins the primary. But an old progressive who has held the seat for years (Ed Markey, who will be 80 at the start of the term) is being primaried by a younger centrist (Seth Moulton). So i guess we’ll see if Democrats are voting against old people or against centrists. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/372 "2026-08-14T01:54:36Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The New Hampshire race looks bad for the Democrats. The Democrat is stepping down, leaving an open race in a purple state. I though Pappas was almost a lock? He should be able to beat Sununu. > **[Predictions for the Senate - 2026 Midterms - Updated Daily — Race to the WH](https://www.racetothewh.com/senate/26)** > > Predictions for Every 2026 Senate Race by one of the Nation's Most Accurate Forecasters. Projects the Chance Both Parties have of Winning the Majority. Features an Interactive Senate Map. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/373 "2026-08-14T03:54:23Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The New Hampshire race looks bad for the Democrats. I don’t understand why you think this is the case. All the polling sites I’ve looked at have NH as “Likely D” which is the same as NC and GA. That’s better than ME which is lean or tilt D on most of the same sites. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/374 "2026-08-18T14:17:47Z")
I was despondent following the Michigan primary. W. T. F. were democratic primary voters thinking voting for Abdul El-Sayed?? They couldn’t possibly have picked a candidate with worse optics than that guy. Now the GOP has a genuine shot at picking up a senate seat here. It’s like we’re our own worst enemies and don’t actually _want_ to win. 🙄 ---
**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:** [August 18, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/375 "2026-08-18T15:22:58Z")
Did you see Stevens on the stump? She was a terrible candidate. El-Sayed won because he’s an infinitely better communicator than Stevens. I’m glad El-Sayed won – on the issues, but also because he’s a much, much more skilled politician. It’s good for Democrts when the better campaigners win. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/376 "2026-08-18T15:40:34Z")
I have not followed this race closely. But i heard part of an NPR interview with El-Sayed. Apparently, he gave a graduation speech in college, and Bill Clinton was there, and spoke to him later, saying, “you should go into politics!”. And El-Sayed thought, “with a name like mine? He’s got to be kidding. I’m going to be a doctor.” But i bet that Bill Clinton knows a natural politician when he sees one, and i am cautiously optimistic about El-Sayed, despite the name. He also sounded pretty reasonable in that interview. At least in the parts i heard. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/377 "2026-08-18T15:44:31Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > They couldn’t possibly have picked a candidate with worse optics than that guy. What optics are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/378 "2026-08-18T16:10:16Z")
His name and ethnicity and some of the statements that he’s made in public (he basically made the opposition’s attack ads for them which they’re running now around the clock) all work against him. In terms of public speaking and policy, the man is undoubtedly _way_ better than Stevens, no question about that. The bad news is that low information voters by the tens of thousands are going to take one look at his name and visualize some bearded man with a bomb strapped to his chest and flailing a scimitar. Does that image reflect reality in any way? Nope. Is it going to be his undoing? Probably. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/379 "2026-08-18T16:27:08Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > . The bad news is that low information voters by the tens of thousands are going to take one look at his name and visualize some bearded man with a bomb strapped to his chest and flailing a scimitar. Who knows. Obama had similar issues. “The idea of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too.” ---
**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:** [August 18, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/380 "2026-08-18T16:30:40Z")
Obama dominated MI twice. El Sayed doesn’t need to do nearly that well – just a smidge better than MAGA Mike Rogers. If MI wants to continue MAGA, they’ll get it. But I see no evidence that El Sayed’s negatives are so bad as to be insurmountable with a good campaign. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=20)