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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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].

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

   

## Member links

## Login


## Main navigation

## Mobile: Main navigation

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## 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].

Graham Platner and Susan Collins dominate the pickup map as Maine Democrats confront Collins’ 2020 resilience, while Nebraska’s Dan Osborn strategy hinges on whether Democrats can clear the ballot for a one-on-one with Pete Ricketts.

In this episode

1. Will Susan Collins beat Graham Platner in the Maine Senate race? — Slate

   Will Susan Collins beat Graham Platner in the Maine Senate race?

Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

The 2020 election made Maine Sen. Susan Collins a political legend.

National Democrats, who’d effectively let Collins walk to victory in 2014, wanted her seat in the worst way this time. The Democratic candidate, state House Speaker Sara Gideon, and her outside…

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

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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…

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].

Graham Platner’s fight with John Fetterman exposes a public Democratic fracture in Maine, sharpening doubts over whether Susan Collins’s seat stays on the pickup board while Nebraska and the broader Senate map tempt Democrats with harder paths.

In this episode

1. Platner vows not to be like this Senate Democrat. He calls Platner a ‘dirtbag’ — Press Herald

   # Platner vows not to be like this Senate Democrat. He calls Platner a ‘dirtbag’

Published: 2026-06-12T08:00:00+00:00

Source: pressherald.com (pressherald.com)

Language: en

## Story

Platner vows not to be like this Senate Democrat. He calls Platner a ‘dirtbag’

Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday in Portland. (Robert…

Step Back — Nebraska is deep-red, so why are Democrats even looking at an independent like Dan Osborn as a Senate pickup opportunity — and what evidence would show he’s more than just a protest candidacy?Background sources

• Pete Ricketts’ Nebraska Race Tightens as Field Clears for Osborn - Newsweek — Newsweek
• Dan Osborn's Senate campaign submits 12,700 petition signatures, all but confirming a place on Nebraska's general election ballot | Nebraska Public Media — Nebraska Public Media
• Nebraska Dems chair ‘supporting’ Dan Osborn vs. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts • Nebraska Examiner — Juan Salinas II
• Democrats pick Nebraska Senate nominee who could drop out and back independent Dan Osborn — Nbcnews
• Nebraska’s Osborn says he’s better prepared for 2026 run. So are Republicans – Roll Call — Rollcall

2026 Senate Election Interactive Map - 270toWin — 270toWin


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# 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…

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].

Chuck Schumer backed Haley Stevens in Michigan as Senate handicappers moved North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio toward Democrats, sharpening a map where the majority path is clearer but still unforgiving.

In this episode

1. Schumer backs Stevens, sees ‘multiple paths’ to majority — Punchbowl News

   Schumer backs Stevens, sees ‘multiple paths’ to majority

June 11, 2026

# Schumer backs Stevens, sees ‘multiple paths’ to majority

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer effectively endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) on Wednesday in the contentious three-way Democratic primary to take on former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers.

“I think she has the best chance to win,” Schumer said of Stevens during an…

The Races That Will Decide the Senate Are Toss Ups — Political Wire

The Races That Will Decide the Senate Are Toss Ups

Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “We are making three Senate rating changes this week, all in favor of Democrats. North Carolina moves to Leans Democratic, and Alaska and Ohio are now Toss-ups.”

“This makes the Democrats’ path to the majority clearer, but we still favor Republicans in the overall race for the Senate.”

“Democrats need to win all…

After more than 12k signatures, Independent Dan Osborn officially joins ballot for U.S. Senate — KLKN-TV

# After more than 12k signatures, Independent Dan Osborn officially joins ballot for U.S. Senate

Author: Danielle DaSilva

Published: 2026-06-11T23:12:16+00:00

Source: klkntv.com (klkntv.com)

Language: en

## Story

After more than 12k signatures, Independent Dan Osborn officially joins ballot for U.S. Senate

Main Navigation

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# After more than 12k signatures, Independent Dan Osborn…

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].

Graham Platner’s Maine win has Democrats publicly optimistic but privately alarmed about risking a prime Susan Collins pickup, while Dan Osborn moves toward Nebraska ballot access and Alaska’s Dan Sullivan namesake fight turns into an election-investigation headache.

In this episode

1. Platner Won. Democrats Are Scared. - NOTUS — News of the United States — NOTUS

   Platner Won. Democrats Are Scared. - NOTUS — News of the United States

# Platner Won. Democrats Are Scared.

Now the general election in one of the highest-profile Senate races begins.

Graham Platner has faced a string of controversies that could be setting up a dream scenario for Republicans in the general election. Michael Kleinfeld for NOTUS

By Igor Bobic, Christa Dutton and Alex…

Step Back — Maine votes blue for president, so why has Susan Collins been so hard for Democrats to beat — and does her public distance from Trump actually help her enough to change the Senate pickup math?Background sources

• Maine might boot Susan Collins. It could hurt state's wallet for years — Garrett Downs
• Defying Trump may help Collins in Maine while it hurts other GOP incumbents | AP News — AP News
• Maine Democrats wonder: Can Susan Collins be defeated? — Bostonglobe
• Senate Rating Change: Maine Moves from Leans Republican to Toss-up - Sabato's Crystal Ball — Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman
• Defying Trump ended some Republicans’ careers. It could help Susan Collins win reelection in Maine — Sunjournal
• To rein in Trump, Maine Senator Susan Collins needs to go — Bostonglobe

Independent Senate candidate Osborn to submit petition signatures for candidacy | News | norfolkneradio.com — norfolkneradio.com

# Independent Senate candidate Osborn to submit petition signatures for candidacy | News | norfolkneradio.com

Published: 2026-06-10T00:00:00

Source: norfolkneradio.com (norfolkneradio.com)

Language: en

## Story

Independent Senate candidate Osborn to submit petition signatures for candidacy | News | norfolkneradio.com

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Nebraska Senate Primary Election 2026 Live Results — NBC News

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# Nebraska Senate Primary Results 2026

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## Republicans

Projected winner

PETE RICKETTS WINS THE NEBRASKA…

Sen. Dan Sullivan’s namesake challenger says he can legally run and isn’t backing down - Anchorage Daily News — Anchorage Daily News

Sen. Dan Sullivan’s namesake challenger says he can legally run and isn’t backing down - Anchorage Daily News

# Sen. Dan Sullivan’s namesake challenger says he can legally run and isn’t backing down

Updated: 16 minutes ago Published: 16 minutes ago

Dan J. Sullivan, from Petersburg, is challenging Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in Alaska's 2026 U.S. Senate race. (Photo provided by Dan J.…

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].

Graham Platner won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary, setting up the Susan Collins showdown Democrats likely need for a majority, while new outside spending in Texas and Mississippi shows the party testing how far affordability messages can stretch the map.

In this episode

1. Graham Platner to win Maine Democratic Senate primary and face Sen. Susan Collins — Yahoo News

   Graham Platner to win Maine Democratic Senate primary and face Sen. Susan Collins

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Washington — Democrat Graham Platner and GOP Sen. Susan Collins will face off in a November contest that could determine which party controls the Senate next year, a race that was shaken up in recent weeks by a spate of allegations against Platner.

Platner won the…

Defying Trump may help Collins in Maine while it hurts other GOP incumbents | AP News — AP News

# Defying Trump may help Collins in Maine while it hurts other GOP incumbents | AP News

Published: 2026-06-10T09:01:43+00:00

Source: uat.apnews.com (uat.apnews.com)

Language: en

## Story

Defying Trump may help Collins in Maine while it hurts other GOP incumbents | AP News

# Defying Trump ended some Republicans’ careers. It could help Susan Collins win reelection in Maine

Sen. Susan Collins,…

Platner is poised to win Maine's Democratic primary, but it's still a test — Boston Globe

Platner is poised to win Maine's Democratic primary, but it's still a test

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station inside the Augusta Civic Center on Tuesday, June 9.CJ Gunther/Getty

BANGOR, Maine — For populist insurgent Graham Platner, Maine’s Senate primary election had been shaping up as a coronation.

All of a sudden, it’s looking more like a test.

When Maine Democrats’ ballots are…

New pro-Talarico super PAC wants to give GOP voters “permission to defect” — KWTX

# New pro-Talarico super PAC wants to give GOP voters “permission to defect”

Published: 2026-06-09T21:00:10.367000+00:00

Source: kwtx.com (kwtx.com)

Language: en

## Story

A bipartisan group of federal campaign operatives is launching a new super PAC in support of state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, with plans to hammer Republicans’ standard-bearer, Ken Paxton, on his…

Democratic super PAC investing $2M on Colom's challenge of Hyde-Smith, part of $50M national effort - Mississippi Today — Mississippi Today

# Democratic super PAC investing $2M on Colom's challenge of Hyde-Smith, part of $50M national effort - Mississippi Today

Published: 2026-06-09T12:11:47-05:00

Source: mississippitoday.org (mississippitoday.org)

Language: en

## Story

A Democratic political group announced on Tuesday that it will spend $2 million on Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and…

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].

Montana Senate race dynamics shifted as Democrat Alani Bankhead’s surprise primary win set up a three-way general election, while Chris Pappas formally filed in New Hampshire against a GOP field led by John Sununu and Scott Brown.

In this episode

1. Montana Senate race takes shape — Daily Montanan

   Montana Senate race takes shape

Jordan Hansen

HELENA (Daily Montanan) — With music bumping in a backroom at the Rialto Bar, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alani Bankhead was pacing, in a little bit of a shock following her Tuesday night victory in the party’s primary.

Bankhead, seemingly out of nowhere, won by almost 12,000 votes over Reilly Neill, who had been campaigning for the Senate…

Seeking a promotion, Pappas says he's got a bipartisan record of achievement | State | unionleader.com — Union Leader

Seeking a promotion, Pappas says he's got a bipartisan record of achievement | State | unionleader.com

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Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., walks past supporters after he filed the paperwork for his U.S. Senate campaign at the State House in Concord on Monday.

DAVID…

Nebraska officials certify results for May 12 primary election that ran ... — Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska officials certify results for May 12 primary election that ran ‘very smoothly’ • Nebraska Examiner

##### 16:26

##### News Story

- Election 2026

- Government & Politics

# Nebraska officials certify results for May 12 primary election that ran ‘very smoothly’

## Candidate field set for Nov. 3 general election, barring candidates dropping out or nonpartisans petitioning to be on 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].

Graham Platner and Sherrod Brown posted polling leads in Maine and Ohio, giving Democrats two concrete pickup signals, while Montana’s Senate race crystallized after Alani Bankhead’s surprise primary win.

In this episode

1. UMass Lowell poll shows Platner narrowly ahead of Collins in Senate race — WGME

   # UMass Lowell poll shows Platner narrowly ahead of Collins in Senate race

Published: 2026-06-04T21:25:20-04:00

Source: wgme.com (wgme.com)

Language: en

## Story

UMass Lowell poll shows Platner narrowly ahead of Collins in Senate race

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# UMass Lowell poll shows Platner narrowly ahead of Collins in Senate race

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Poll finds Sherrod Brown 8 points ahead of Jon Husted in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race | WDTN.com — WDTN

Poll finds Sherrod Brown 8 points ahead of Jon Husted in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race | WDTN.com

#### Motorcyclist in serious condition after crash in …

#### Mercer County skipping tornado siren test Saturday

#### Police investigating after body found with signs …

#### Party ends with fight, gunfire

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#### Charges dropped against former UD…

Senate race takes shape as Bankhead emerges from primary | News Pub — News Pub

Senate race takes shape as Bankhead emerges from primary | News Pub

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HELENA — With music bumping in a backroom at the Rialto Bar, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alani Bankhead was pacing, in a little bit of a shock following her Tuesday night victory in the party’s primary.

Bankhead, seemingly out of nowhere, won by almost 12,000 votes over Reilly Neill, who had been…

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].

Graham Platner leads Susan Collins in a UMass Lowell Maine poll, while Sherrod Brown’s Ohio edge and Josh Turek’s Iowa nomination keep Democrats’ Senate pickup map active. Candidate baggage and state fundamentals still make the path uneven.

In this episode

1. Maine Poll: Platner Holds Slight Lead over Collins in U.S. Senate Race | News | UMass Lowell — UMass Lowell

   # Maine Poll: Platner Holds Slight Lead over Collins in U.S. Senate Race | News | UMass Lowell

Published: 2026-06-04T14:06:09+00:00

Source: uml.edu (uml.edu)

Language: en

## Story

Maine Poll: Platner Holds Slight Lead over Collins in U.S. Senate Race | News | UMass Lowell

UMass Lowell is #1 in What Matters Most! Read Why⁠⁠

# Maine Poll: Platner Holds Slight Lead over Collins in U.S. Senate…

Fox News Poll: Sherrod Brown Leading In Ohio Senate Race, Trump Approval Dips - AOL — HuffPost

Fox News Poll: Sherrod Brown Leading In Ohio Senate Race, Trump Approval Dips - AOL

Thu, June 4, 2026 at 11:32 AM UTC

0

Democratic Ohio Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, a former three-term U.S. senator, speaks at a primary election night campaign event in Cleveland, Tuesday, May 5.

## Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown is…

Rep. Josh Turek wins U.S. Senate primary race against Sen. Zach Wahls • Iowa Capital Dispatch — Iowa Capital Dispatch

Rep. Josh Turek wins U.S. Senate primary race against Sen. Zach Wahls • Iowa Capital Dispatch

##### 20:56

##### News Story

- Election 2026

- Government + Politics

# Rep. Josh Turek wins U.S. Senate primary race against Sen. Zach Wahls

###### By: Robin Opsahl - June 2, 2026 8:56 pm

Iowa Rep. Josh Turek celebrated his primary election victory to become the Democratic nominee for Iowa’s U.S.…

Maine’s Graham Platner meets with Democratic senators amid controversy — Nbcnews

Senate Dems wary after latest Platner revelations, but stick by him

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Sullivan vs. Sullivan: Senator accuses Peltola of ‘rigging’ election — but evidence of her involvement is unclear — Alaska's News Source

Sullivan vs. Sullivan: Senator accuses Peltola of ‘rigging’ election — but evidence of her involvement is unclear

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is accusing Democrat Mary Peltola of ‘rigging’ the Senate race by recruiting a Petersburg man with the same name to confuse Alaska voters — and now the national…

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].