# 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:** 23
**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:** [September 7, 2026, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/441 "2026-09-07T05:17:16Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > > [@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. This is precisely what i am worried about (gift link): [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/us/politics/pappas-sununu-new-hampshire-senate.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.\_VA.My-t.RQlw3SUYWxMm&smid=nytcore-android-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/us/politics/pappas-sununu-new-hampshire-senate.html?unlocked_article_code=1._VA.My-t.RQlw3SUYWxMm&smid=nytcore-android-share) > In recent weeks, a tide of anxiety has risen among Democrats in the Granite State who are concerned that a party with big dreams of expanding its map could let the seat left open by the pending retirement of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, slip from its grasp. > > The matchup that is widely expected to emerge from the state’s primary on Tuesday would pit Representative Chris Pappas, 46, a four-term congressman from the swingy First District, against former Senator John E. Sununu, who is the brother and son of two former governors. A recent poll by the University of New Hampshire showed Mr. Pappas running narrowly behind in such a contest. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/442 "2026-09-08T00:59:34Z")
Current GOP Senator Roger Marshall is running for re-election in Kansas, and is favored to be re-elected. He’s been running ads which feature Trump telling us what a great senator Marshall has been for our state. Today DJT proclaimed that Canadian aircraft company Bombardier can no longer sell in the US unless it moves its manufacturing here. Wichita is the US headquarters for Bombardier. It has 1500 employees and is one of the top employers in the city. I would guess that the Trump ads for Marshall won’t be seen for a while. ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/443 "2026-09-08T02:42:17Z")
I think we truly have no idea how close we are to the bottom falling out for Trump. He still thinks it’s 2016. Even in 2024 his fanbase was dwindling significantly, that was before he decided to make his administration into “Project: Every Day Is My Rage Birthday.” He’s coming to an electorate of highly engaged voters that hated him in 2022 when inflation was someone else’s problem. I think there are some seats that conventional wisdom thinks is “safe red” that’re actually hanging in the balance. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/444 "2026-09-10T00:13:04Z")
James Talarico is throwing trans kids under the bus. > **[James Talarico reverses stance on trans student-athletes](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/09/james-talarico-trans-sports-reversal-lgbtq-rights-texas-us-senate-race/)** > > Talarico’s comments on Fox News came in contrast to positions he took in the Texas House opposing GOP restrictions on trans student-athletes. I had such hope for him. The Republicans handed him this race on a platter and he’s STILL trying the same old “pivot right in the general” crap that worked once 34 years ago and which Democratic instututionalists have been obsessed with to their own detriment ever since. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/445 "2026-09-10T00:19:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > James Talarico is throwing trans kids under the bus. > DALLAS — Democratic U.S. Senate nominee [James Talarico](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/james-talarico/) on Wednesday said he opposed transgender student-athletes competing in girls’ sports “if it endangers safety or fairness,” reversing course on previous positions he took while in the Texas House opposing restrictions on trans athletes. > > “Every sport has to be safe and fair,” Talarico [said on Fox News](https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2097777051360964890). “As a former public school teacher, I care a lot about our student athletes, I care a lot about our students. And so I will oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.” But here is what he actually DID- > As a state representative, Talarico voted against GOP restrictions barring trans student-athletes from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. He said such proposals amounted to a push for the government to “police people’s private parts” and would harm “the least of these,” a reference to Jesus’ remarks in scripture. and here- > Republicans were quick to denounce Talarico’s comments Wednesday, calling them contrary to his legislative record and not to be trusted. Is not safety for transkids an important thing? Are there not people out there that might endanger transkids who compete? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/446 "2026-09-10T00:29:33Z")
Hence the “pivot to the right” ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/447 "2026-09-10T00:30:56Z")
Dumb move by Talarico. You don’t have to play that game. You don’t have to answer bullshit questions, and all questions about Trans kids and sports that treat it like anything but a political sideshow are bullshit questions. ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/448 "2026-09-10T00:44:22Z")
I get a sense that the consultant industrial complex has made trans people in sports their biggest white whale, because people poll insanely to the right on the topic. Personally I think it’s a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing. No one will change their vote over this, and it would have been better to ignore it altogether. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/449 "2026-09-10T01:03:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Is not safety for transkids an important thing? Safety for trans kids means affirming their identity, not telling grade schoolers that their identity is “unfair” and segregating them into spaces that don’t meet their needs. The right wing panic about trans kids playing sports has nothing to do with safety or fairness and everything to do with making trans people uncomfortable being themselves in public so they’ll go back into the closet, spiral into depression, and kill themselves. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/450 "2026-09-10T02:13:21Z")
You know I take care of a lot of trans kids. On the list of threats they experience? I’ve not yet had one for whom this specific issue, a trans girl competing on the girls team, is high on the list. Not saying it isn’t an issue for some … but things like bathroom access, respecting pronoun choice, protection from bullying, and critically _access to gender affirming medical services_ … much much much much more important. He voted against SB 14, the Texas law banning gender affirming care including puberty blockers in minors. That matters. Lots. He is on record supporting the families and their medical teams, and keeping the state out of it. That matters. A very narrow statement of being against something “if it endangers safety or fairness” is honestly reasonable. There are some situations where someone transitioning from male to female and currently identifying as female, but not yet puberty blocking, may conceivable cross that line. IF that line is ever crossed I’d be against it too. Mostly that line is not crossed of course. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/451 "2026-09-10T02:52:16Z")
Granted, it’s a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but any concession to Republican framing on the issue of trans rights comes across as a message that their rights are negotiable and not worth taking a principled stand for. It doesn’t gain him any votes because any voter who considers trans people playing sports a major issue was always going to vote for Paxton anyway, and from what I’m seeing on Bluesky and Reddit, the LGBT community is _livid_ about it. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/452 "2026-09-10T03:04:02Z")
Democratic candidates may not have perfectly nuanced views on trans issues, just as Barack Obama was initially opposed to gay marriage. But let’s not forget that the alternative is a Republican who _does not think trans people should exist_ and will go out of his or her (but not _their_ because _they_ don’t exist among Republicans) way to legislate trans people away. Completely. A Democrat can be taught; a Republican only knows how to hate and thrives on that hate. So if a Democratic Senate candidate doesn’t have a perfect record on voting when it comes to trans issues, vote for them anyway and then enlighten them, as Obama was enlightened on gay marriage. Unless of course you believe the problem has to get worse before it can get better and must get worse at the expense of the people you wish to protect so as to emphasize the point. That seems counter intuitive though and I can think of at least one prominent place in the world where this approach hasn’t helped at all and where that is going to continue haunting Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/453 "2026-09-10T04:26:41Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Safety for trans kids means affirming their identity, not telling grade schoolers that their identity is “unfair” and segregating them into spaces that don’t meet their needs. The right wing panic about trans kids playing sports has nothing to do with safety or fairness and everything to do with making trans people uncomfortable being themselves in public so they’ll go back into the closet, spiral into depression, and kill themselves. Safety for transkids also means protecting them from Bigots. Here is the real issue- Parents. Parents are not always logical about their kids. So let us take their little Emma- they want her to do good in some sport as there could be scholarships. But then they see Johnny/Joanie has joined the term. All of a sudden, these very liberal parents stop being rational. They are already upset as Amelie’s parents have hired a pro coach. Is their concern rational? No. They might have been the first people on their block to support gay marriage- but not when they stop being rational. They are not suddenly transphobic or bigoted. **They are worried about their kid.** Politicians can not dismiss their concerns by calling them “not rational”. That will not work. So, even the most Liberals ones have to say 'This is a serious issue that needs study, and I am concerned for the children’s safety". > [@DSeid](#): > > He voted against SB 14, the Texas law banning gender affirming care including puberty blockers in minors. That matters. Lots. He is on record supporting the families and their medical teams, and keeping the state out of it. That matters. > > A very narrow statement of being against something “if it endangers safety or fairness” is honestly reasonable. Right, Importantly- look at what they **DO** , not what they _say_ when cornered. This is gonna come up more and more, and calling these Politicians “transphobes” will do nothing but help the real bigots- the MAGAs. Look at all the good Governor Newsom did for the LBQT+ community. No Governor has signed more bills protecting them and ensuring their rights. But then he trolls some bigot on his Podcast, and suddenly the most progressive Governor in 50 states is a transphobe. Incidentally, Newsom later clarified his Podcast statement, saying more or less “'This is a serious issue that needs study.” > [@Smapti](#): > > Granted, it’s a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but any concession to Republican framing on the issue of trans rights This is not that. This is a concession to concerned Liberal voting parents who are not entirely thinking rationally. They need to be told they are being listened to, and that this is a serious issue. > **[Has Gavin Newsom really signed the most pro-trans bills of any governor?](https://www.advocate.com/politics/gavin-newsom-pro-transgender-bills)** > > The California governor made the claim in an interview this week. Read on for our fact-check. > His statement about pro-trans legislation is likely true, especially given the volume of such legislation in California… But based on LGBTQ+ group [Equality California’s](https://www.eqca.org/legislation/#) database of legislation it has backed, plus _The Advocate_’s reporting, we count 47 pro-LGBTQ+ bills Newsom has signed into law since taking office in 2019, of which 21 specifically benefited [transgender](https://www.advocate.com/transgender) people. Most of the generally pro-LGBTQ+ bills benefit trans people as well. > [@DWMarch](#): > > A Democrat can be taught; a Republican only knows how to hate and thrives on that hate. So if a Democratic Senate candidate doesn’t have a perfect record on voting when it comes to trans issues, vote for them anyway and then enlighten them But in this case, they _do_ have a perfect voting record- just not a perfect _quote_ record. Look at what they DO. Sometimes Politicians have to _say_ something to appease their voters. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/454 "2026-09-10T05:22:18Z")
I’m not the one who needs to be convinced he’s the better candidate. The LGBT people who are being shown that he doesn’t care enough about their rights to stand up for them are. And from what I’m seeing, those people are PISSED right now. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/455 "2026-09-10T14:37:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And from what I’m seeing, those people are PISSED right now. Real people you talk to or on line? People with trans kids? FWIW I am very skeptical of online outrage. Between bots programmed to stir shit up, real people astroturfing, and a few who are sincere and loud, I hesitate to believe it means much. > [@Smapti](#): > > The right wing panic about trans kids playing sports has nothing to do with safety or fairness and everything to do with making trans people uncomfortable being themselves in public so they’ll go back into the closet, spiral into depression, and kill themselves. Agreed about the right wing panic. AND many others who are supportive of trans rights in general, who see the bathroom blocking bills and the banning of ALL gender affirming care exactly as you and I do, are also not so sure that transgirls playing on girls teams is always safe and fair. It is pretty overwhelming numbers that are uncomfortable on the sports issue including among Democrats and young voters; even within the LGBQT community, where support is markedly highest, support is not overwhelming. > **[LGBTQ+ people are the most supportive group when it comes to trans athletes -...](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/08/lgbtq-people-are-the-most-supportive-group-when-it-comes-to-trans-athletes/)** > > Americans have very low support for trans people's participation in sports, but support is markedly higher among queer people. > This held across several demographics reported by Pew, including those based on gender, race/ethnicity, and age, with 18- to 29-year-olds showing the most support, with 22% saying they were “extremely” or “very” comfortable. > > The poll, though, found that 45% of LGBTQ+ people were “extremely” or “very” comfortable with trans athletes participating in sports, and only a minority – 34% – said they were “not too” or “not at all” comfortable. Outrage about opposing “trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.” - very important qualifier - by someone who has a solid track record of voting for trans rights, and when the alternative is Paxton, and possibly the GOP Senate majority that continues to push for extreme transphobia, would be a stupid hill to die on. Eye on the prize. Keep the focus on why Paxton is disgusting. About the qualifier: Maybe girls rugby or water polo for safety, less likely basketball or volleyball on fairness but arguably at a high school or older level; none in middle school or below Hidden as it may be a hijack, but the fact that someone like me, a very strong supporter of trans rights, of pediatric trans care availability, so on, can have qualifiers on this specific issue, illustrates I hope that lumping everyone into the transphobic box based on this question is simplistic. Fingers crossed for Talerico! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/456 "2026-09-10T14:43:29Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > So if a Democratic Senate candidate doesn’t have a perfect record on voting when it comes to trans issues, vote for them anyway To comment on this: agreed but in this case the candidate actually HAS a perfect record on voting. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/457 "2026-09-10T17:58:37Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Real people you talk to or on line? People with trans kids? FWIW I am very skeptical of online outrage. Between bots programmed to stir shit up, real people astroturfing, and a few who are sincere and loud, I hesitate to believe it means much. Yeah, since his statement was mostly about safety. > [@DSeid](#): > > AND many others who are supportive of trans rights in general, who see the bathroom blocking bills and the banning of ALL gender affirming care exactly as you and I do, are also not so sure that transgirls playing on girls teams is always safe and fair. > > It is pretty overwhelming numbers that are uncomfortable on the sports issue including among Democrats and young voters; even within the LGBQT community, where support is markedly highest, support is not overwhelming. > [@DSeid](#): > > Outrage about opposing “trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.” - very important qualifier - by someone who has a solid track record of voting for trans rights, and when the alternative is Paxton, and possibly the GOP Senate majority that continues to push for extreme transphobia, would be a stupid hill to die on. > > Eye on the prize. Keep the focus on why Paxton is disgusting. Agree, Talaricos statement is not transphobic. > [@DSeid](#): > > To comment on this: agreed but in this case the candidate actually HAS a perfect record on voting. So does Newsom. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/458 "2026-09-10T18:19:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not the one who needs to be convinced he’s the better candidate. The LGBT people who are being shown that he doesn’t care enough about their rights to stand up for them are. > > And from what I’m seeing, those people are PISSED right now. > [@Smapti](#): > > and from what I’m seeing on Bluesky and Reddit, the LGBT community is _livid_ about it. My kid is trans. I am so far from being even mildly perturbed by talarico’s statement. My kid couldn’t care less either. There’s a real problem with believing that social media outrage is widespread or even real. Your algorithm is not the real world. Being livid about things is what people on social media exist for because it drives engagement. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/459 "2026-09-10T18:33:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not the one who needs to be convinced he’s the better candidate. The LGBT people who are being shown that he doesn’t care enough about their rights to stand up for them are. > > And from what I’m seeing, those people are PISSED right now. Well, as a native Texan who is gay and now lives in Illinois, what Talarico said wouldn’t move me one bit away from supporting him in his run. Also, my sister’s oldest child is non-binary and lives in TX. I spoke to them this morning about this very issue. They said, “Give me a break. We know who is our ally and it is definitely Talarico.” They added there is no one in their group of friends who has expressed any wavering enthusiasm for Talarico and his campaign. I would suggest online outrage about this is likely right-wing or Russian trolling. I know plenty of other LGBTQ+ folks who still live in Texas and they all think any outrage over this is nonsense. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/460 "2026-09-10T20:34:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Here is the real issue- Parents. Parents are not always logical about their kids. So let us take their little Emma- they want her to do good in some sport as there could be scholarships. But then they see Johnny/Joanie has joined the term. All of a sudden, these very liberal parents stop being rational. They are already upset as Amelie’s parents have hired a pro coach. Is their concern rational? No. They might have been the first people on their block to support gay marriage- but not when they stop being rational. They are not suddenly transphobic or bigoted. **They are worried about their kid.** The number of parents who actually face this scenario is infinitesimal, because the number of trans girls who might beat out their daughter for a scholarship is tiny. Like, count on one hand in the whole US tiny. The concern you see is from parents who are borrowing trouble, and have been encouraged by trans-haters to worry about the hypothetical. It’s a hypothetical. And Talarico was careful to phrase his comment in an “if it comes up, maybe” way. If he actually has a voting record of protecting trans rights to things that affect many kids, like medical care and bathrooms > [@DSeid](#): > > He voted against SB 14, the Texas law banning gender affirming care including puberty blockers in minors. That matters. Lots. He is on record supporting the families and their medical teams, and keeping the state out of it. That matters. Yeah, like that. Then i think most trans people and their allies will be okay with him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=24)