USAupdated 1h ago3 min read
Archive photo · 3 April 2007Final Midterms Polls Show Democrats Leading in Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, Texas
“Republicans are trailing Democrats in seven key Senate battlegrounds, including longtime GOP strongholds Texas and Kansas,”
“many seats in play are in toss-up territory in deep-red states that could still break in either party’s direction.”
Photo: Noclip, Public domain · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Democrats lead in Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, and Texas according to polls. Democrats near Senate majority with key battlegrounds leaning toward them.
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Midterms and Senate control
The United States midterm elections on Tuesday will renew the entire House of Representatives, its 435 seats, and one third of the Senate, 35 senators out of 100, with the Senate balance currently at 53 to 47 for Republicans over Democrats and independents who caucus with them. The Democratic Party aims to win control by defending all of its seats and flipping at least four seats currently held by Republicans, with the La Vanguardia account describing 35 Senate seats up for renewal and 22 held by Republicans. CNN said Democrats will need to flip four Republican-held seats while holding onto all their own to win the Senate majority this year, and CNN also put President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 34% in its Poll of Polls average.
Fox News reported that a Times/Siena poll found Democratic candidates leading in five states represented by Republican senators, including Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Ohio and Texas, while the race in Iowa was virtually tied. The New York Times described final polls showing Democrats up in Michigan, Texas, Kansas, Maine and Ohio, an edge in Alaska, and effectively tied Republicans in Iowa.
Battleground states and polls
In Alaska, Fox News said the Times/Siena poll found former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola leading Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan 48% to 46%, while the New York Times said Democrats have an edge in Alaska in its final set of polls.
In Texas, Fox News reported that the Times/Siena poll found Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton 50% to 43% among likely voters, and The New York Times said Democrats hold sizable leads in Texas.
In Kansas, Fox News said the Times/Siena poll found Democrat Adam Hamilton leading Republican Sen. Roger Marshall 49% to 44%, while The New York Times said Democrats hold leads in Kansas.
In Ohio, Fox News reported that the Times/Siena poll found former Sen. Sherrod Brown leading Republican Sen. Jon Husted 49% to 44%, and CNN said its Poll of Polls average showed former Sen. Sherrod Brown leading GOP Sen. Jon Husted by 5 points, 50% to 45%.
In Michigan, Fox News said Democrat Abdul El-Sayed holds the largest lead of the seven Senate races surveyed, leading Republican Mike Rogers 53% to 42%, and CNN said Michigan is the only Democratic-held Senate seat surveyed among its toss-up list.
Money, margins, and stakes
CNN said Republicans are spending heavily to defend their Senate majority, fueled by President Donald Trump’s political network as well as tech titan Elon Musk, and CNN reported that over the final month Republicans outspent Democrats on advertising in the 11 races on its list, $560 million to $521 million.
CNN also said Democrats will need to flip four Republican-held seats while holding onto all their own, and CNN framed the contest as a set of toss-up seats in deep-red states that could still break in either party’s direction.
Fox News said Don Levy, executive director of the Siena Research Institute, cautioned that several races remain within the poll's margin of error, and Levy warned that a Senate majority for either party remains possible.
The Hill reported that Decision Desk HQ forecast Democrats James Talarico in Texas and Mary Peltola in Alaska have a 61 percent chance of winning their Senate races, and it forecast Maine Democrat Troy Jackson a 63 percent chance of beating Sen. Susan Collins.
La Vanguardia described the consequences as legislative gridlock if Democrats win the House but not the Senate, and it added that even if Democrats gain majorities in both chambers, Trump still holds presidential veto power.