Texas, Michigan, Ohio: Three Senate Races Define Midterm Control
Control of the U.S. Senate hinges on contests in three states where historical shifts or personal disputes have reshaped the field.
By Olga Paredes ·
The 2026 midterm elections approach with the balance of power in the Senate hanging on outcomes in Texas, Michigan, and Ohio.
In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton runs against state Representative James Talarico for the open seat. Paxton secured the Republican nomination with the endorsement of President Donald Trump, defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn. His candidacy remains complicated by a prior impeachment by the state House over corruption charges, though he was later acquitted. A win for Talarico would mark the first time in over three decades that a Democrat represents Texas in the U.S. Senate.
Michigan voters decide between public health administrator Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Mike Rogers. The race has centered on El-Sayed's faith, with Trump alleging unproven extremist ties. El-Sayed has rejected those claims, citing his allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. The field shifted on Sunday when Representative Haley Stevens, who faced El-Sayed in the primary, withdrew her support and endorsed Rogers.
In Ohio, former Senator Sherrod Brown challenges appointee Jon Husted for the remaining two years of J.D. Vance's term. Husted filled the seat when Vance moved to the vice presidency. Brown seeks a return to the Senate after losing his 2024 reelection bid to Bernie Moreno.
These three contests determine which party holds the majority in the upper chamber as Election Day arrives.
Source: KAUU
