Democrats Face Tough Battle in U.S. Senate Races: A Look at Key Contests

Democrats are gearing up for a tough fight in the upcoming Nov. 5 election as they work to preserve their narrow 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate. With several incumbents in Republican-leaning states, the battle for control of the Senate is heating up.

Primaries in Ohio and Pennsylvania have set the stage for November, with a handful of states being closely watched by nonpartisan election forecasters. Here are some key Senate races to keep an eye on:

MARYLAND: REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER
Larry Hogan, the Republican former governor of Maryland and a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, has announced his candidacy for an open Senate seat. Despite Maryland not electing a Republican senator since 1970, Hogan’s popularity and polling suggest a competitive race. Democratic contenders include David Trone, a congressman, and Angela Alsobrooks, a county executive.

WEST VIRGINIA: EXPECTED SWING TO REPUBLICANS
West Virginia is expected to shift into Republican hands after Democrat Joe Manchin announced he would not seek reelection. Jim Justice, a wealthy businessman and former Democrat turned Republican, is considered the frontrunner. Democratic contenders include Alex Mooney and Zach Shrewsbury.

NEW JERSEY: LOOKING TO REPLACE MENENDEZ
Democratic lawmaker Andy Kim is aiming to replace Senator Bob Menendez, who announced he would not seek reelection as a Democrat. Tammy Murphy, the state’s governor’s wife, dropped her bid for the seat. Democrats are favored to hold the seat in November.

MONTANA: VULNERABLE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT
Democrat Jon Tester is defending his seat in a state that supported Trump in the 2020 election. Republican Tim Sheehy is a strong contender, with support from other party members in the Senate.

NEVADA: ROSEN FIGHTS TO STAY ON
Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen faces a competitive race for a second term. Republican contenders include Sam Brown, Jeff Gunter, and Jim Marchant.

UTAH: CROWDED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Utah’s open Senate seat has attracted a crowded field of Republican contenders, including Brad Wilson, John Curtis, and Brent Hatch.

ARIZONA: SINEMA DROPS OUT
Kyrsten Sinema announced she would not seek reelection, setting the stage for a showdown between Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican candidates Kari Lake and Mark Lamb.

MICHIGAN: CROWDED RACE FOR OPEN SEAT
With Senator Debbie Stabenow retiring, Michigan’s Senate race is expected to be competitive. Democratic favorite Elissa Slotkin faces competition from Hill Harper and Nasser Beydoun, while Republicans Mike Rogers, Justin Amash, and Peter Meijer vie for the nomination.

WISCONSIN: REPUBLICANS TAKE ON BALDWIN
Democrat Tammy Baldwin seeks a third term in a competitive race against Republican Eric Hovde.

As the Nov. 5 election approaches, all eyes will be on these key Senate races as Democrats fight to maintain their majority in the U.S. Senate.