Latest news with #Senate2026
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Democrats want to retake the Senate. Why are they afraid to run against the Maine Senator who upsets both sides?
Senate Democrats have a chance to beat Sen. Susan Collins in Maine. She's the last Republican senator from New England and the only Republican who represents a traditionally Democratic state. She is also hated by some in her own party, who accuse her of not being far enough to the right. While often marked as a 'vulnerable' seat in D.C. circles, Collins appears to be safe yet again as the race for her seat in 2026 ratchets up - no major candidate for either party has announced they would run against her. Democrats have no other way to win the majority in the Senate in 2026 without beating Collins. To win the majority, they would need to flip three other Senate seats. They have already targeted North Carolina after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced he would not seek re-election. They still need three more. And Collins is their best shot. A Morning Consult poll showed that Collins's approval rating in Maine slid dramatically by 12 percentage points to the point that 51 percent of Mainers disapprove of her. But Democrats might be gun-shy about challenging Collins because of the results. In 2020, Democrats were certain they could beat Collins after she voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and largely voted with President Donald Trump's agenda. Sara Gideon, Collins's Democratic challenger, raised millions of dollars and polls showed that Collins was vulnerable, only for Collins to win in 2020 by more than nine points despite the fact Joe Biden won the state by about the same amount. 'While the polling is out there and people are aware of it, I think there's a strong reluctance in many circles, primarily because of past history causes traditionally proved polling wrong,' Adam Cote, a former Democratic candidate for governor of Maine, told The Independent. 'I think it's probably the Gideon race, not only because it's the most recent and on people's mind, but it's the most instructive as to whether a poll makes a big difference or not.' Collins also knows when to break with her party when she sees necessary. Last week, when the Senate voted on President Donald Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill,' Collins opposed it because of the cuts to Medicaid, even as she secured money for rural hospitals. Most notably, Collins also voted to convict Trump for his actions on January 6 and is one of only three Republicans still in the Senate who did. That might explain why a recent University of New Hampshire poll showed 29 percent of Republicans have an unfavorable view of Collins and 57 percent of Mainers in general have an unfavorable view of her. But Collins also now holds more power than she's had in her career as the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes the budget. 'My intention is to run for reelection,' Collins said in a statement to The Independent. 'I am now the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is considered to be one of the most powerful positions in the Senate. By climbing that ladder, in the last three years, I have been able to secure more than a billion dollars for hundreds of projects in communities across our state, and that would not have happened without the seniority that I have.' Those factors might have scared away potential Democratic challengers. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who previously worked for Collins who now represents Maine's 2nd district in the House, announced he would run for re-election. Collins has only lost one race, when she ran for governor in 1994 against independent Angus King, now her partner in the Senate. But King's son Angus King III is running for governor as a Democrat, as is Hannah Pingree, whose mother Chellie Pingree ran against Collins in 2002 and lost. One of the potential reasons for the freeze is that many are waiting to see what Janet Mills, the state's term-limited Democratic governor, decides about a run. Mills made waves in February when she visited the White House and Trump confronted her about complying with a ban on transgender athletes competing in women's sports. That led to Mills saying ' We'll see you in court.' The Trump administration later unfroze Maine's money. Mills, who is 78, told a reporter that she did not have any plans at the moment to run for Senate against Collins, who is 72. But Maine has a late filing deadline of June 1st of 2026. "So it's not, it's not that there aren't other people, top quality candidates," David Farmer, a Maine Democratic political consultant, told The Independent. "It's that there, you know, there is a respect for the governor runs through the party." But Farmer said that Collins would still be difficult to beat. "She hasn't survived in politics this long by being a pushover," he said. "It would be foolish to underestimate her skills and abilities, but we have a situation where the President of the United States has put a bull's eye on the state of Maine, and she and the rest of the Republicans in Congress have refused to stand up to him, put some guardrails on his actions." One of the few Democrats who stepped up to run against her is Jordan Wood, a former chief of staff to former congresswoman Katie Porter. Wood's slogan uses Collins' phrase that she is "concerned" by Trump to say "We need courage, not concern." "The Constitution gives us the people Congress to be a check on an authoritarian White House, and that means we've got to take the Senate and the House and elected pro-democracy majorities there, and Maine is the only path to winning that Senate," he told The Independent. Wood said he stepped up because no one wanted to challenge Collins. In his most recent fundraising quarter, he raised $1.6 million. Wood also said that Collins's votes against confirming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel were not the deciding votes. "We've seen it multiple times over years, where she tries to have it both ways," Wood said. "And I think that, you know, it's just very clear across the state that there is an understanding that she is beholden and falling in line with what Trump and party bosses and the Republican party wanted to do." Wood faces major challenges in terms of name recognition, though he said is focused on "earning the trust and support of my neighbors and the people of Maine." He added he will be doing town halls across the state. Meanwhile, Gideon, the failed Democratic challenger to Collins from 2020, still has $3.7 million in her campaign account almost six years after he lost.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Colin Allred will run for Texas Senate seat again
What does Minnesota's open Senate seat mean for the 2026 midterms? Former Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred formally launched his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign Tuesday morning, entering what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races of the cycle. A former NFL linebacker, Allred represented the Dallas area in the House for three terms before mounting an unsuccessful challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024. So far, much of the early attention in the Texas race has centered on the increasingly bitter Republican primary, where Attorney General Ken Paxton — a staunch ally of President Trump — is challenging longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn. The 2026 race is emerging as a key target for national Democrats hoping to expand their Senate map under the new Trump administration. Democrats have long seen Texas as tantalizing but elusive political ground. Cruz's 2018 and 2024 re-election campaigns ranked among the most expensive Senate contests in the country, with each race drawing more than $100 million in contributions. Cruz ultimately edged out former Rep. Beto O'Rourke by 2.6 points in 2018 and defeated Allred by 8.5 points in 2024. Cornyn, by contrast, has enjoyed more comfortable margins. He defeated Democrat MJ Hegar by 9.6 points in 2020 and won re-election in 2014 by a commanding 27.2-point spread over Democrat David Alameel. Still, some Texas Democrats see signs of momentum and believe the political environment in 2026 could finally break their way — especially if Paxton, who is leading in early primary polls, manages to unseat Cornyn. Cornyn has tried to capitalize on the risk, warning that a Paxton nomination "would be catastrophic." Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 on bribery allegations but was acquitted by the state Senate. He was also previously under federal investigation for corruption, though the Justice Department declined to pursue charges near the end of the Biden administration. In his campaign launch video, Allred took aim at both of his potential Republican opponents. "I'm announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate to lower costs and stop corrupt politicians like John Cornyn and Ken Paxton from rigging the economy against hard-working Texans," he says. The Democratic field could become crowded. O'Rourke and Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio — an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's immigration policies — are both considering bids. Retired astronaut Terry Virts officially entered the race last week, and other potential contenders include progressive state Rep. James Talarico, a rising star on social media with nearly 900,000 TikTok followers. Still, the road for Democrats remains challenging. The party hasn't won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, hasn't elected anyone to the U.S. Senate from Texas since 1988 and last carried the state in a presidential election in 1976. Democratic hopes have largely rested on the continued erosion of GOP margins in the suburbs around Dallas and Houston. While that suburban trend has persisted since 2018, Republicans have made gains elsewhere — particularly in the historically Democratic-leaning Rio Grande Valley, where Hispanic voters have shifted rightward in recent cycles. Democrats are aiming to retake control of Congress in 2026, and while the House appears within reach, the Senate map is a tough climb. The party is defending key seats in swing states like Georgia and Michigan and will need to expand the map in red or purple territory to have a shot at the majority. Beyond Texas, Democrats are also eyeing a potential opening in Maine, where Republican Sen. Susan Collins has not confirmed her re-election plans. And in North Carolina, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis' stunning decision not to seek another term will likely make the race even more competitive in the Tar Heel State, a persistent battleground. and contributed to this report.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Colin Allred will run for Texas Senate seat
What does Minnesota's open Senate seat mean for the 2026 midterms? Former Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred formally launched his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign Tuesday morning, entering what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races of the cycle. A former NFL linebacker, Allred represented the Dallas area in the House for three terms before mounting an unsuccessful challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024. So far, much of the early attention in the Texas race has centered on the increasingly bitter Republican primary, where Attorney General Ken Paxton — a staunch ally of President Trump — is challenging longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn. The 2026 race is emerging as a key target for national Democrats hoping to expand their Senate map under the new Trump administration. Democrats have long seen Texas as tantalizing but elusive political ground. Cruz's 2018 and 2024 re-election campaigns ranked among the most expensive Senate contests in the country, with each race drawing more than $100 million in contributions. Cruz ultimately edged out former Rep. Beto O'Rourke by 2.6 points in 2018 and defeated Allred by 8.5 points in 2024. Cornyn, by contrast, has enjoyed more comfortable margins. He defeated Democrat MJ Hegar by 9.6 points in 2020 and won re-election in 2014 by a commanding 27.2-point spread over Democrat David Alameel. Still, some Texas Democrats see signs of momentum and believe the political environment in 2026 could finally break their way — especially if Paxton, who is leading in early primary polls, manages to unseat Cornyn. Cornyn has tried to capitalize on the risk, warning that a Paxton nomination "would be catastrophic." Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 on bribery allegations but was acquitted by the state Senate. He was also previously under federal investigation for corruption, though the Justice Department declined to pursue charges near the end of the Biden administration. In his campaign launch video, Allred took aim at both of his potential Republican opponents. "I'm announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate to lower costs and stop corrupt politicians like John Cornyn and Ken Paxton from rigging the economy against hard-working Texans," he says. The Democratic field could become crowded. O'Rourke and Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio — an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's immigration policies — are both considering bids. Retired astronaut Terry Virts officially entered the race last week, and other potential contenders include progressive state Rep. James Talarico, a rising star on social media with nearly 900,000 TikTok followers. Still, the road for Democrats remains challenging. The party hasn't won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, hasn't elected anyone to the U.S. Senate from Texas since 1988 and last carried the state in a presidential election in 1976. Democratic hopes have largely rested on the continued erosion of GOP margins in the suburbs around Dallas and Houston. While that suburban trend has persisted since 2018, Republicans have made gains elsewhere — particularly in the historically Democratic-leaning Rio Grande Valley, where Hispanic voters have shifted rightward in recent cycles. Democrats are aiming to retake control of Congress in 2026, and while the House appears within reach, the Senate map is a tough climb. The party is defending key seats in swing states like Georgia and Michigan and will need to expand the map in red or purple territory to have a shot at the majority. Beyond Texas, Democrats are also eyeing a potential opening in Maine, where Republican Sen. Susan Collins has not confirmed her re-election plans. And in North Carolina, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis' stunning decision not to seek another term will likely make the race even more competitive in the Tar Heel State, a persistent battleground. and contributed to this report.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poll shows Trump's clash with courts puts Senate GOP on defense
New polling of likely voters in Senate battleground states has found President Trump's frequent clashes with federal courts are becoming a hot issue that could put Senate Republican candidates on the defensive in 2026. A poll of 1,000 likely voters in 2026 Senate battlegrounds, obtained exclusively by The Hill, found that 53 percent disapprove of Trump's handling of the courts, including 89 percent of Democrats, 55 percent of independents and 39 percent of self-identified non-MAGA Republicans. The poll was conducted by Global Strategy Group, a Democratic-aligned polling firm, on behalf of Demand Justice, a Democratic-aligned judicial advocacy group. The survey found that more than two-thirds of voters, 72 percent, said they are concerned about Trump's response to court orders and 48 percent said they were extremely concerned by what they saw as the president's refusal to obey court orders. The poll found that 68 percent of voters surveyed said they viewed congressional Republicans as helping Trump evade legal norms, and 44 percent said they viewed that dynamic as extremely concerning. It surveyed voters in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. The Senate's two most vulnerable Republican incumbents are Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is the chamber's most vulnerable Democrat. 'The data is clear: Americans increasingly reject Donald Trump's attacks on the rule of law and the courts. Over two-thirds are concerned about this blatant disregard for court orders and the threat that it poses to the rights of every person in this country,' said Maggie Jo Buchanan, the interim executive director of Demand Justice. 'When Trump treats judicial rulings as mere suggestions instead of legally binding obligations, it sends a chilling message that our legal protections are meaningless,' Buchanan added. 'An overwhelming majority of Americans across the political spectrum are concerned that this calculated defiance sets a precedent where individuals may face unfair trials, see their rights disregarded without consequence, and find themselves powerless to seek justice,' she added. U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia James Boasberg criticized the Trump administration earlier this year for disregarding his order to stop the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. The administration argued the deportation flights had already departed the United States at the time Boasberg issued his order and asserted they later complied with a written order. The Trump White House has also come under criticism for barring a reporter and photographer from The Associated Press from the Oval Office in April despite a court order from U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Trevor McFadden ruling the government could not retaliate against the news agency for refusing to follow Trump's order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The poll also found 70 percent of voters that Trump's allies in Congress will help him pick judges who will do what he wants instead of acting independently, with 43 percent of respondents saying they're 'extremely' concerned. The poll's sample included 44 percent of self-identified Democrats, 44 percent of self-identified Republicans and 12 percent of self-identified independents. It was conducted between May 28 and June 1 and had a margin of error of 3.1 percent. Updated at 8:43 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate rankings: The 5 seats most likely to flip
The 2026 midterm cycle is already bustling with activity as Senate Republicans gear up to defend their majority and Democrats try to reverse course from a difficult few years and chart a path forward. The fields are starting to take shape as incumbents decide whether to run again, candidates launch campaigns and party leaders attempt to woo their top choices. It's all happening against the backdrop of constant action at the White House and Congress' push to enact President Trump's massive tax bill — both of which will play outsize roles in the coming cycle. Here's an early look at the five Senate seats most likely to flip next year. Sen. Jon Ossoff (Ga.) is considered the most vulnerable Democrat on the Senate map and Republicans have eagerly been awaiting the chance to win back the seat. But they were barely a quarter of the way into the cycle when Republicans got their first big piece of bad recruitment news: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) decided against a Senate bid, depriving the GOP of its top choice across the entire 2026 map. His decision scrambled the race. Not only did it deprive the GOP of a top-tier candidate in a crucial race, it also increases the chances of a bloody primary. 'Kemp is the 1:1 on the board. Full stop,' one GOP operative said. 'This is a situation where you want a primary. Where you want them to show their mettle because I just don't think that we have a clear enough indication on any of these guys to say they can do it.' Multiple Republicans indicated they expect a primary much like what happened in Ohio last year: a crowded field of B-tier candidates, many of whom will prompt more questions than answers. The field is already starting to take shape. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) is in, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is out and operatives believe Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) may follow Carter into the primary. More are likely to go for it, but none that are considered heavy hitters at this stage. Top party figures have been hoping for freshman Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) to take the plunge, but few expect him to do so. There have also been murmurs around Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler — but nothing more. Republicans concede Ossoff will be to beat without Kemp, pointing to his growing war chest, battle-tested history and penchant for avoiding missteps during his term. GOP operatives, though, see openings to whack him over support for transgender women in sports and steadfast opposition to Trump. 'I am bullish on Jon Ossoff. … He's done a great job. He's centered the people of Georgia and their needs and their concerns,' Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) told The Hill, arguing that the GOP's 'one big, beautiful bill' will be an albatross at the ballot box. 'I'd hate to have to run as a Republican in this moment,' he added. If Democrats are going to make any headway toward winning back the majority, toppling Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is a must. And for now, they are waiting to find out whether Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is in or out for what would be the marquee matchup on the board. Much like Kemp in Georgia, Cooper is a popular two-term governor who would easily give his party the best chance of flipping a seat and avoiding a messy primary. Democrats are hopeful that Cooper will not follow the lead of numerous governors over the past decade who have spurned bids for the upper chamber. 'They've got to convince him that serving in the Senate is better than spending time with his family,' one Democratic operative with North Carolina ties said of party leaders. 'That's a hard sell.' Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) has already announced a bid. Whoever the Democratic nominee is will have to face an incumbent Republican who has twice won close contests. But for Tillis, squaring off against a popular governor in a year when the mood of the country might not be in the GOP's corner would likely make it his toughest political bout yet. Adding to his issues is potential GOP primary as some conservatives continue to cry foul over his work with Democrats in recent years. But Republicans remain confident as the state's rightward tilt stayed true in November. Governors past and present also have found that running for the upper chamber is a different animal, potentially giving Tillis another boost. Does anyone want to face off with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) next year? That's the question on the minds of top politicos as Democrats struggle to find a viable candidate against the Maine centrist after the party failed spectacularly to defeat her in 2020, leaving them burned in the New England state heading into next year. The latest blow came as Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) announced he will run for his toss-up House seat once again rather than mount a statewide bid. That's leaving Democrats to pin their hopes on Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) throwing her hat in the ring — but Mills hasn't sounded overly enthusiastic about a potential bid. 'I'm not planning to do anything right now, I'm just — I'm not planning to run for anything,' Mills told a local outlet in late April. 'Things change week to week, month to month, but I'm not … at this moment, I'm not planning to run for another office.' The reticence comes after Sara Gideon vastly outraised and outspent the five-term senator in 2020, only to see her polling advantage evaporate come election day. Collins won by eight percentage points, owing in large part to her long-standing connections to the state. 'In general, for any senator who's served their state and been out there and talking to the voters and engaging them and working to solve those problems, they're going to be effective with their voters to gain their support,' said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who ran the Democratic Senatorial Committee during the 2020 cycle. 'From what I have seen from so many of my colleagues and Republican colleagues, that's the winning combination,' she added. Nevertheless, Maine remains a blue state and the last one to not change parties as part of the realignment that finally saw Montana and West Virginia fall into GOP hands last year. This and some troublesome polls are keeping that glimmer of hope alive for some Democrats. One Democratic operative made clear to The Hill that there remains donor interest in playing ball —- but only if a 'legit candidate' takes the plunge. It's not even halfway through the off-year and the Michigan Democratic primary is already the leader in the clubhouse to become the most contentious of the 2026 cycle as a trio of key players look to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in the Wolverine State. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), former health director Abdul El-Sayed, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) and former Michigan state House Speaker Joe Tate have all launched bids in recent months. Stevens, the favorite of Washington Democrats, is the initial leader with 34 percent, according to a new survey released last week. That's a 12-point advantage over El-Sayed, who has Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) backing. But the presence of the two is giving Democrats agita over what is becoming a proxy battle between the party establishment and progressive forces, with that battle stretching into one over Israel and Palestine. 'It's basically a [Hillary Clinton] versus Bernie type fight,' said one Democratic operative with Michigan ties. As for McMorrow, she is the dark horse. The state senator, who has seen her star rise in recent years, is pitching herself as part of a new generation of Democrats, having said she will not back Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for his current post. She is also using the Pete Buttigieg playbook of flooding the zone media wise. Democrats maintain they are unconcerned with a testy primary and believe it will be a net-positive come general election time. 'I've never been opposed to primaries when I was [DSCC] chair,' said Peters, who chaired the committee in both 2022 and 2024. 'A primary can be constructive. … I would hope they wouldn't cross the line and attack each other, although that's always sometimes difficult. But … a primary can really strengthen a candidate before they get into the real show.' Across the aisle, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) is once again the party's top choice to become its nominee. But unlike his 2024 run, he might have a primary on his hands as Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) is moving closer to running. Of course, winning in the state will be difficult for any Republican. Michigan has not elected a Republican to the Senate in more than 30 years. New Hampshire is considered a must-win state for Democrats in 2026. And they are breathing easy despite Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-N.H.) retirement as Rep. Chris Pappas' (D-N.H.) presence gives the party a top-tier candidate. Shaheen, a three-term lawmaker and ex-New Hampshire governor, has been a formidable force in the state's political scene for years and is set to leave a major void in the Democratic-leaning state. However, Democrats remain bullish that the seat will remain in the party's hands. Of all the states on this list, New Hampshire is the only one former Vice President Kamala Harris carried last year. It is also the only one, other than Georgia, that is unlikely to have a knock-out, drag out Democratic primary that could prove damaging in a general election. The major questions reside on the Republican side as former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) is eyeing a second run in the Granite state 12 years after he narrowly lost to Shaheen. According to a source familiar with the ex-senator, Brown is continuing to take a 'hard look' at a bid and has been traveling around the state, attending party events and doing his 'due diligence.' He also was spotted on Capitol Hill making the rounds in March. A decision is expected by early fall. Brown was dogged in his 2014 run over accusations that he was a carpetbagger, having run two years prior for reelection in Massachusetts. Republicans are widely expecting that attack once again, especially in contrast to the Pappas family's longstanding ties to the state. 'The problem is the Pappas family is New Hampshire,' the GOP operative said. What isn't clear is what the GOP's fallback options are in a state where they likely need everything to break right to have a chance. No Republican has nabbed a Senate seat in the state in 15 years, though the party has held the governorship since 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
