# 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:** 2
**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:** [March 15, 2025, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/21 "2025-03-15T02:52:10Z")
Tough call, but I would rather vote “No” as a member of the minority and allow a government shutdown, than vote “Yes” and implicitly approve this wrecking-ball Presidency and the GOP majority’s supine reaction to it. > **[Here Are the Democrats Who Voted to Avert a Shutdown](https://www.aol.com/news/democrats-voted-avert-shutdown-210856198.html)** > > Nearly a dozen Senate Democrats joined Republicans to avert a shutdown with just hours to spare. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/22 "2025-03-15T03:48:47Z")
Out of these nine, Dick Durbin is the only one whose term is up in 2026 and hasn’t announced he’s retiring. He needs to be the #1 target for a primary challenge. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/23 "2025-04-08T15:42:59Z")
With Shaheen (D) retiring I thought it likely Gov. Sununu (R) would run for her seat making it tough for the Democrats to hold. [Now he has said he won’t run in ‘26.](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/us/politics/chris-sununu-trump-2026-senate-new-hampshire.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-E4.YOqg.YG2xNVw4TEQR&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) That’s some potentially good news. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/24 "2025-04-09T00:55:43Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Looks like Mayor Pete doesn’t want to be Sen. Pete. If Witmer and Buttigieg don’t run, then what Dem will? ---
**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:** [April 9, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/25 "2025-04-09T01:19:39Z")
[State Sen. Mallory McMorrow](https://senatedems.com/mcmorrow/bio/) has announced. Congresswoman Haley Stevens is considering it, I think MI AG Dana Nessel is considering it too. Former State Speaker Joe Tate is likely tossing his hat in the ring, and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Abdul el-Sayed just quit his job running the Wayne County Dept of Health last week to explore a run. I love el-Sayed, but just don’t think Michigan’s ready for a Muslim to represent them in the Senate. McMorrow has my vote. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/26 "2025-04-10T15:38:01Z")
News from Texas: AG Paxton will challenge Cormyn for his Senate seat: > **[Ken Paxton announces U.S. Senate run, challenging Sen. John Cornyn](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/ken-paxton-announces-u-s-senate-run-challenging-sen-john-cornyn/3812094/)** > > Ken Paxton is running for Senate, launching a GOP primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn. If Paxton wins, and he’s likely going to take the bulk of the MAGA voters, it should make it easier for the Dems to flip that seat. Especially in a blue wave election, which 2026 is likely to be. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/27 "2025-04-11T19:34:32Z")
A Michigan update: > **[Democrats lose another top contender in Michigan Senate after Whitmer and...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/10/politics/michigan-senate-race-democrats-mcdonald-rivet/index.html)** > > Another top Democratic contender for Michigan’s open Senate seat has begun informing colleagues she will take a pass on the race, according to three people familiar with the conversations, narrowing the field for a seat that Democrats are... ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/28 "2025-04-11T19:52:45Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I love el-Sayed, but just don’t think Michigan’s ready for a Muslim to represent them in the Senate. If minorities waited until America was “ready” we’d still have Jim Crow today. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/29 "2025-04-11T20:13:12Z")
Bad news from Colorado, although I suspect the seat will stay blue: [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5243678-sen-michael-bennet-governor-colorado/](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5243678-sen-michael-bennet-governor-colorado/) ---
**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:** [April 12, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/30 "2025-04-12T05:03:54Z")
Wouldn’t outgoing and term limited Governor Polis be an obvious choice to run for the seat Bennet is leaving? I have no idea if he is interested but I know his name has been bandied about as a possible candidate for POTUS at some point and he is only 49 so a term or two in the Senate might not be a bad idea. This could be a good way to get more notice on the national stage and run for the WH later. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/31 "2025-04-17T14:23:05Z")
Abdul el-Sayed makes it official in Michigan. > **[Abdul for U.S. Senate | Official Campaign Website](https://abdulforsenate.com/)** > > Abdul El-Sayed is running for U.S. Senate to build a government that works for everyday Michiganders — not billionaires. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/32 "2025-04-21T13:15:06Z")
Lots of work to be done: > **[Democrats’ crises begin to play out in early Senate recruitment and first...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/20/politics/democrat-crisis-recruitment-campaigns/index.html)** > > Democrats’ panic over what they stand for and whether they can credibly compete beyond the bluest states is already erupting in the rush to recruit Senate candidates across the country for next year — a desperate effort to dig out from years of... ---
**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:** [April 23, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/33 "2025-04-23T15:36:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Out of these nine, Dick Durbin is the only one whose term is up in 2026 and hasn’t announced he’s retiring. > > He needs to be the #1 target for a primary challenge He has now announced: > **[Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, won't seek reelection to...](https://apnews.com/article/dick-durbin-senate-reelection-majority-02ff2de634c0e6b62842f80eef01f72e)** > > U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois says he won’t seek reelection to a sixth term in 2026 and knows “it’s time to pass the torch.” ---
**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:** [April 23, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/34 "2025-04-23T19:52:43Z")
Good. I’m a constituent and I’ve been calling his office once a week for last 2 months telling them it’s time for him to retire. His vote to pass the continuing resolution was the last straw for me. It is time for someone who will fight. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/35 "2025-04-24T13:28:02Z")
Our congressman, Republican Andy Barr, running for Mitch McConnell’s KY Senate seat, is positioning himself as the Trumpiest of Trump stooges, apparently in response to Club of Growth\* attack ads claiming he’s a stealth progressive because he once allegedly agreed with a Democrat on something. In a virtual “town hall” Barr not only vigorously defended Trumpian slime but made it clear how much he adores Musk. > [@](#): > > Barr…made it clear that he and Musk are joined at the hip. A few days after the “town hall” Barr released a photo of himself standing beside a shiny new Tesla, with a big smile, a thumbs-up, and the caption “Elon Musk sure knows what he’s doing!” There was a time when a sitting member of Congress would be ashamed to do a commercial for a private company that has numerous federal contracts. The congressional code of ethics? How quaint. The oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution? Void. Cancer victims, veterans, the bourbon industry, auto workers, farmers, the elderly? Lip service. Shilling for billionaires? Sure. A thumbs-up for Musk. A different finger for the rest of us. [https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article304715186.html#storylink=cpy](https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article304715186.html#storylink=cpy) Barr has morphed into our worst Congressman ever, a neat trick since when we lived in Texas, our Congressman was Tom DeLay. 😱 The Billionaire Boys Club a.k.a. Club of Growth has been a major Trump funder and is pushing hard for his tax cut and deregulate agenda. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/36 "2025-04-24T13:42:22Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bad news from Colorado, although I suspect the seat will stay blue: No guaranty Bennet will even win the primary. > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Wouldn’t outgoing and term limited Governor Polis be an obvious choice to run for the seat Bennet is leaving? He is not well loved by the blue voters here, especially the unions. I predict a primary challenge and that’s assuming Bennet wins and Polis is appointed to fill out his term. And there is another possibility. If a true centrist Republican were to run (think similar to Phil Scott - VT) there is a chance they could win the governorship and or senate seat and drag the state back towards the purple camp. However, I don’t think the Colorado Republicans are that smart and instead we’ll get Boebert-type vs some corporate executive in the Republican primaries. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/37 "2025-05-05T21:51:16Z")
Good news for Senator Jon Ossoff in GA - [Kemp declines to run](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/us/politics/brian-kemp-senate-georgia-jon-ossoff.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E08.q3Ky.Cuy2uh-iVt53&smid=url-share) in 2026 for the GOP nomination. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2025, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/38 "2025-05-07T11:41:20Z")
And MAGA is still around. What was Trump about? What was MAGA about? Someone was ripping them off. Their world is a zero-sum world. If someone gets something, it is away from me. Medicaid, kids in headstart, maybe that blind man with the cane. I totally missed understanding them. I am not against being taxed and I can see a need for many things we fund. I am shocked public schools being placed aside, so the GOP can build conservative institutions at all levels. Or maybe they just want the white working class uneducated. Anyway, Fox News has been feeding this stuff to them for years. For at least 30 years the conservative media has been broadcasting all this stuff. And I failed to see that just by our presence, the teachers and scientists and people who get funding for jobs that are aimed at improving our lives…well, we have been ripping them off them too. What do they care about Harvard curing cancer, if they do not get paid enough for a comfortable living? Our effort, research, is a waste that is away from them. The elites must not be supported by tax funds! Pay for it yourself! Get your rich elites to pay your research! ---
**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:** [June 29, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/39 "2025-06-29T19:43:36Z")
NC’s Thom Tillis not seeking reelection next year [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5375837-tillis-reelection-senate-north-carolina/](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5375837-tillis-reelection-senate-north-carolina/) ---
**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 29, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/40 "2025-06-29T20:01:10Z")
That’s terrific news. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=3)