Senate Pickup Watch

Senate Pickup Watch

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Senate Pickup Watch episodes

  • Texas Tie, Georgia Cushion Reset the Senate Map — July 02, 2026

    Texas Senate polling has James Talarico tied with Ken Paxton, while a Fox survey gives Jon Ossoff a double-digit Georgia lead—two data points stretching the 2026 map from red-state pickup dreams to Democratic defense math.

    In this episode
    1. Trump’s Weakness Suddenly Puts Texas in Play—a Surprise Poll Shows How | The New Republic — The New Republic

      Trump’s Weakness Suddenly Puts Texas in Play—a Surprise Poll Shows How | The New Republic

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    Look, I get it. Democrats have been burned by hopes for a Texas miracle so many times that it feels risky to place stock in this year’s Senate race. But a new poll of the contest from The New York Times finds a dead heat, with Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken…

  • FOX News poll: Jon Ossoff holds double-digit lead over Mike Collins | FOX 5 Atlanta — FOX 5 Atlanta

    FOX News poll: Jon Ossoff holds double-digit lead over Mike Collins | FOX 5 Atlanta

  • Extreme Heat Warning from THU 12:00 PM EDT until THU 8:00 PM EDT, Polk County, Floyd County, Gordon County, Murray County, Bartow County, Whitfield County, Chattooga County
    3
    Heat Advisory until FRI 9:00 PM EDT, Clay County
    Heat Advisory from THU 12:00 PM EDT until THU 8:00 PM EDT, Oconee County, Morgan…

  • Big Money, the Maine Senate Race and US Party Competition: A Tale in Two Pictures | naked capitalism — Naked Capitalism

    Big Money, the Maine Senate Race and US Party Competition: A Tale in Two Pictures | naked capitalism

  • Menu
    ## Recent Items
    Yves here. An overview of the donations in the Maine Senate race. Not surprisingly, no big money for Graham Platner!
    By Thomas Ferguson, Research Director of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Boston; Paul Jorgensen,…

  • Vulnerable GOP Maine Senator Susan Collins Rocked by Lavish Travel Revelations — The Daily Beast

    Vulnerable GOP Maine Senator Susan Collins Rocked by Lavish Travel Revelations Skip to Main Content

  • # Vulnerable GOP Senator Rocked by Lavish Travel Revelations
    LIVING IN LUXURY
    ## Susan Collins has been gifted several luxury vacations, totaling tens of thousands of dollars in travel expenses.
    Updated Jul. 1 2026 5:56PM EDT / Published Jul. 1 2026 5:00PM EDT
    Comments
    exclusive
    Photo…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    9 min
  • Platner Edges Collins as Maine Becomes the Senate Map’s Stress Test — July 01, 2026

    Graham Platner leads Susan Collins 49-47 in a Times/Press Herald/Siena Maine poll, turning Democrats’ top pickup dream into a live test of whether anti-establishment energy helps or haunts the Senate map.

    In this episode
    1. New poll shows Platner with slight lead over Collins in tight Senate race — WABI

      New poll shows Platner with slight lead over Collins in tight Senate race

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    PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) - Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner holds a slight lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, according to a new poll conducted by the New York Times, Portland Press Herald, and Siena Research Institute.
    The poll…

  • Colorado Democrats brace for progressive wave after upsets in New York and Maine | 1450 AM 99.7 FM WHTC | Holland — Thomson Reuters

    Colorado Democrats brace for progressive wave after upsets in New York and Maine | 1450 AM 99.7 FM WHTC | Holland

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    # Colorado Democrats brace for progressive wave after upsets in New York and Maine
    By Thomson Reuters Jun 30, 2026 | 6:04 AM
    By Nolan D. McCaskill
    WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) – After big upsets in Democratic primaries this year in Maine and New York,…

  • Pappas Warns Democrats Not to Overlook NH Senate Race — Political Wire

    Pappas Warns Democrats Not to Overlook NH Senate Race

  • “Democrats are dreaming of taking over the Senate and winning in red states from Iowa to Alaska. Chris Pappas wants to make sure they don’t forget about New Hampshire,” Semafor reports.
    “Pappas, a four-term congressman, is the party’s consensus candidate to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire — one of the party’s consistent…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    7 min
  • Cooper’s Cash Lead Sharpens the 2026 Senate Map — June 30, 2026

    Roy Cooper’s North Carolina Senate bid has a $26 million war chest, tripling Michael Whatley’s haul and sharpening Democrats’ pickup test, while Susan Collins leans on appropriations power as Maine’s race turns general-election real.

    In this episode
    1. Ahead of midterms, North Carolina Democrats lead the fundraising race. Does it matter? • NC Newsline — NC Newsline

      # Ahead of midterms, North Carolina Democrats lead the fundraising race. Does it matter? • NC Newsline

    Published: 2026-06-29T10:05:04+00:00
    Source: ncnewsline.com (ncnewsline.com)
    Language: en
    ## Story
    If you watch TV in North Carolina, there’s a good chance you’re already seeing a lot of former Gov. Roy Cooper these days.
    That’s in part because his campaign had raised more than $26 million…

  • What Susan Collins’ appropriations power means for Maine, and what happens if she loses — Sun Journal

    What Susan Collins’ appropriations power means for Maine, and what happens if she loses

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    U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joins Sanford firefighters at a ground breaking ceremony at the site of the future city fire and EMS headquarters in March. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
    Sen. Susan Collins had just finished taking photos in front of a new fire…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    5 min
  • Montana Dark Money Jolts the Senate Map — June 29, 2026

    Montana Senate records show a dark-money-funded PAC spent millions to boost Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead, complicating the pickup map as national Democrats try to turn inflation and Iran into a Senate liability for Republicans.

    In this episode
    1. Bankhead’s biggest supporter revealed in FEC records — Independent Record

      Bankhead’s biggest supporter revealed in FEC records https://helenair.com/news/state-regional/article_02f34bd4-f7b4-4b76-835a-f355488a3683.html#main-page-container

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    Pro-Bankhead PAC funded by dark money group…

  • New poll offers insight into Kansas governor, Senate races | Wichita Eagle — Wichita Eagle

    New poll offers insight into Kansas governor, Senate races | Wichita Eagle

  • A voter casts an electronic ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center in Overland Park.
    In recent campaign communications, all three Democrats running to become the next governor of Kansas have cited internal data professing themselves to be leading…

  • NEW DATA: Republicans’ Cost of Living Crisis “Far From Fixed” as Senate GOP-Backed War In Iran Continues to Drive Up Inflation Numbers - DSCC — DSCC

    # NEW DATA: Republicans’ Cost of Living Crisis “Far From Fixed” as Senate GOP-Backed War In Iran Continues to Drive Up Inflation Numbers - DSCC

  • Published: 2026-06-26T12:50:28+00:00
    Source: dscc.org (dscc.org)
    Language: en
    ## Story
    NEW DATA: Republicans’ Cost of Living Crisis “Far From Fixed” as Senate GOP-Backed War In Iran Continues to Drive Up Inflation Numbers - DSCC
    Help Us Flip the…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    6 min
  • Cooper’s North Carolina Lead Puts a Pickup on the Map — June 26, 2026

    Roy Cooper’s 14-point North Carolina Senate lead over Michael Whatley gives Democrats a rare early pickup signal, while Susan Collins tests whether Maine’s old-school independent brand can still survive a nationalized race against Graham Platner.

    In this episode
    1. NC Senate race: Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley by 14 points in poll — CBS 17

      NC Senate race: Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley by 14 points in poll

    #### Warming up through the end of the week for central …
    #### Dry, slightly cooler Wednesday in central NC
    #### Storms cause massive damage in Henderson
    #### Warm but less humid Wednesday in central NC
    #### Severe thunderstorm watch issued for parts of central …
    #### Warming up through the end of the week for central…

  • Susan Collins is testing whether old school politics still work — The Boston Globe

    Susan Collins is testing whether old school politics still work

  • Analysis
    Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, welcomed a group of students from her state to Capitol Hill in Washington in May. HAIYUN JIANG/NYT
    Maine Senator Susan Collins was first elected in 1996. It was a time when American politics was largely defined by Clinton-era triangulation— the art of appealing to the political…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    4 min
  • Louisiana Runoff Tightens as Democrats Probe Red-State Paths — June 25, 2026

    Louisiana Senate runoff polls now show John Fleming and Julia Letlow in a much tighter Republican race, testing Trump’s endorsement power while Democrats look for whether GOP bruising in Louisiana—or sagging Trump approval in Iowa—can create real pickup terrain.

    In this episode
    1. Senate runoff polls show tighter gap between Fleming and Letlow — Fox 8 News

      Senate runoff polls show tighter gap between Fleming and Letlow

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    NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - New polls ahead of Saturday’s Senate runoffs show a tighter gap between Republican candidates John Fleming and Julia Letlow than after the primary election.
    Letlow led the primary by about 17 points, but Fox 8 Political Analyst Mike Sherman said the…

  • Democrats see midterm hope in reliably red Iowa as Trump approval ratings sag — CNBC

    Democrats see midterm hope in reliably red Iowa as Trump approval ratings sag

  • Key Points
    - Democrats have high hopes for Iowa in the 2026 midterm elections, with competitive races in both the House and Senate, as well as for governor.
    - Iowa is a former swing state that President Barack Obama won twice before it took a decidedly rightward turn in more recent elections.
    - Two of Democrats’ most…

  • Step Back — Louisiana is usually a brutal Senate target for Democrats, so if the real action right now is a tighter Republican runoff and a flood of outside money, what would actually have to happen for that to turn into a Democratic pickup opportunity rather than just a messy GOP family fight?Background sources
    • Louisiana runoff election to decide Senate nominees — Lena Folke
    • Incumbent Bill Cassidy knocked out in Louisiana’s GOP US Senate primary | WWNO — WWNO
    • Julia Letlow is favored to be Louisiana’s next senator | Local Politics | nola.com — Tyler Bridges
    • Louisiana’s Senate race between Letlow, Fleming may be close | Local Elections | nola.com — Tyler Bridges
    • Louisiana’s Senate race between Letlow, Fleming may be close | Elections | theadvocate.com — Tyler Bridges
    • Julia Letlow is favored to be Louisiana’s next senator | State Politics | theadvocate.com — Tyler Bridges
    • Stephanie Grace: LA Senate race could be going off script | Columnist Stephanie Grace | nola.com — Stephanie Grace
  • How Trump's 'Complete and Total Endorsement' has reshaped the Republican Party | WUNC News — NPR

    How Trump's 'Complete and Total Endorsement' has reshaped the Republican Party | WUNC News Skip to main content

  • © 2026 WUNC News120 Friday Center Dr Chapel Hill, NC 27517 919.445.9150 | 800.962.9862
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    # How Trump's 'Complete…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    8 min
  • Nebraska Primary Locks In the Osborn Test — June 24, 2026

    Nebraska Senate primary results put Pete Ricketts and Cindy Burbank on paper, while Democrats’ anti-Ricketts strategy still hinges on whether Burbank can clear the lane for independent Dan Osborn.

    In this episode
    1. Nebraska Senate Primary Election 2026 Live Results - NBC News — NBC News

      Nebraska Senate Primary Election 2026 Live Results

    IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.
    ## Republicans
    Projected winner
    PETE RICKETTS WINS THE NEBRASKA PRIMARY
    Candidate
    Votes
    Pct.Percentage
    Pete Ricketts
    Incumbent
    160,305
    81.5%
    Todd Knobel
    15,898
    8.1%
    Debb Schultz
    11,710
    6.0%
    | Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
    | --- | --- | ---…

  • Nebraska Independent running for Senate is looking to ‘challenge the system’ — NBC News

    # Nebraska Independent running for Senate is looking to ‘challenge the system’

  • ## NBC News
    12000000 subscribers
    125 likes
    ### Description
    10780 views
    Posted: 26 May 2026
    Nebraska Democrats are looking to oust incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) by backing Independent candidate Dan Osborn. Osborn joins Meet the Press NOW to explain his path to victory and how he would legislate as an…

  • Nebraska's Democratic Senate candidate endorses independent in 1st Congressional District | Nebraska Public Media — Nebraska Public Media

    # Nebraska's Democratic Senate candidate endorses independent in 1st Congressional District

  • By [Matt Olberding](/en/bio/molberding/) [![](/static/images/pages/profile_icon_twitter.png)](https://x.com/LincolnBizBuzz), News director Nebraska Public Media
    ![](/static/images/pages/profile_icon_twitter.png)
    May 26, 2026, 8:48 a.m. ·
    ![Austin…

  • Step Back — When we see these huge early FEC fundraising numbers, what should we actually look for to tell whether Democrats are expanding the Senate pickup map — or just piling money into races they already knew they had to win?Background sources
    • Democratic candidates start 2026 with a fundraising bang – Roll Call — Rollcall
    • Money in the 2026 midterms right now in 4 charts : NPR — Stephen Fowler
    • Democrats crow about fundraising in competitive Senate races — Sfchronicle
    • Senate Democrats Carve Out Path to Senate Majority in 2026 - DSCC — Dscc
  • Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    10 min
  • Democrats’ Senate Path Runs Through Four Tough Flips — June 23, 2026

    2026 Senate races come down to a four-seat Democratic gain, with Maine and North Carolina leading the target list while Ohio, Alaska, Iowa and Texas define how big a wave would need to get.

    In this episode
    1. 2026 Senate Election Interactive Map - 270toWin.com — 270toWin

      ![](/images/brand/270ToWinLogo.png)

    Follow
    # 2026 Senate Election Interactive Map
    ##### 35 U.S. Senate seats to be contested in 2026
    The U.S. Senate has 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats (including two independents). There are 35 seats up in 2026 - including special elections in Florida and Ohio - of which 22 are held by Republicans. Democrats can retake control with a net gain of four…

  • Predictions for the Senate - 2026 Midterms - Race to the White House — Race to the WH

    [Skip to Content](#page)

  • [Race to the WH](/)
    [Race to the WH](/)
    # The 2026 Senate Forecast
    #### Designed by Logan Phillips
    The RacetotheWH Senate Forecast predicts the outcome of every Senate race in 2026 using a data-driven model that factors in the latest polling, historic trends, candidate quality, and fundraising. Every day, we simulate the election 50,000 times to get the best…

  • 2026 US Senate Primary | Citizens Count — Citizens Count

    *We are in the process of updating our website to show new 2026 candidates. Check back soon for election updates!*

  • # 2026 US Senate Primary
    Body
    The New Hampshire primary for U.S. Senate is September 8, 2026. The list below includes candidates who filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission and received coverage from New Hampshire news outlets. The official candidate…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    8 min
  • A 50-50 Senate Map Meets the Platner Problem — June 19, 2026

    2026 Senate forecast from The Economist puts Democrats at about a 1-in-2 shot to take the chamber, despite a GOP-friendly map, while Maine’s Graham Platner win turns the Collins race into a test of whether primary baggage actually sticks.

    In this episode
    1. Graham Platner wins Maine Democratic main regardless of string of scandals | Invesloan.com - invesloan.com — Invesloan.com

      Graham Platner wins Maine Democratic main regardless of string of scandals | Invesloan.com - invesloan.com

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
    Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s scandal-plagued rise is causing rifts within the Democratic Party, and several Democratic strategists who spoke to Fox News Digital…

  • Step Back — If Democrats have now landed on Graham Platner in Maine despite a run of reported controversies, how should we tell the difference between primary-season noise and a real general-election liability against Susan Collins? What evidence actually shows that a candidate’s baggage is sticking with swing voters?Background sources
    • Graham Platner and Susan Collins Deadlocked In New Poll By Trump’s Pollster - Newsweek — Newsweek
    • Republicans are worried after Maine Democrats’ strong primary turnout — Benjamin Kail
    • Graham Platner Is Weakened—but He Can Still Win in November | The New Republic — Perry Bacon
    • Graham Platner Survives Major Test in Maine Senate Primary — Ed Kilgore
    • Should Democrats panic about Platner? - by Nate Silver — Nate Silver
    • Graham Platner’s Maine primary win means Democrats are rolling the dice in the general | Vox — Andrew Prokop
  • US Senate 2026 forecast | The Economist — The Economist

    US Senate 2026 forecast | The Economist

  • # A friendly map may not be enough for Republicans to hold the Senate
    ---
    Democrats have a 1 in 2 chance of taking the Senate
    One dot=250 simulated elections
    The Republican vice-president, J.D. Vance, breaks ties
    ---
    2024 result
    ---
    Although Donald Trump will not appear on the ballot, America’s 2026 Congressional elections will be seen as a…

    Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    7 min
  • Nebraska Tests Democrats’ Independent Senate Bet — June 18, 2026

    Nebraska Senate 2026 remains a live test of whether Democrats can improve pickup math by clearing space for Dan Osborn’s independent bid against Pete Ricketts, rather than splitting the anti-GOP vote.

    In this episode
    1. NE Senate 2026 | Cook Political Report — Cook Political Report

      ![Home](/themes/custom/politicalreport/new-logo.svg)

    ## Member links
    ## Login
    ![Home](/themes/custom/politicalreport/new-logo-sticky.svg)
    ## Main navigation
    ## Mobile: Main navigation
    ## Member links
    ## Breadcrumb
    # Nebraska Senate2026
    RACE AT A GLANCE
    RACE TYPE
    Incumbent running
    Pete Ricketts
    (R)
    RACE RATING
    COOK PARTISAN VOTING INDEX
    Race summary
    Key Dates
    Filing Deadline:
    Feb…

  • Step Back — When an independent runs for Senate in a deep-red state like Nebraska, how do Democrats decide whether to put up their own nominee, quietly step aside, or actively back the independent — and what does that choice do to the real pickup math?Background sources
    • Democrats test a new red state strategy: Back independents over their own nominees - ABC News — ABC News
    • Democrats test a new red state strategy: Back independents over their own nominees :: WRAL.com — STEVE PEOPLES and MIKE CATALINI — Associated Press
    • Democrats test a new red state strategy: Back independents over their own nominees — Theintelligencer
    • Democrats Test a New Red State Strategy: Back Independents Over Their Own Nominees | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
    • Pete Ricketts, Dan Osborn set for November Senate showdown, with Democrat expected to drop bid — Thehill
    • Democrats turn to independents in red-state races — Samantha-Jo Roth
    • Dems’ Stealth Plan to Reclaim the Senate Hits a Rough Patch — Lauren Egan
    • Both parties turn to unconventional tactics to win 2026 midterm elections — Samantha-Jo Roth
  • Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected].

    8 min

About Senate Pickup Watch

From the publisher's feed

Every day, the Democratic path to a Senate majority gets clearer or murkier — and Senate Pickup Watch is the show that tells you which. We track every competitive 2026 Senate race, from Graham…