2026 Senate map: every seat up, the competitive races and the nominees
Thirty-five Senate seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot: the 33 seats of Class II plus special elections in Ohio and Florida. Republicans hold 22 of them and Democrats 13. Here is each seat, the races rated closest in mid-September, and who is on the official candidate lists.
- Thirty-five Senate seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot: 33 Class II seats plus special elections in Ohio and Florida. [1][2][7][8]
- Republicans hold 22 of those seats and Democrats 13. [1][2]
- Republicans held 53 seats after the 2024 election, so the Democratic side, at 47, needs a net gain of four for a majority of 51. [3][5]
- On September 15, 2026 the Cook Political Report rated seven races Toss Up: Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas. [5]
- State candidate lists, most updated between mid-August and mid-September 2026, name who is on each ballot. [9][13][14][15][19]
The 2026 Senate map has 35 seats on it. Thirty-three belong to Class II, the senators whose six-year terms end on January 3, 2027; senate.gov lists 20 Republicans and 13 Democrats in that class. [1] Ohio and Florida add one contest each for a Class III seat, whose term runs to January 3, 2029. [2][7][8] Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. [8][14]
Only part of the chamber is on any one ballot because the Constitution divides senators into three classes “so that one third may be chosen every second Year.” [4] Counting the two special elections, both for seats Republicans hold, Republicans are defending 22 seats and Democrats 13. [1][2]
2026 Senate races at a glance: which senators are up for reelection in 2026
The table gives every seat, the senator senate.gov shows in it, and the rating the Cook Political Report published on September 15, 2026. [1][2][5] The name is the person who holds the seat now, not necessarily a candidate: Cook marks 13 of the 35 contests “OPEN.” [5]
| State | Senator in the seat (party) | Cook rating, Sept. 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Tommy Tuberville (R) | Solid R, open [1][5] |
| Alaska | Dan Sullivan (R) | Toss Up [1][5] |
| Arkansas | Tom Cotton (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| Colorado | John W. Hickenlooper (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| Delaware | Christopher A. Coons (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| Florida (special) | Ashley Moody (R) | Solid R [2][5] |
| Georgia | Jon Ossoff (D) | Lean D [1][5] |
| Idaho | James E. Risch (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| Illinois | Richard J. Durbin (D) | Solid D, open [1][5] |
| Iowa | Joni Ernst (R) | Toss Up, open [1][5] |
| Kansas | Roger Marshall (R) | Likely R [1][5] |
| Kentucky | Mitch McConnell (R) | Solid R, open [1][5] |
| Louisiana | Bill Cassidy (R) | Solid R, open [1][5] |
| Maine | Susan M. Collins (R) | Toss Up [1][5] |
| Massachusetts | Edward J. Markey (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| Michigan | Gary C. Peters (D) | Toss Up, open [1][5] |
| Minnesota | Tina Smith (D) | Likely D, open [1][5] |
| Mississippi | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| Montana | Steve Daines (R) | Solid R, open [1][5] |
| Nebraska | Pete Ricketts (R) | Likely R [1][5] |
| New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen (D) | Toss Up, open [1][5] |
| New Jersey | Cory A. Booker (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| New Mexico | Ben Ray Luján (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| North Carolina | Thom Tillis (R) | Lean D, open [1][5] |
| Ohio (special) | Jon Husted (R) | Toss Up [2][5] |
| Oklahoma | Alan Armstrong (R) | Solid R, open [1][5] |
| Oregon | Jeff Merkley (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| Rhode Island | Jack Reed (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| South Carolina | Darline Graham (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| South Dakota | Mike Rounds (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| Tennessee | Bill Hagerty (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| Texas | John Cornyn (R) | Toss Up, open [1][5] |
| Virginia | Mark R. Warner (D) | Solid D [1][5] |
| West Virginia | Shelley Moore Capito (R) | Solid R [1][5] |
| Wyoming | Cynthia M. Lummis (R) | Solid R, open [1][5] |
Senators are as listed on senate.gov’s Class II and Class III pages on September 17, 2026; Alan Armstrong (Oklahoma) and Darline Graham (South Carolina) are the names it shows for those seats. “Open” reproduces Cook’s “OPEN” label; the other rating words are Cook’s column headings. A rating is one publisher’s dated judgment, not a result. [1][2][5]
Cook defines a Toss Up as a race in which “either party has a good chance of winning” and a Lean race as competitive, “but one party has an advantage.” [5] Beyond the races detailed below, the Ledger has race pages for Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon and Wyoming.
Could the Senate flip in 2026?
Arithmetically, yes. After the 2024 election Republicans held 53 seats, Democrats 45 and independents 2, according to the Senate’s party-division table. [3] Cook’s chart counts 47 seats on the Democratic side: the 13 on this year’s ballot and “34 Democratic-held seats not up for re-election.” [5] That figure equals the 45 Democrats plus the 2 independents in the Senate’s table. [3][5] A majority is 51, so that side needs a net gain of four. A net gain of three would make it 50–50, where the Constitution gives the vice president a vote only when senators “be equally divided.” [4]
Of the seven races Cook rated Toss Up on September 15, five are for seats Republicans hold (Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Ohio and Texas) and two for seats Democrats hold (Michigan and New Hampshire). It rated Georgia, a Democratic seat, and North Carolina, a Republican one, Lean Democratic, and put no race in its Lean Republican column. [1][2][5]
A second rater, Inside Elections, listed these Senate changes on its home page as of September 17: on September 3, Ohio from Tilt Republican to Toss-up, New Hampshire from Tilt Democratic to Toss-up, Alaska from Lean to Tilt Republican and Kansas from Solid to Likely Republican; on August 6, Georgia and North Carolina from Toss-up to Tilt Democratic, Iowa from Lean to Tilt Republican and Texas from Likely to Lean Republican. [6]
The competitive 2026 Senate races: who is on the ballot
These are the candidates on official lists as of September 17, 2026 in the nine contests Cook rates Toss Up or Lean, plus Nebraska and Florida’s special election. [5] Linked names go to Ledger profiles.
| Race | Republican | Democrat | Also listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Sen. Dan S. Sullivan [19] | Mary Peltola [19] | Gerald L. Heikes and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., both registered Republicans [19] |
| Georgia | Mike Collins [17] | Sen. Jon Ossoff [1][17] | Not shown; see note |
| Iowa | Ashley Hinson [14] | Josh Turek [14] | Thomas Laehn (Libertarian) [14] |
| Maine | Sen. Susan Collins [12] | Troy D. Jackson [10] | Declared write-ins [11]; others not shown |
| Michigan | Mike Rogers [9] | Abdul El-Sayed [9] | Lydia Christensen (Libertarian); Tim Long (U.S. Taxpayers); Douglas P. Marsh (Green); Walter P. Kristy (Natural Law) [9] |
| New Hampshire | John E. Sununu [18] | Chris Pappas [18] | Not shown; see note |
| North Carolina | Michael Whatley [13] | Roy Cooper [13] | Shannon W. Bray (Libertarian); Michael Dublin (Green) [13] |
| Ohio (special) | Sen. Jon Husted [8] | Sherrod Brown [8] | William B. Redpath (Libertarian); Greg Levy (other-party); three write-ins [8] |
| Texas | Ken Paxton [16] | James Talarico [16] | Ted Brown (Libertarian) [16] |
| Nebraska | Sen. Pete Ricketts [15] | None on the list [15] | Dan Osborn (by petition); Mike Marvin (Legal Marijuana NOW); Robin Richards (Nebraska Working People); Chuck Conboy (America First) [15] |
| Florida (special) | Sen. Ashley Moody [7] | Angie Nixon [7] | Neil J. Gillespie (NPA) [7] |
List dates: Alaska, September 2; Iowa, August 19; Michigan, September 4; North Carolina, September 2; Nebraska, September 11; Texas, August 28; Florida and Erie County, Ohio, as posted September 17, 2026. Ohio’s row is a county board of elections’ copy because the Secretary of State’s site refused automated requests. The Georgia, New Hampshire and Maine rows rest on the reports and the replacement list cited, not on a full state candidate list, so other names on those ballots are not shown. [7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Maine Senate race 2026
Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins holds the seat, and Cook rates the race Toss Up. [1][5] The Democratic line changed after the June 9 primary: the Secretary of State’s list dated July 27, 2026 shows Graham C. Platner withdrawing on July 10 and lists Troy D. Jackson of Allagash as the replacement nominee, with the date July 27. [10] NPR reported that the state party chose Jackson at a nominating convention and that he will “take on Republican Senator Susan Collins.” [12]
Maine will count the race by ranked-choice voting. With declared write-in candidates in the race, it “will be conducted by ranked choice,” the Secretary of State’s office said on September 4, 2026, and winning outright takes “more than 50% of the first-choice votes.” [11] See the Maine voting guide.
Michigan Senate race 2026
Democratic Sen. Gary C. Peters holds the seat, which Cook lists as open and Toss Up. [1][5] Michigan’s official candidate listing, stamped September 4, shows Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers for the six-year term, plus four candidates nominated by other parties’ conventions. [9]
Iowa Senate race 2026
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst holds the seat, which Cook lists as open and Toss Up; Inside Elections moved it from Lean to Tilt Republican on August 6. [1][5][6] Iowa’s list, last updated August 19, 2026, has Republican Ashley Hinson, Democrat Josh Turek and Libertarian Thomas Laehn. [14]
Nebraska Senate race
Nebraska’s final list, dated September 11, 2026, marks Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts “Incumbent” and shows no candidate with a Democratic label for the office. [15] His listed opponents are Dan Osborn of Omaha, a “By Petition” candidate, and three candidates of other parties. [15] Cook rates the race Likely Republican. [5]
Ohio Senate race 2026 and the Ohio Senate polls
Ohio’s contest is a special election: the Senate’s records show JD Vance’s resignation effective January 10, 2025, and the Erie County Board of Elections’ list describes the office as “U.S. Senator. Unexpired term ending 1-3-2029.” [3][8] It names Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown, along with two other candidates and three write-ins. [2][8] Cook rates the race Toss Up, as Inside Elections has since September 3. [5][6]
Two pollsters’ releases could be opened for this review. A Fox News Poll by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research, taken August 6–10, 2026 among 1,008 Ohio registered voters (±3 points), had Brown at 53% and Husted at 45%. [21] A Bowling Green State University survey, with interviews by YouGov April 7–14, 2026 among 1,000 registered voters (±3.88), had Husted at 50% and Brown at 47%. [22] Both sampled registered voters, not likely voters.
Georgia Senate race 2026
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff holds the seat. [1] Capitol Beat News Service reported on June 16, 2026 that U.S. Rep. Mike Collins “defeated political newcomer Derek Dooley in the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate and will face incumbent Jon Ossoff in November.” [17] Cook rates the race Lean Democratic; Inside Elections moved it to Tilt Democratic on August 6. [5][6] On second-round elections, see what a runoff election is.
North Carolina, New Hampshire, Alaska, Texas and Florida
- North Carolina: open; Republican Sen. Thom Tillis holds the seat. The State Board of Elections’ list is dated September 2, 2026. [1][5][13]
- New Hampshire: open. New Hampshire Bulletin reported that Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas and Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu won their September 8, 2026 primaries and that the seat “is open after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement.” [18]
- Alaska: the Division of Elections shows four certified candidates and marks Dan S. Sullivan as the incumbent. [19]
- Texas: Sen. John Cornyn, who holds the seat, is not on the ballot certified August 28, 2026. [1][16] See the Texas Senate race explainer.
- Florida (special): three candidates are shown as “Qualified” and four others as “Defeated.” [7] Cook rates the race Solid Republican. [5]
How to keep this map current
Three kinds of pages will change before November 3: candidate lists, which carry their own dates; ratings, last dated September 15 (Cook) and September 3 (Inside Elections); and campaign money. [5][6] The FEC’s 2026 calendar has campaign committees filing a Pre-General report covering October 1–14 by October 22 (October 19 if sent by registered, certified or overnight mail) and a Post-General report covering October 15–November 23 by December 3. [20] For what a change in Senate control would mean for the White House, see do midterm elections affect the president; for the office itself, what a U.S. senator does.
Questions and answers
How many seats are up in the 2026 Senate elections?
Which senators are up for reelection in 2026?
Could the Senate flip in 2026?
Who is running in the Maine Senate race 2026?
What do the Ohio Senate polls show?
Is there a Democrat in the Nebraska Senate race?
Not on the state’s final candidate list, dated September 11, 2026. It shows Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, petition candidate Dan Osborn and three candidates of other parties for U.S. Senator. [15]
Sources
Statutes, election offices and official records anchor this explainer. Numbered references in the text link here.
- 01Class II - Senators Whose Terms of Service Expire in 2027U.S. Senate · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
The 33 Class II senators with party and state (20 Republicans, 13 Democrats); terms run January 3, 2021 to January 3, 2027.Government / regulatory record - 02Class III - Senators Whose Terms of Service Expire in 2029U.S. Senate · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Class III terms run to January 3, 2029; the list includes Jon Husted (R-OH) and Ashley Moody (R-FL).Government / regulatory record - 03Party DivisionU.S. Senate · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
119th Congress after the 2024 election: Republicans 53, Democrats 45, 2 Independents; note on JD Vance’s resignation effective January 10, 2025 and Ohio’s Class 3 seat.Government / regulatory record - 04U.S. Constitution - Article IConstitution Annotated, Congress.gov (Library of Congress) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Three classes of senators, one third chosen every second year; the vice president votes only when the Senate is equally divided.Government / regulatory record - 052026 CPR Senate Race RatingsThe Cook Political Report · Sep. 15, 2026
Rating of all 35 contests as of September 15, 2026, the 13 marked OPEN, the rating definitions, and the count of seats not up.Independent analysis / professional record - 06Inside Elections (home page, recent rating changes)Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Dated Senate rating changes of June 25, August 6 and September 3, 2026, as listed on the home page on September 17, 2026. Each race’s rating history is on its own page, e.g. https://insideelections.com/election-year/2026/?state-district=oh&office=iiiIndependent analysis / professional record - 07Candidate Listing for 2026 General Election: United States SenatorFlorida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Florida’s U.S. Senate candidates and statuses: Moody (REP), Nixon (DEM) and Gillespie (NPA) Qualified; four others Defeated.Government / regulatory record - 08Candidate Filings for November 3rd, 2026 General ElectionErie County Board of Elections (Ohio) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Ohio’s U.S. Senate contest as it appears on a county board’s candidate list: “Unexpired term ending 1-3-2029” and the candidates. Used because ohiosos.gov refused automated requests (HTTP 403).Government / regulatory record - 09Candidate Listing Report: 2026 General ElectionMichigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections · Sep. 4, 2026
Michigan’s six candidates for United States Senator, 6 Year Term, with party and filing method.Government / regulatory record - 10Candidate Withdrawals and Replacement Candidate Nominations after the June 9, 2026 PrimaryMaine Department of the Secretary of State, Division of Elections · July 27, 2026
U.S. Senate, Democratic: Graham C. Platner withdrew July 10, 2026; Troy D. Jackson of Allagash listed as replacement, dated July 27, 2026.Government / regulatory record - 11General Election is two months away; Secretary of State’s Office provides update on Maine election processesMaine Department of the Secretary of State · Sep. 4, 2026
Maine’s U.S. Senate race will be conducted by ranked choice because of declared write-in candidates; the more-than-50% rule.Government / regulatory record - 12Troy Jackson replaces Graham Platner as Democratic candidate in Maine’s Senate RaceNPR · July 26, 2026
The Maine Democratic Party nominated Troy Jackson at a convention; he faces Republican Sen. Susan Collins.Independent reporting - 13Candidate List Grouped by Contest (2026 general election, federal and state)North Carolina State Board of Elections · Sep. 2, 2026
North Carolina’s four U.S. Senate candidates with party.Government / regulatory record - 14Candidate List: November 3, 2026 General ElectionIowa Secretary of State · Aug. 19, 2026
Iowa’s three candidates for United States Senator; list last updated 8/19/2026 1:36 PM.Government / regulatory record - 15Final Statewide General Candidate List: November 3, 2026 General ElectionNebraska Secretary of State · Sep. 11, 2026
Nebraska’s five candidates for United States Senator, with party or petition status and the incumbent marking.Government / regulatory record - 16Ballot Certification Report: 2026 November General ElectionTexas Secretary of State · Aug. 28, 2026
Texas’s certified candidates for United States Senator: Paxton (REP), Talarico (DEM), Brown (LIB).Government / regulatory record - 17Collins wins GOP nomination for U.S. SenateCapitol Beat News Service · June 16, 2026
Mike Collins won Georgia’s June 16, 2026 Republican runoff over Derek Dooley and faces Sen. Jon Ossoff; first round May 19.Independent reporting - 18Pappas and Sununu prevail in primaries, setting up expensive fight for U.S. SenateNew Hampshire Bulletin (States Newsroom) · Sep. 8, 2026
New Hampshire’s September 8, 2026 primary winners and the open seat after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement announcement.Independent reporting - 19Candidates: 2026 General ElectionAlaska Division of Elections · Sep. 2, 2026
Alaska’s four certified candidates for United States Senator; page last updated September 2, 2026 at 1:29 pm.Government / regulatory record - 20Pre- and Post-General Reports (2026)Federal Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Coverage periods and filing deadlines for the 2026 Pre-General and Post-General reports.Government / regulatory record - 21Fox News Poll: Ohio, August 6-10, 2026 (topline)Fox News; Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research · Aug. 13, 2026
Ohio U.S. Senate ballot test among 1,008 registered voters, ±3 points: Brown 53%, Husted 45%.Independent analysis / professional record - 22Survey of 1000 Ohio Registered Voters, April 2026 ToplinesBowling Green State University (ScholarWorks@BGSU) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Ohio U.S. Senate question, fielded April 7–14, 2026 by YouGov among 1,000 registered voters, ±3.88: Husted 50%, Brown 47%, someone else 3%.Independent analysis / professional record
Reviewed . This explainer is general civic information, not legal advice. Election rules change; the official page linked beside each rule is the authority, and the date above is when those pages were last read.