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Election guide

2026 Senate Elections

Pick your state and see who is running and exactly what each candidate campaigns on, side by side, in their own words. Phase one covers the U.S. Senate races on the ballot in November 2026.

35 races · general election Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Senate · 2026
Alaska
This election is for one of Alaska's two U.S. Senate seats, currently held by Republican Dan Sullivan. The race is considered a 'majority maker' by national Democrats, who hope a win could shift control of the Senate.
2 candidates
- Dan S. Sullivan (R)
- Mary Peltola (D)
Senate · 2026
Alabama
This election is to succeed U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor, making it an open seat. Aside from a four-year period, the seat has been held by Republicans for the past 30 years.
3 candidates
- Barry Moore (R)
- Dakarai Larriett (D)
- Everett Wess (D)
Senate · 2026
Arkansas
This election is for a seat currently held by Republican Tom Cotton. Three candidates have declared their intention to run for the seat.
3 candidates
- Tom Cotton (R)
- Hallie Shoffner (D)
- Jeff Wadlin (L)
Senate · 2026
Colorado
This election is for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic incumbent John Hickenlooper, who is seeking re-election. The Democratic primary between Hickenlooper and State Senator Julie Gonzales is seen as an ideological matchup between a centrist and a progressive.
2 candidates
- John Hickenlooper (D)
- Mark Baisley (R)
Senate · 2026
Delaware
This election will fill the Class II U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Chris Coons, who is seeking a fourth full term. Political forecasters generally predict the race to be Solid D or Safe D.
7 candidates
- Chris Coons (D)
- Jeff Appelhans (D)
- E. No-Trump Hansen (D)
- Mary Louve (D)
- +3 more
Special election
Florida
This is a special election to fill the remaining two years of former U.S. Senator Marco Rubio's term, which ends in January 2029. Rubio vacated his seat in January 2025 upon being named Secretary of State by President Donald Trump, and Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Ashley Moody to temporarily fill the vacancy.
3 candidates
- Ashley Moody (R)
- Angie Nixon (D)
- Neil Gillespie (I)
Senate · 2026
Georgia
Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is seeking a second term in this competitive state. The general election will take place on November 3, 2026.
2 candidates
- Jon Ossoff (D)
- Mike Collins (R)
Senate · 2026
Iowa
This open seat election will determine who replaces retiring two-term U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst as Iowa's junior senator. The race is considered pivotal to control of the U.S. Senate.
3 candidates
- Josh Turek (D)
- Ashley Hinson (R)
- Thomas Laehn (L)
Senate · 2026
Idaho
Incumbent Republican Jim Risch is seeking a fourth term, facing challengers from Independent Todd Achilles and others. This race is described as potentially Idaho's most active U.S. Senate race in years.
4 candidates
- Jim Risch (R)
- Todd Achilles (I)
- Matt Loesby (L)
- Natalie Fleming (I)
Senate · 2026
Illinois
Longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is retiring, creating an open seat in Illinois. This has led to competitive primary races for both the Democratic and Republican parties.
2 candidates
- Juliana Stratton (D)
- Don Tracy (R)
Senate · 2026
Kansas
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall is seeking re-election to his seat, facing a challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton. The outcome of this and 34 other Senate races will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
2 candidates
- Roger Marshall (R)
- Adam Hamilton (D)
Senate · 2026
Kentucky
This election will fill an open U.S. Senate seat as incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is retiring. Both Democratic and Republican parties have multiple candidates vying for their respective nominations.
2 candidates
- Andy Barr (R)
- Charles Booker (D)
Senate · 2026
Louisiana
This election will determine who will succeed two-term Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy, who was defeated in the primary. The race is the first U.S. Senate election in Louisiana to utilize party primaries instead of a single blanket primary since 2010.
2 candidates
- Julia Letlow (R)
- Jamie Davis (D)
Senate · 2026
Massachusetts
This election is for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Ed Markey. The Democratic primary is seeing a generational battle for the party's nomination.
1 candidate
- Ed Markey (D)
Senate · 2026
Maine
This election will decide who represents Maine in the U.S. Senate for a six-year term. Five-term incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins is seeking re-election, making this a pivotal race for control of the Senate.
2 candidates
- Troy Jackson (D)
- Susan Collins (R)
Senate · 2026
Michigan
This is an open seat election to replace retiring U.S. Senator Gary Peters, making it one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. The outcome could shift the national balance of power between the political parties.
2 candidates
- Abdul El-Sayed (D)
- Mike Rogers (R)
Senate · 2026
Minnesota
This is an open seat election for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, as DFL U.S. Sen. Tina Smith announced she would not seek reelection. The Democratic primary saw a competitive race between a progressive and a centrist candidate.
2 candidates
- Peggy Flanagan (D)
- Adam Schwarze (R)
Senate · 2026
Mississippi
Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith is seeking re-election for her second full term. The race is considered a wildcard matchup as Republicans defend their Senate majority, with Democrat Scott Colom aiming for an upset in a reliably Republican state.
3 candidates
- Scott Colom (D)
- Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)
- Ty Pinkins (I)
Senate · 2026
Montana
This election is for a U.S. Senate seat representing Montana, left open as Republican incumbent Steve Daines is not seeking a third term. The race is considered highly competitive, featuring a Republican, a Democrat, and a prominent independent candidate.
3 candidates
- Seth Bodnar (I)
- Kurt Alme (R)
- Alani Bankhead (D)
Senate · 2026
North Carolina
This election will determine who will succeed Republican U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, who is not seeking re-election, making this an open seat. The outcome is expected to be highly competitive and could decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.
2 candidates
- Roy Cooper (D)
- Michael Whatley (R)
Senate · 2026
Nebraska
Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts is seeking his first full six-year term after being appointed in 2023 and winning a special election in 2024. The state is considered a Republican stronghold, though the race features a prominent independent candidate.
3 candidates
- Pete Ricketts (R)
- Dan Osborn (I)
- Mike Marvin (L)
Senate · 2026
New Hampshire
One of New Hampshire's U.S. Senate seats is up for election, as current Senator Jeanne Shaheen opted not to run for re-election. The outcome of this competitive race could determine the balance of power in Washington.
2 candidates
- Chris Pappas (D)
- John E. Sununu (R)
Senate · 2026
New Jersey
One of New Jersey’s two seats in the U.S. Senate is on the ballot in 2026. Incumbent Democrat Cory Booker is seeking re-election in a state that has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972.
2 candidates
- Cory Booker (D)
- Justin Murphy (R)
Senate · 2026
New Mexico
Democratic incumbent Ben Ray Luján is seeking a second term representing New Mexico in the U.S. Senate. He faces primary opposition from Matt Dodson and a general election challenge from Republican Larry Marker.
2 candidates
- Ben Ray Luján (D)
- Larry Marker (R)
Special election
Ohio
This special election will fill the remaining two years of the term of former Senator J.D. Vance, who became Vice President. The outcome of this highly competitive race could affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate.
4 candidates
- Jon Husted (R)
- Sherrod Brown (D)
- Bill Redpath (L)
- Gregory Levy (I)
Senate · 2026
Oklahoma
This election is to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Markwayne Mullin, who resigned to become Secretary of Homeland Security. Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Alan Armstrong to serve in Mullin’s place until a successor is elected, with Armstrong prohibited from seeking a full term.
5 candidates
- Kevin Hern (R)
- N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas (D)
- Sevier White (L)
- Curtis Stinnett (I)
- +1 more
Senate · 2026
Oregon
This election is for a seat in the U.S. Senate, currently held by Democratic incumbent Jeff Merkley, who is seeking a fourth term. The election will determine who represents Oregon in the Senate for the next six years.
2 candidates
- Jeff Merkley (D)
- David Brock Smith (R)
Senate · 2026
Rhode Island
Democratic incumbent Jack Reed is seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate, facing primary challenges from two progressive Democrats. All major election forecasters predict a 'Solid D' or 'Safe D' outcome for the Democratic Party in the general election.
3 candidates
- Jack Reed (D)
- Raymond McKay (R)
- Michael Bahry (I)
Special election
South Carolina
Special election for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Lindsey Graham, who died in July 2026. Sen. Darline Graham, appointed to the seat by Gov. Henry McMaster, won the Republican nomination in the August 25, 2026 primary runoff and faces Democratic nominee Annie Andrews on November 3, 2026.
2 candidates
- Annie Andrews (D)
- Darline Graham (R)
Senate · 2026
South Dakota
This election is to elect a member of the U.S. Senate to represent South Dakota, with Republican incumbent Mike Rounds seeking a third term. Republicans have not lost a Senate election in South Dakota since 2008, making this a challenging race for non-Republican candidates.
3 candidates
- Mike Rounds (R)
- Brian Bengs (I)
- Justin McNeal (R)
Senate · 2026
Tennessee
This election will determine who represents Tennessee in the U.S. Senate. The incumbent senator's seat will be contested.
2 candidates
- Bill Hagerty (R)
- Marquita Bradshaw (D)
Senate · 2026
Texas
This election will determine who represents Texas in the U.S. Senate for a six-year term. The race is considered neck-and-neck, with Democrats attempting to flip the seat currently held by Republican Senator John Cornyn, who lost the primary to Ken Paxton.
2 candidates
- Ken Paxton (R)
- James Talarico (D)
Senate · 2026
Virginia
This election is for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Mark Warner, who is seeking a fourth term. Republicans are holding a primary to determine who will challenge him in a state where Democrats have swept every Senate contest since 2002.
3 candidates
- Bert Mizusawa (R)
- Mark Warner (D)
- Mark Moran (I)
Senate · 2026
West Virginia
This election will fill the Class II Senate seat currently held by Republican Shelley Moore Capito, who is seeking a third term. The outcome will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in the 120th Congress.
2 candidates
- Shelley Moore Capito (R)
- Rachel Fetty Anderson (D)
Senate · 2026
Wyoming
One of Wyoming's two U.S. Senate seats is up for election in 2026, with the primary election scheduled for August 18 and the general election for November 3. Multiple candidates are seeking the open seat.
2 candidates
- Harriet Hageman (R)
- James Byrd (D)