Graham Platner’s Maine Senate campaign is absorbing reports of sexually explicit texts days before the June 9 primary, complicating Democrats’ top pickup target against Susan Collins. Iowa Democrats also choose a nominee in a costly primary shaped by outside money.

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In this episode

1. Graham Platner, his wife address reports of explicit texts – NBC Boston — NBC Boston

   Graham Platner, his wife address reports of explicit texts – NBC Boston

# Graham Platner and his wife address reports he sent sexually explicit texts to women

## Graham Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination for one of the most closely watched Senate races as Democrats hope to defeat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Graeme Sloan / Getty Images

U.S. Senate candidate from Maine…

Iowa Democrats to settle a tense Senate primary - ABC News — ABC News

# Iowa Democrats to settle a tense Senate primary - ABC News

Author: ABC News

Published: 2026-06-02T04:09:46+00:00

Source: ABC News (abcnews.com)

Language: en

## Story

Iowa Democrats to settle a tense Senate primary - ABC News

# Iowa Democrats to settle a tense Senate primary

Iowa Democrats will settle one of the party’s last competitive Senate primaries in the nation

ByHANNAH FINGERHUT…

Outside money shapes Iowa Democrats' Senate faceoff - Axios Des Moines — Axios Des Moines

# Outside money shapes Iowa Democrats' Senate faceoff - Axios Des Moines

Author: Jason Clayworth

Published: 2026-06-01T11:18:04+00:00

Source: Axios (axios.com)

Language: en

## Story

Outside money shapes Iowa Democrats' Senate faceoff - Axios Des Moines

3 mins ago - News

# Outside money shapes Iowa Democrats' Senate faceoff

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Should Democrats panic about Platner? - by Nate Silver — Nate Silver

Should Democrats panic about Platner? - by Nate Silver

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# Should Democrats panic about Platner?

### Maine polls have a recent history of underrating Susan Collins and other Republicans.

Jun 01, 2026

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Graham Platner at an event on the University of Maine campus on May 24. Getty Images.

This is going to be a sports-heavy week at Silver Bulletin. No apologies…

"Complaints about U.S. Senate candidates who hinted at helping Osborn sent to Nebraska AG" - Election Law Blog — Election Law Blog

"Complaints about U.S. Senate candidates who hinted at helping Osborn sent to Nebraska AG" - Election Law Blog

A former Republican state lawmaker and an unsuccessful GOP candidate for Legislature sent complaints this week to Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers asking him to look into the U.S. Senate candidacies of Democrat Cindy Burbank and Legal Marijuana NOW nominee Mike Marvin over…

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].

2026 Senate races are tilting into a friendlier national environment as Democrats point to NRSC dysfunction and a D+6.9 generic ballot, but the map still demands candidate quality and red-state overperformance rather than wave-year wishcasting.

In this episode

1. “Unserious” NRSC “Has Devolved into Dysfunction” as Democrats Recruit “Top Candidates in Battleground Races” [NOTUS] - DSCC — DSCC

   Mar 6, 2026

# “Unserious” NRSC “Has Devolved into Dysfunction” as Democrats Recruit “Top Candidates in Battleground Races” [NOTUS]

###### Share

[*NOTUS*](https://www.notus.org/2026-election/nrsc-tim-scott-midterms-decasper)*: “[The NRSC] has devolved into dysfunction. Both senators and the White House are growing more incensed with the campaign arm by the day, the sources say”*

[*Veteran…

Generic ballot hits D+6.9, above 2018 wave… | US Midterms 2026 — Lowdown Today

Generic ballot hits D+6.9, above 2018 wave… | US Midterms 2026

Briefings are running a touch slower this week while we rebuild the foundations. See roadmap

29MAY

# Generic ballot hits D+6.9, above 2018 wave mark

3 min read

08:48UTC

Silver Bulletin recorded a D+6.9 congressional generic ballot average on Thursday, the highest Democratic reading of the cycle and the first to exceed the D+6.5…

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].

Dan Osborn outraised Pete Ricketts in Nebraska’s Senate race, giving Democrats and independents a real fundraising signal even as Ricketts keeps the cash edge and national strategists still have to build a majority path through very red terrain.

In this episode

1. Nebraska’s Osborn outraises Ricketts in Q1 of Nebraska U.S. Senate race • Nebraska Examiner — Nebraska Examiner

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Democrats outline 'multiple paths' to a Senate majority — all through red terrain — NBC News

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COOK PARTISAN VOTING…

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].

Texas Senate race is now being treated as a tossup after Ken Paxton’s landslide over John Cornyn, giving James Talarico a real but still historic path and forcing both parties to rethink Senate majority math.

In this episode

1. Morning Digest: Paxton demolishes Cornyn in Texas — The Downballot

   Morning Digest: Paxton demolishes Cornyn in Texas

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# Morning Digest: Paxton demolishes Cornyn in Texas

### Senate GOP leaders are about to learn if their new Senate nominee is as toxic as they've long feared.

May 27, 2026

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. (Credit: Ken Paxton site)

### Leading Off

#### TX-Sen

Texas…

Can James Talarico Actually Win Texas? — VoteHub

# Can James Talarico Actually Win Texas?

Published: 2026-05-27T13:29:23+00:00

Source: votehub.com (votehub.com)

Language: en

## Story

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton handily defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in last night’s Texas U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff. Cornyn had appeared to have a possible path to survival, but after Donald Trump endorsed Paxton a week before the election,…

The Texas Senate election is a tossup — G. Elliott Morris

The Texas Senate election is a tossup

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# The Texas Senate election is a tossup

### Democratic candidate James Talarico has very good shot against Ken Paxton in the Lone Star State

May 27, 2026

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I’m breaking my rule of not covering breaking news to write about tonight’s election results in Texas, my home state. (And hey, with a baby on the way, who knows how…

Texas' Senate race was about Trump. It’s now about Maine, too — The Boston Globe

Texas' Senate race was about Trump. It’s now about Maine, too

Analysis

Candidate signs, including one for Republican Senate primary candidate and current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, line the entrance to the Royal Lane Baptist Church polling location as voters cast ballots during local and primary runoff elections, including the closely watched Texas Republican Senate runoff, Tuesday in…

Consensus 2026 U.S. Senate Forecast - 270toWin — 270toWin

Consensus 2026 U.S. Senate Forecast - 270toWin

# 2026 Senate Election: Consensus Forecast

##### As of April 23, 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 23 are held Republicans. Democrats will need a net gain of four seats to retake control in 2027.

This map…

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].

Texas Senate moved toward Democrats after Ken Paxton beat John Cornyn, with Cook Political Report shifting the race to Lean Republican and James Talarico facing a more vulnerable GOP nominee in a newly expensive pickup test.

In this episode

1. Cook Political Report shifts Texas Senate rating toward Democrats after Paxton runoff victory — The Hill

   # Cook Political Report shifts Texas Senate rating toward Democrats after Paxton runoff victory

Published: 2026-05-27T01:48:32+00:00

Source: thehill.com (thehill.com)

Language: en

## Story

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the Texas Senate race toward Democrats on Tuesday, from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican,” after state Attorney General…

Trump-backed Ken Paxton beats incumbent John Cornyn in GOP primary runoff for Texas Senate seat — NBC News

Trump-backed Ken Paxton beats incumbent John Cornyn in GOP primary runoff for Texas Senate seat

---

EVENT ENDEDLast updated 2 hours ago

Today’s contests also included runoffs in House primaries, including one in which two Democratic incumbents faced each other in a matchup forced by GOP-led redistricting.

Ken Paxton wins Republican Senate primary in Texas

03:59

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Texas general election matchups are finally set. Here's what you need to know — NPR

# Texas general election matchups are finally set. Here's what you need to know

Published: 2026-05-27T05:00:00-04:00

Source: npr.org (npr.org)

Language: en

## Story

Texas general election matchups are finally set. Here's what you need to know

Stay up to date with our Politics newsletter, sent weekly.

President Trump's stamp was all over Tuesday's Texas primary runoff results as his pick for…

U.S. Senate nominee Cindy Burbank might have to sue to get her name off the general election ballot • Nebraska Examiner — Nebraska Examiner

# U.S. Senate nominee Cindy Burbank might have to sue to get her name off the general election ballot • Nebraska Examiner

Author: Juan Salinas II

Published: 2026-05-26T10:00:25+00:00

Source: nebraskaexaminer.com (nebraskaexaminer.com)

Language: en

## Story

U.S. Senate nominee Cindy Burbank might have to sue to get her name off the general election ballot • Nebraska Examiner

##### 5:00

#####…

Juliana Stratton doubles Don Tracy in U.S. Senate race fundraising — The Intelligencer

# Juliana Stratton doubles Don Tracy in U.S. Senate race fundraising

Author: Ivy Lyons

Published: 2026-05-26T11:00:00+00:00

Source: theintelligencer.com (theintelligencer.com)

Language: en

## Story

Juliana Stratton doubles Don Tracy in U.S. Senate race fundraising

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# Juliana Stratton doubles Don Tracy in Illinois…

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].

Georgia Senate runoff polling puts Mike Collins five points ahead of Derek Dooley, while outside groups pour more than $1 million into Montana’s Democratic primary and Maine’s Susan Collins tests whether pork-and-independence branding still holds.

In this episode

1. InsiderAdvantage Georgia runoff survey: Jones, Collins lead in respective races | James Magazine Online — James Magazine Online

   InsiderAdvantage Georgia runoff survey: Jones, Collins lead in respective races | James Magazine Online

# InsiderAdvantage Georgia runoff survey: Jones, Collins lead in respective races

800 likely voters; Conducted May 20-21; Weighted for age, race, gender; Mixed mode text/panel. MOE 3.46%. Top line tabs can be found HERE.

Results:

Governor:

Burt Jones: 48%

Rick Jackson: 42%

Undecided:…

More than $1 million spent by outside groups in Democratic U.S. Senate primary — KXLH

More than $1 million spent by outside groups in Democratic U.S. Senate primary

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# More than $1 million spent by outside groups in Montana Democratic U.S. Senate primary

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By: Jonathon Ambarian

Posted

HELENA — Montana’s airwaves may not have seen the same level of political advertising they have in recent election cycles, but with the June primary fast approaching, the…

Step Back — Maine looks blue at the presidential level, but Susan Collins keeps surviving there — so what exactly has made her so hard for Democrats to beat, and what would have to change in 2026 for that shield to crack?Background sources

• Platner faces a bigger challenge: defeating Susan Collins — Bostonglobe
• Maine might boot Susan Collins. It could hurt state's wallet for years — Garrett Downs
• Maine Gov. Janet Mills drops US Senate bid, laments lack of campaign funds — Coastalabc
• Vance calls Sen. Susan Collins ‘a good fit for Maine’ despite his frustrations with her — Nbcnews
• Susan Collins brings federal dollars to Maine. She's hoping that's worth it to voters | WFSU News — WFSU News
• In the Maine Senate race, only the future of the Republic is at stake — Bostonglobe
• The Likelihood of Susan Collins Losing Republicans a Senate Seat in Maine's Battleground Race - AOL — AOL
• The voting bloc that could swing Maine's Senate race: From the Politics Desk - AOL — AOL

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].

Donald Trump and Republican allies have built a $939 million midterms war chest, more than triple Democrats’ haul, giving the GOP an ad advantage as Democrats chase a four-seat Senate net and try to turn Maine’s Collins-Platner fight into a real pickup.

In this episode

1. GOP nears $1 billion midterms war chest, more than triple Democrats’ cash | National | union-bulletin.com — Bloomberg

   GOP nears $1 billion midterms war chest, more than triple Democrats’ cash | National | union-bulletin.com

You have permission to edit this article.

+

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have amassed a $939 million war chest ahead of November midterms, more than tripling the Democrats’ haul and setting them up to mount a formidable fight in their uphill effort to…

Susan Collins brings federal dollars to Maine. She's hoping that's worth it to voters | NPR & Houston Public Media — NPR

Susan Collins brings federal dollars to Maine. She's hoping that's worth it to voters | NPR & Houston Public Media

Campaign signs sit next to a road in Rockport, Maine. Graham Platner is expected to be the Democratic nominee and would face off against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election. (Joe Raedle | Getty Images)

The outcome of a pivotal Senate race in Maine could…

Longshot Senate hopeful tells Maine Democrats Graham Platner isn’t their only option — Portland Press Herald

Longshot Senate hopeful tells Maine Democrats Graham Platner isn’t their only option

4 min readFont size +

Gift Article

David Costello, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, photographed on Main Street in Saco on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Staff photo by Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

Read all of our coverage of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through…

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 by 7 points after Janet Mills’ exit, making Maine Democrats’ cleanest flip target, while Georgia Republicans head to a runoff against Jon Ossoff and New Hampshire looks more like an insurance buy than a top-tier pickup.

In this episode

1. Ga. Republicans dig in for runoffs for Senate and governor — The Associated Press

   Ga. Republicans dig in for runoffs for Senate and governor

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MORE | Full results from across Georgia

ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans will keep duking it out among themselves as they head toward a runoff to pick their candidates for governor and U.S. Senate in the battleground state after Tuesday’s primary failed to produce outright…

Susan Collins Chances of Losing Get Worse in Maine After Janet Mills Exit - Newsweek — Newsweek

Susan Collins Chances of Losing Get Worse in Maine After Janet Mills Exit - Newsweek

By Andrew Stanton

Weekend Staff Writer

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Republican Senator Susan Collins’ chances of beating Graham Platner in the 2026 Maine Senate race…

For Democrats, Is NH Senate Race a Battleground, or an Insurance Policy? - NH Journal — NH Journal

# For Democrats, Is NH Senate Race a Battleground, or an Insurance Policy? - NH Journal

Author: Michael Graham

Published: 2026-05-20T02:39:49+00:00

Source: nhjournal.com (nhjournal.com)

Language: en

## Story

For Democrats, Is NH Senate Race a Battleground, or an Insurance Policy? - NH Journal

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas campaigning at his field office in Manchester on May 16, 2026.

When it comes…

A Republican Bloodbath in the Texas Senate Primary Is Giving Democrats Hope | The New Yorker — The New Yorker

A Republican Bloodbath in the Texas Senate Primary Is Giving Democrats Hope | The New Yorker

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Save this story

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In late April, a group of women with jangly earrings and effervescent energy sat in a beer garden in San Antonio with plastic cups of red wine in front of them. They introduced themselves as Carol, Mona, and Susan. “We call each other the Golden…

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].

James Talarico is polling even with John Cornyn and Ken Paxton in Texas, while Roy Cooper posts an 11-point North Carolina lead and Democrats reserve modest New Hampshire insurance money — a map that is widening, but still demanding proof beyond early polls.

In this episode

1. New Texas poll shows deadlocked Senate race as Republicans face 2026 headwinds heading into November election | News | ktbs.com — KTBS

   # New Texas poll shows deadlocked Senate race as Republicans face 2026 headwinds heading into November election | News | ktbs.com

Published: 2026-05-19T00:00:00

Source: ktbs.com (ktbs.com)

Language: en

## Story

New Texas poll shows deadlocked Senate race as Republicans face 2026 headwinds heading into November election | News | ktbs.com

You have permission to edit this article.

Watch Live…

Step Back — When a state like Texas still leans Republican, what actually has to go wrong for the GOP — an unpopular nominee, a bruising primary, national headwinds, turnout shifts — before Democrats can realistically call it a Senate pickup instead of a mirage?Background sources

• Could this finally be the year for Texas Democrats? | On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti — On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
• Cornyn Staying Alive is Enough to Keep Texas Senate as Likely Republican - Sabato's Crystal Ball — Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman
• Messy Texas Senate Primaries Careen to an End — Or Probable Overtime for GOP | Cook Political Report — Jessica Taylor
• Talarico leads both Cornyn, Paxton in new Texas Senate polls — Gabby Birenbaum, Kayla Guo
• Why Texas could determine which party controls the Senate in 2027 | Brookings — Elaine Kamarck
• Texas Primary 2026 Analysis: GOP Feud Intensifies, Democrats Eye Senate Takeover - Bloomberg — Joe Lovinger
• Analysis: Talarico just climbed a big hill in Texas. Now he faces a mountain | CNN Politics — Ronald Brownstein

GOP Faces “Nightmare Scenario” as Trump Endorses Paxton: “Almost Certain to Make Republicans’ Midterm Campaign Harder” - DSCC — DSCC

# GOP Faces “Nightmare Scenario” as Trump Endorses Paxton: “Almost Certain to Make Republicans’ Midterm Campaign Harder” - DSCC

Published: 2026-05-20T20:55:37+00:00

Source: dscc.org (dscc.org)

Language: en

## Story

GOP Faces “Nightmare Scenario” as Trump Endorses Paxton: “Almost Certain to Make Republicans’ Midterm Campaign Harder” - DSCC

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Polls show Cooper with strong lead over Whatley for NC Senate seat — The Hill

Polls show Cooper with strong lead over Whatley for NC Senate seat

## Just In

Tillis urges GOP colleagues to hold budget bill over White House ballroom funding

Senate| 29 minutes ago

Polls show Cooper with strong lead over Whatley for NC Senate seat

State Watch| 34 minutes ago

Cornyn, Paxton in dead heat with Talarico as early voting begins for Texas Senate GOP runoff: Poll

Campaign| 1…

For Democrats, Is NH Senate Race a Battleground, or an Insurance Policy? - NH Journal — NH Journal

# For Democrats, Is NH Senate Race a Battleground, or an Insurance Policy? - NH Journal

Author: Michael Graham

Published: 2026-05-20T02:39:49+00:00

Source: nhjournal.com (nhjournal.com)

Language: en

## Story

For Democrats, Is NH Senate Race a Battleground, or an Insurance Policy? - NH Journal

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas campaigning at his field office in Manchester on May 16, 2026.

When it comes…

Daily TopFive for Senate Pickup Watch. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Senate Pickup Watch wherever you listen. Feedback? Email [email protected].