# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/41 "2025-06-29T23:59:49Z")
Now someone needs to talk Roy Cooper into running. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/42 "2025-07-01T09:20:06Z")
Excellent summary, I think (though it probably fits better in some other thread — I don’t mean to junior mod). Seriously, this sums it all up well. ---
**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 1, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/43 "2025-07-01T12:14:13Z")
Colin Allred announces second attempt to make Texas less red. [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/01/allred-tx-00434667](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/01/allred-tx-00434667) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/44 "2025-07-11T01:15:31Z")
> **['Biblical grounds' - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's wife files for divorce](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biblical-grounds-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-wife-files-divorce)** > > Attorney General Ken Paxton and wife Angela end 38-year marriage as she files for divorce following his impeachment acquittal and amid his Senate challenge against Cornyn So does this help Paxton with GOP men more than it hurts him with the women? Or am I thinking about it all wrong? ---
**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 11, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/45 "2025-07-11T01:22:26Z")
So do we think he was spilling his seed on the ground, or attempting to sacrifice his children to Molech? ---
**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:** [July 11, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/46 "2025-07-11T02:48:08Z")
My brother and sister-in-law who live in Texas, who are basically old school (Reagan) Republicans, despise Paxton and didn’t vote for him. To their credit they didn’t vote for DJT either. I doubt they are typical of men or women in the state. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/47 "2025-07-11T12:18:26Z")
Texas has a population of 31 million people, second only to California. Is it possible to **accurately** say what’s “typical”? ---
**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:** [July 11, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/48 "2025-07-11T16:22:20Z")
I get your point however the majority of voters in Texas have given the GOP a solid lock on all state and federal offices for a couple of decades now, or close to it. I would consider that to be “typical” behavior. My point being for voters who consider themselves conservatives to NOT vote that way is not typical. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/49 "2025-07-23T20:52:28Z")
> **[Former Gov. Roy Cooper plans to enter North Carolina Senate race](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/former-gov-roy-cooper-plans-enter-north-carolina-senate-race-rcna217720)** > > Democrats view Cooper, who has won six statewide elections for attorney general and governor, as a top recruit as they look to flip a Republican-held seat. ---
**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 23, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/50 "2025-07-23T21:48:27Z")
Bill Huizenga, my worthless representative, passes on a Senate run, essentially clearing the GOP path for Mike Rogers. [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5415922-huizenga-drops-senate-bid/?tbref=hp](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5415922-huizenga-drops-senate-bid/?tbref=hp) President Trump told him “No Senate seat for you!” ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/51 "2025-07-23T21:49:44Z")
Great news! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/52 "2025-07-26T01:13:08Z")
Yes, it is. The best candidate we could have hoped for, with the best chance of actually winning. ---
**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 30, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/53 "2025-07-30T13:48:11Z")
Do we have a “House races 2026” thread? I can’t find it. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/54 "2025-08-12T17:41:11Z")
You just can’t keep Sherrod Brown down! [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/12/sherrod-brown-ohio-senate-00504813](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/12/sherrod-brown-ohio-senate-00504813) ---
**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:** [August 17, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/55 "2025-08-17T02:56:49Z")
Yes, very good news here in Ohio! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/56 "2025-08-29T16:41:12Z")
Multiple sources saying that Joni Ernst (R-IA) will not run for re-election in 2026. Early polls apparently had her trailing Democrat Zach Wahls. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/57 "2025-08-29T18:10:30Z")
Is this likely to happen? > “Trump proposed that Republicans hold a national convention before the 2026 midterm elections. “It has never been done before. STAY TUNED!!!” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that Republicans “won every aspect of the Presidential Election” and are “poised to WIN BIG IN THE MIDTERMS.” House Speaker Mike Johnson endorsed the idea, writing, “YES, Mr. President! Let’s go!!!” Democrats are also weighing a pre-midterm convention to showcase candidates, but some leaders warned it could be too costly as the DNC lags behind Republicans in fundraising. (Politico / New York Times / Washington Post)” > > > [Political News for Normal People. | What The Fuck Just Happened Today?](https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/#:~:text=8/-,Trump%20proposed%20that%20Republicans%20hold%20a%20national%20convention%20before%20the%202026,in%20fundraising.%20(Politico%20/%20New%20York%20Times%20/%20Washington%20Post),-9/%20Congress) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/58 "2025-08-29T19:48:06Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > Multiple sources saying that Joni Ernst (R-IA) will not run for re-election in 2026. Early polls apparently had her trailing Democrat Zach Wahls. That’d be too bad. She was very vulnerable. A new candidate won’t have the advantage of incumbency, but will not have her baggage. ---
**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 29, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/59 "2025-08-29T21:38:12Z")
I have difficulty getting too excited about Ernst probably retiring. It’s Iowa, pretty solidly MAGA these days. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/60 "2025-08-29T22:51:21Z")
With notable exceptions (granted, low turnout): [https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2025-08-27/democrat-catelin-dreys-victory-in-iowa-special-election-breaks-gop-supermajority](https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2025-08-27/democrat-catelin-dreys-victory-in-iowa-special-election-breaks-gop-supermajority) Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=4)