Democrats edge out, neck and neck with Republicans in 5 key Senate races: Polls
Democrats lead or tie in five GOP-held Senate races as voters rank the economy and cost of living above other issues, the poll shows.
- On Saturday, October 3, 2026, a New York Times/Siena survey showed Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton 51 percent to 45 percent in the Texas Senate race, potentially marking the first Democratic Senate victory in Texas since 1988.
- Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, requiring Democrats to protect existing seats and gain four Republican-held positions for outright control; a 50-50 split would leave Republicans effective control through Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote.
- Across other closely watched contests, Democrats hold leads in Alaska and Ohio, while Republican Ashley Hinson maintains a narrow 48-47 lead in Iowa and the Kansas race remains tied between Democrat Adam Hamilton and Republican Roger Marshall.
- Economic concerns featured highest on voters' priorities, with 21 percent citing it as the most important issue, while between 48 percent and 51 percent of voters expressed strong disapproval of President Donald Trump's job performance.
- Democrats navigate an emerging map presenting multiple paths through states with sharply different electorates, ranging from heavily urban Texas to sparsely populated Alaska, with results potentially replicated on Election Day.
19 Articles
19 Articles
The Republican Party currently holds the majority with 53 of the 100 seats in the upper house
Polls and trends paint a difficult picture for the Republican Party before the Democrats, in a mid-term election that could be the most expensive in history. Trump, with 31% approval, reiterated his pledge of $5,000 this Saturday.
A new poll by NYT/Siena showed the advantage of democrats in the race for Senate seats in Texas, Alaska and Ohio.
Democratic Senate Candidates Gain in Trump States: Polls
Voters in a string of states that reliably back Republicans for Senate are sounding increasingly open to supporting Democrats this fall. New polling from the New York Times and Siena College shows Democrats leading or tied in five states that President Trump has previously carried: Texas, Alaska, Ohio, Kansas, and...
Democrats hit 50% or more in Texas, Alaska polls as Senate battle heats up
The nation's two biggest states delivered an outsized message about the fierce battle for Senate control Saturday, with Democratic candidates hitting the 50 percent threshold in Texas and Alaska.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
