# 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:** 74
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1462 "2026-11-04T06:37:05Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Quite a bit of a whiff here. Senator, Gov., Lt Gov., State Supremes, etc, etc. all go D. True. But even though bluish purple today, it will only be Blue IMHO if Tx votes Dem for President in 2028. I did expect Talarico to win, but only because the R was a criminal and an asshole to boot. Seeing Abbott go down in flames was a nice surprise. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1463 "2026-11-04T06:46:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Seeing Abbott go down in flames was a nice surprise. And Lt Gov Dan Patrick too. He’s the real MAGA power behind the throne. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1464 "2026-11-04T11:25:21Z")
Tooting my own horn: > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > AES is awesome and he’s going to win comfortably because he’s enormously politically talented. He has a very bright future. Looks like a 7 point win. That’s comfortable! ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1465 "2026-11-04T11:41:32Z")
Blexas is inevitable. Because the TX GOP spent a decade self radicalizing and winning elections on easy mode. They aren’t going to try and win back Hispanic voters, they’re going to spout “replacement theory” nonsense and seethe about how “Illegals have taken over the country.” This is basically what happened in CA in the 1990s. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1466 "2026-11-04T12:06:08Z")
Molly Crabapple: > **[Molly Crabapple (@mollycrabapple.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/mollycrabapple.bsky.social/post/3mzi75y3blk2z)** > > This author has chosen to make their posts visible only to people who are signed in. > 67% of Michigan Jews voted for Abdul > To all the legacy institutions who tried to play them for chumps- you lost ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1467 "2026-11-04T13:00:49Z")
That does seem a little low honestly. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1468 "2026-11-04T13:06:45Z")
I’d just be cautious in your interpretation. And this goes for the whole celebration of the party success nationally: this election seems to me more a solid rejection of the Trump GOP, of Rogers in MI in this context, than an endorsement of the alternative. Somewhere during the night there was exit polling that showed approval of the Democratic Party is still just as under water as it was; it is just that the R side has gone that much more underwater. 69% of MI Jews voted against Rogers and Trumpism. Overall across the nation the party of Trump is being rejected much more than the Democratic Party is being affirmed. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1469 "2026-11-04T13:06:50Z")
AES: > “As I was campaigning, some of you would come up and ask, ‘How come you don’t hit back? How come you don’t call them racist or hateful?’” Dr. El-Sayed told the partyers during his victory speech an hour before The Associated Press made its official call. “They weren’t targeting me. They weren’t just attacking me. They were targeting and attacking you. They were targeting and attacking the very idea of America.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1470 "2026-11-04T13:12:32Z")
Really happy to see that the empty suit Tafoya was defeated in MN by Flanagan. She has zero experience in anything other than being a sports reporter. Also: what a nice surprise to wake up to this morning to both houses being flipped. Trump will immediately lose interest in the Alaska kerfuffle, as it no longer matters. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1471 "2026-11-04T13:22:21Z")
My hunch is that it’s the “establishment” Democrats (Pelosi, Schumer, Jeffries, etc.) that have very low approvals. Hell, I’m a 100% Democrat and I disapprove of them! IIRC, the Democrat in office with the highest national approval right now is AOC - so I think Democrats more like that will be seen better. But we’ll see. Probably impossible to know for sure right now ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1472 "2026-11-04T13:26:27Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Also: what a nice surprise to wake up to this morning to both houses being flipped. “Nice surprise”? For me, more like: 😀💯😍😍 💛 💚 💙 💋 I need more emojis!!! ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1473 "2026-11-04T13:26:33Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Wow, these are some really optimistic predictions recently posted! I wish I shared that view, but I’ve been burned too many times before. I think the Dems will be extremely lucky to get to 51. > > Hope I’m wrong Never have I been so insanely happy to have been soooooo dead wrong 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1474 "2026-11-04T13:37:14Z")
Prediction: Fetterman will stop making R-like noises now that he can’t possibly swing any votes, and try to pretend he was always a loyal D vote. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1475 "2026-11-04T13:40:14Z")
Further caution in the interpretation: > **[Most Jewish voters backed El-Sayed, but many Michigan Democrats crossed party...](https://forward.com/news/860246/michigan-jewish-vote-el-sayed-rogers-poll/)** > > A survey of Jewish early voters found that many Democrats crossed party lines to back Republican Mike Rogers, largely over concerns about Israel and antisemitism > Nearly one in four Jewish voters in Michigan who supported Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024 crossed party lines to vote for Republican Mike Rogers instead of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed this year, according to an exit poll of early voters. … 88% of those who did not vote for El-Sayed said they would have been very likely to vote for a different Democratic nominee. When the alternative was as vile as Rogers losing 25% of a demographic’s support actually is of some concern. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1476 "2026-11-04T13:41:22Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I’d just be cautious in your interpretation. And this goes for the whole celebration of the party success nationally: this election seems to me more a solid rejection of the Trump GOP, of Rogers in MI in this context, than an endorsement of the alternative. Somewhere during the night there was exit polling that showed approval of the Democratic Party is still just as under water as it was; it is just that the R side has gone that much more underwater. > > 69% of MI Jews voted against Rogers and Trumpism. > > Overall across the nation the party of Trump is being rejected much more than the Democratic Party is being affirmed. Yes, the Republicans lost because the economy sucks, and people are paying more for gas and for food than they can afford. And it’s not clear to me that the shiny new Democratic majority can fix that. But today I’m celebrating. Today I’m taking joy in learning that democracy isn’t dead in America, we will get to vote again in 2 years. That Trump’s worst excesses may be thwarted. Maybe the war in Iran will be stopped. Maybe we’ll get a Medicare option for all. Maybe all those nearly-complete windmills Trump killed will be resuscitated and we’ll be less dependant on fossil’s fuel. Heck, maybe those nutty tariffs will even be rolled back. Anyway, that’s all for tomorrow. Today is for celebration. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1477 "2026-11-04T13:43:09Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Further caution in the interpretation: I mean, one interpretation is that one in four Democratic Jewish voters is seeing antisemitism that @iiandyiiii is not. Another interpretation is that nearly one in four Democratic Jewish voters suffers from an Islamophobic bigotry in a way that @iiandyiiii does not. I’m not sure what evidence could help us figure out which interpretation is more accurate. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1478 "2026-11-04T13:49:37Z")
No one who voted for Mike Rogers actually cares about antisemitism, unless they’re deluded/ignorant or nuts. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1479 "2026-11-04T13:55:32Z")
Jews in MI voted for El-Sayed at a significantly higher rate than non-Jews. On the other hand, Jews in MI voted for the Democrat at a significantly lower rate than the previous Democratic candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1480 "2026-11-04T14:11:07Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Jews in MI voted for El-Sayed at a significantly higher rate than non-Jews. On the other hand, Jews in MI voted for the Democrat at a significantly lower rate than the previous Democratic candidate Not to mention the other statewide candidate in this election. > **[Michigan Jewish Democrats distance themselves from El-Sayed at the polls](https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_6fe8be17-b692-433b-9a77-fc6bfd7b8f0d.amp.html)** > > (The Center Square) – As polls close in Michigan, new polling suggests Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed struggled to secure support among Jewish Democrats. > [@](#): > > It found that El-Sayed significantly underperformed fellow Democrat Jocelyn Benson among Jewish early voters, receiving just 57% of the vote compared with 78% for Benson. > > “While El-Sayed receives a majority of support from Jewish voters casting early ballots, critically, El-Sayed faces significant challenges and substantially underperforms his Democratic counterparts as well as the Democratic enrollment share of this cohort,” the poll found. “This underperformance is credited with El-Sayed’s positions regarding Israel, concerns about antisemitism, and his comments and actions regarding the Jewish community.” That’s a big difference, but given the small size of our community, it seems politically viable for us to be ignored. Not much we can do about that. I also hope that future polling tells us something about how many of those voters were in the same boat as I would have been if I lived in Michigan: very strong concerns about El Sayed’s rhetoric but holding our nose and voting for him anyways because the threat of MAGA is just that high. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/1481 "2026-11-04T14:39:19Z")
Tons of individual politicians have good approval ratings but parties as a whole have horrible approval ratings. On the Dem side the tent has a ton of internal disagreement and factionalism which explains most of it imo. The diversity of public opinion is harder to fit into two parties than ot used to be. Also IDK how common my viewpoint is but I approve of most of the broad party platform and most of what I disagree with is relatively innoffensive but I would answer “disapprove” to an approval poll on the party because I think we haven’t aggressively purged septugenarians from elected office, and also the party leadership needs a wartime consigliere. I obviously am never going to not vote for a Democrat because of this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=73) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=75)