Fifty days remain until the Nov. 8 general election that will determine whether Democrats retain a majority in the House and Senate or if Republicans can gain control of one or both chambers.
A lot can change in 50 days, campaign teams and political strategists agree.
Earlier in the summer, Republicans seemed to have a significant advantage with record-high inflation and gas prices and Biden’s low approval ratings. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in July appeared to energize Democrats.
The FBI’s raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida last month has fired up conservative Republicans.
The economy, many political pundits believe, will play a significant role in midterm elections, and Democrats are pointing to declining gas prices and Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and student loan forgiveness plan as examples that brighter days are ahead for Americans’ bank accounts.
While multiple forecasts project that Republicans will regain control in the House, even GOP leaders are split about the future of the Senate. Nationwide, 14 seats held by Democrats and 21 filled by Republicans are on the ballot.
Last month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that he believes Republicans have a better chance of winning the House than the Senate. The quality of the GOP’s Senate candidates could hinder the party’s ability to regain control of the Senate, he added.
“I think there’s probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Senate races are just different—they’re statewide [and] candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome,” McConnell said.
McConnell didn’t mention candidates by name, but Herschel Walker in Georgia and Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania haven’t been performing as well as originally expected in the polls.
Additionally, in the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman in Ohio, 10-term Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan is gaining more traction than anticipated against first-time candidate J.D. Vance, who is endorsed by Trump.
McConnell’s comments drew criticism from Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott.
“Giving anonymous quotes to help The Washington Post or The New York Times write stories trashing Republicans is the same as working with the Democratic National Committee.”
With early voting starting in some states, and less than two months until the Nov. 8 general Election Day, here are five Senate seats that could flip and determine which party has control:
- Pennsylvania
- Nevada
- Wisconsin
- Georgia
- Arizona
