# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/621 "2026-10-09T01:19:09Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > As will, unfortunately, the machinations to deny him the seat. Courts are going ot be busy. It may not have time to go through the courts…after the madding crowd surges when the GOP Senate leadership tried to keep him out of the seat, they might see the writing on the wall and say “Just kidding!! Take the chair, Jimmy, welcome aboard!” ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/622 "2026-10-09T01:36:00Z")
Current Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stood up to a great deal of pressure from Trump to end the filibuster. So I can can see Thune, Pence-style, standing up to Trump’s insistence that he refuse to seat new Democratic senators when the governor objects (as I’m thinking Greg Abbott would). On the other hand, I can also see the current SCOTUS overruling [Powell v. McCormack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_v._McCormack). P.S. Or would Abbott agree that Talarico legitimately won, if the Democrat did win? In that case, no courts would be needed – it would end right there. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/623 "2026-10-09T02:04:56Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > P.S. Or would Abbott agree that Talarico legitimately won, if the Democrat did win? In that case, no courts would be needed – it would end right there. Seemingly it would. But keep in mine the TX Secretary of State (who certifies election results) is not elected but rather an appointee of the Governor so it isn’t really clear what would motivate them to ignore an order from Abbott to NOT certify the race if the Gov chooses to deny the win. Either way, if I were Talarico I would avoid standing near any open windows during the lame duck period before he is sworn (should he win). ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/624 "2026-10-09T18:41:26Z")
Trump’s taken to calling Abdul El Sayed “Mohammed El Sayed” or even “Mohammed El Fayed.” A Democratic Senate PAC put out an ad today featuring Muhammad Ali’s voice and it’s pretty badass. > **[hollybsorensen (@hollybsorensen) on Threads](https://www.threads.com/share/BAEqHv25ni/)** > > Whoa. > After taking Muslim coded slurs from Trump and Mike Rogers all day, Senate Majority PAC releases new ad feat. Muhammad Ali's famous speech: I could only find it on Threads, so I apologize if you can’t see it from my link. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/625 "2026-10-09T19:43:31Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > “Mohammed El Fayed.” Is this disrespectful mis-naming or something more sinister? ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/626 "2026-10-09T19:49:59Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > something more sinister? Maybe this. Mohammed Al-Fayed was an Egyptian businessman who owned a bunch of high-profile businesses in Europe: Harrods department store, the Hotel Ritz Paris, etc. You might recognize the name of his son, Dodi Al-Fayed, who was Princess Diana’s boyfriend, and who died with her in the 1997 car crash in Paris. Mohammed Al-Fayed was the subject of many allegations of sexual assault, and discriminatory practices at his businesses; after his death in 2023, many more sexual assault allegations have surfaced. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/627 "2026-10-09T19:51:46Z")
I suspect it’s just disrespect. He’s really taken to purposefully mispronouncing things as a badge of honor these days. Like “vaygan” instead of “vegan.” ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/628 "2026-10-09T19:53:24Z")
Hadn’t thought of that, but I still think it’s probably just a stupid old man making fun of a brown person’s name by coming across as not caring how it’s pronounced. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/629 "2026-10-09T19:58:47Z")
It is hard to know when it his trying to insult and when it just his being stupid. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/630 "2026-10-09T20:03:52Z")
Right. To Trump’s dusty, racist brain it might seem like an insulting thing to call someone Mohammed when that isn’t their name, or to capitalize an existing name like Hussein. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/631 "2026-10-12T14:06:41Z")
I agree, BoBot. 😉 In other news, this “Talarico checked into an Ohio mental institution” story blew up in spectacular fashion yesterday. IYKYK, but if you don’t know, you can find out more at the link below. > **[Campaign And Hospital Deny Claim That James Talarico Went To Ohio Mental...](https://www.dailywire.com/news/campaign-denies-claim-that-james-talaricos-flu-was-mental-health-crisis)** > > James Talarico’s Senate campaign is officially denying rumors that his two-week absence from the public eye was the result of a mental health crisis. “This is a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory. Last week James Talarico was home... ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/632 "2026-10-12T14:33:34Z")
I googled that site and found that it is right wing and run by Ben Shapiro. I guess Ben believes that you just check yourself in at the institution. Unfortunately, that’s just the kind of Facebook spread junk that Americans eat up. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/633 "2026-10-12T14:55:33Z")
I think if you’re the kind right wing echo chamber inhabitant that would believe this kind of nonsense, you were not ever going to vote for Talarico. This feels like top tier desperation that makes the “Hunter Biden’s laptop” nonsense seem grounded by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/634 "2026-10-12T15:08:17Z")
My worry is that it feeds into the “both sides” doomerism. Some folks are fed up to here with Republican and specifically Paxton corruption and incompetence and nonsense, and might be considering a vote for Talarico. Enough garbage thrown at Talarico gives them the excuse of saying, “they’re all assholes or lunatics” and staying home. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/635 "2026-10-12T15:15:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Mohammed Al-Fayed was the subject of many allegations of sexual assault, and discriminatory practices at his businesses; after his death in 2023, many more sexual assault allegations have surfaced. So maybe it’s not even intentional on Trump’s part. He was probably friendly with Al-Fayed, and that’s a name that stuck in his senile brain. I doubt Trump misnaming the guy is going to make much difference in the election, honestly. I think to most American ears, both names sound similar. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/636 "2026-10-12T16:47:05Z")
Maybe? But I’ve never seen this garden hose stuff work effectively in past cycles. The voices that are trying to propagate nonsense like this are the same ones that tried to make Charlie Kirk into a martyr. There’s a familiar ebb and flow to these tempest in a teapot campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/637 "2026-10-12T16:58:10Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > So maybe it’s not even intentional on Trump’s part. Trump invoking a stereotypical Muslim name will never not be intentional. We know this guy by now. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/638 "2026-10-12T17:20:33Z")
Abdul El Sayed’s real name is a “stereotypical Muslim name” . I heard an interview with him on NPR. Apparently, he spoke at… Probably his college graduation, and Bill Clinton was there giving a talk or getting an honorary degree or something. And afterwards, Clinton pulled him aside, and said, “you should go into politics”. And he thought, “with a name like mine? Haha, no chance”. I think “Abdul” is more stereotypical than “Mohammed”, honestly. At least, that’s the name of the random Beduin in kids books, in my experience. I haven’t heard him speak, except in that interview. But i kinda trust Bill Clinton’s judgment on who gives a rousing speech. ---
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/639 "2026-10-12T17:46:48Z")
I didn’t really believe Talarico had a chance in Texas until the Republicans started flailing around with the fake mental institution story. Their internal poll numbers must be showing something pretty bad for them. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/640 "2026-10-12T18:50:17Z")
I don’t really see this story as different from the vegan trans idiocy that’s come out. Like they’ve been pushing the theory that he’s [secretly vegan and throws up any meat he eats](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/texas/2026/10/07/is-talarico-a-vegan-trump-claims-talarico-got-sick-from-eating-meat/92144004007/). I’m not sure the asylum story is any stupider than the secret vegan story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=33)