# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/741 "2026-10-16T21:29:51Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > If Bankhead dropped out could ballots have her name removed at this point? No, the deadline for that has passed. I forget exactly when that was, but I think in early Sept. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/742 "2026-10-16T22:02:22Z")
> [@JDYanYan](#): > > Also it kind of highlights the problem that Republicans have caused. Agreed. I know that Republicans try to spin it by claiming that it’s because of excessive regulation from Democrats, but most people won’t buy that because (1) it happened when Democrats aren’t in power anywhere in the federal government, (2) it’s happening in red areas as well so this isn’t a local Democrat policy issue, and (3) it just happens to escalate following the war in Iran. So yeah, it’s a very questionable choice for a Republican. ---
**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 16, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/743 "2026-10-16T22:14:51Z")
So a moot issue. It’s Alme easily winning. Democratic primary debate hypothetical question: “If by August your candidacy is in third place and it looks like your candidacy is only assuring a GOP win, do you promise to quit the race, or do you promise to fight on?” Which answer do you think would have gotten more support? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/744 "2026-10-17T00:24:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Agreed. I know that Republicans try to spin it by claiming that it’s because of excessive regulation from Democrats A bit off topic but that’s how the Republican for state house in my district is implying it. His campaign ads are _Washington has failed us. Brad Bettencourt will fight for you!_ He neglects to mention who’s been charge of Washington for some time now, just how a state legislator will fight them on that, the fact that he contributed money and served as a witness when Kari Lake sued to overturn her loss for governor in 2022, and has ties to the Proud Boys. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/745 "2026-10-17T13:10:17Z")
I didn’t think Seth Bodnar had a chance in the Montana Senate race, but the latest poll shows Bodnar(I) 37% Alme(R) 35% Bankhead(D) 13% undecided 13% > **[MT Senate Polling](https://www.mtpolling.com/)** ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/746 "2026-10-17T15:20:06Z")
That’s also the law in every state I’ve voted in. When I’ve volunteered in a polling place (which I’ve done in both partisan and non-partisan ways) I’ve been careful not to wear clothing with any words on it, in case they could be construed as political. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > But a lot of Democrats will walk over and ask for the sample ballot. I have never seen a partisan “sample ballot” anywhere near a polling place. Just some people holding signs for this candidate or that, carefully outside the non-partisan limit. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > There are sample ballots as you come into the voting room, so you can read them while waiting if there’s a line; but they’re most certainly not pre-marked by anybody. Same ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/747 "2026-10-17T15:26:36Z")
So on the one hand - it’s the first poll after the Dem chair endorsed Bodnar. OTOH it is a small partisan poll conducted for the Bodnar campaign and very different than the polls that came before that all show Alme with a commanding lead. I doubt Alme is too concerned about it ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/748 "2026-10-17T15:36:21Z")
I don’t feel polling is very reliable these days. Lots of people screen calls or just don’t answer unless they know the caller. And I’m sure “who is willing to talk to pollsters” is biased. Biased enough to matter in the outcome. But i don’t know what the bias is. I’m going to be anxious until the votes are counted. (Also, early voting has started in a lot of places. I’m planning to vote later this afternoon.) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/749 "2026-10-17T15:49:11Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m going to be anxious until the view are counted. Me too. (Votes are counted, presumably.) I just hope I’m not even more anxious afterwards. ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/750 "2026-10-17T15:56:33Z")
Yup, i fixed my typo. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/751 "2026-10-17T17:30:41Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I don’t feel polling is very reliable these days. Lots of people screen calls or just don’t answer unless they know the caller. Pollsters have moved beyond just calling random, or even non-random, phone numbers. They now collect data from online sources, although I don’t know all the details. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > And I’m sure “who is willing to talk to pollsters” is biased. Biased enough to matter in the outcome. But i don’t know what the bias is. Another thing they do is to adjust their numbers for response bias. They have a model of what they think the electorate is and if the people responding to their poll is different, they make adjustments. Now whether they have an accurate model is another question, and when polls are off, it’s usually because they have an inaccurate model. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/752 "2026-10-17T17:39:01Z")
Never mind … ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/753 "2026-10-17T17:39:58Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > OTOH it is a small partisan poll conducted for the Bodnar campaign and very different than the polls that came before that all show Alme with a commanding lead. I wasn’t getting very excited about it, since I don’t think Bodnar has a chance at winning. However, it was included in the list of polls that [electoral-vote.com](http://electoral-vote.com) has in their post today. Those guys don’t add partisan polls to their list, so I’m not sure why you thinks it’s partisan. ---
**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 17, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/754 "2026-10-17T18:08:59Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I’m not sure why you thinks it’s partisan. I looked it up? It was done FOR the Bodnar campaign - > **[Montana Shock Poll – The ELLIS Insight](https://www.ellisinsight.com/senate/montana-shock-poll-2/)** > The Concord Public Opinion Partners poll (Oct. 6-8; 405 likely Montana general election voters; live interview & text), conducted for the Bodnar campaign … Weird though that I don’t see it even listed in the NYT polling list for the race. ---
**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 17, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/755 "2026-10-17T18:13:02Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m going to be anxious until the votes are counted. If the predicted blue wave happens, I’m going to be anxious until all the winners take office in January. The Orange Menace will scream fraud about any results he dislikes. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/756 "2026-10-17T18:18:30Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I have never seen a partisan “sample ballot” anywhere near a polling place. I think you have not been in Pennsylvania, or at least not where I have lived. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/757 "2026-10-17T18:59:15Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > > [@dtilque](#): > > > > I’m not sure why you thinks it’s partisan. > > I looked it up? It was done FOR the Bodnar campaign - OK, I figured out why the Electoral-vote people don’t consider it partisan. It’s because Bodnar is neither Republican nor Democrat. However, I think that’s taking the independence of Bodnar too literally. If he does get elected, he’ll be just like Angus King, who’s nominally (I), but caucuses with the (D)s. ---
**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 17, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/758 "2026-10-17T19:03:11Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > I have never seen a partisan “sample ballot” anywhere near a polling place. > > I think you have not been in Pennsylvania, or at least not where I have lived. I have been in Pennsylvania many times. 😆 But no, I’ve never lived there and never voted there. Honestly, i think it’s shocking and a little disturbing that PA allows people to stand in the polling places and hand out partisan recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/759 "2026-10-17T19:37:39Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I don’t feel polling is very reliable these days. Lots of people screen calls or just don’t answer unless they know the caller. And I’m sure “who is willing to talk to pollsters” is biased. Biased enough to matter in the outcome. But i don’t know what the bias is. It certainty seems so. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I think you have not been in Pennsylvania, or at least not where I have lived. > **[Poll Watchers](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/voter-support/your-rights-and-the-law/poll-watchers)** > > Poll Watchers Not actually in the polling place, but a mere 10 feet away. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/760 "2026-10-17T22:05:14Z")
I was in Pennsylvania as an undergrad, but at the time still had Ohio as my permanent address, so I never saw what voting there was like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=39)