Senate Control at Stake: What 2026 Midterms Election Results Could Mean for Trump’s Agenda

Battleground map and party control

CBS News estimates that 11 states are Senate battlegrounds: eight seats are held by Republicans and three by Democrats. South Carolina, Kansas and Iowa are rated lean Republican; Maine, Ohio, Texas and Alaska are toss-ups. North Carolina is rated lean Democratic.

Republicans are also defending seats in a political climate that has put the party’s prospects in question. Midterm elections often bring losses for the party in the White House, and early exit polls show Trump’s job approval below water in nearly all Senate battleground states, including some he won by double digits in 2024.

Voters weigh Senate control

Control of the Senate is a major consideration for voters, according to early exit polls. Majorities of voters backing both Republican and Democratic candidates said which party controls the chamber was an important factor in their vote.

Democrats last won Senate control in 2022 and held a narrow majority throughout the Biden administration. The chamber’s balance has implications for the White House’s policy agenda and nominations as Trump approaches the final two years of his presidency.

Alaska race faces controversy

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit last month seeking to block certification of results if Sullivan received fewer votes than Peltola. A federal judge dismissed the case Sunday. The New York Times reported last week on an alleged effort by political operatives aligned with Peltola’s campaign to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan to draw votes away from the senator; Peltola denied involvement.

In Anchorage, voters said the ballot was clear despite the controversy involving two people named Dan Sullivan. They disagreed, however, about whether the dispute itself was legitimate.

Other races shape Senate fight

Republican Susan Collins is seeking reelection in Maine, a state Kamala Harris won in 2024. Republicans are also trying to hold seats in at least five other states, while Democrats are defending a seat in Georgia, which Trump won in 2024, and seats in three states following retirements.