When voters go to the polls in November, they won’t just be determining who the next president will be. They’ll also decide who controls the House and Senate when both bodies convene two months after the election.
A total of 35 Senate seats are at stake this year: 12 Democratic incumbents are seeking another six-year term in the Senate. On the GOP side, 23 seats are in play, and that means control of the Senate is at stake.
6 of those Republicans looking to be reelected are especially vulnerable. Here’s a look at those 6 and why they’re going to be sweating on the night of November 3:
Susan Collins (Maine)
Ever since she voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite credible allegations of sexual assault against him, Collins has been falling out of favor with voters in Maine. She also voted to acquit Donald Trump during impeachment. Those two votes look likely to cost Collins her seat.
Martha McSally (Arizona)
McSally was appointed to serve in the Senate after the death of the late Sen. John McCain, and her support among voters has been decreasing steadily since the moment she was named to fill the seat. She’s facing popular former astronaut Mark Kelly, and recent polls show McSally losing in a head-to-head battle with Kelly by as much as 13 points.
Cory Gardner (Colorado)
Gardner is swimming against a changing political tide in Colorado. In the 2018 midterms, the state made it clear that it is now firmly Democratic, with Democrats taking control of the state legislature for the first time since 1936.
Thom Tillis (North Carolina)
Tillis voted to acquit Donald Trump during the impeachment trial, and that’s beginning to look like a very bad decision, as North Carolina is becoming more blue with each election. The state is now controlled by a Democratic governor and Tillis was even booed at a Trump rally last year.
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Graham has been falling out of favor with voters in his state ever since he came to the defense of Donald Trump during impeachment, and he’s facing a very well-financed and well-liked Democrat, Jaime Harrison, who has been raising more money than Graham and gaining steam in recent months. Only 38 percent of South Carolina voters say they approve of the job Graham is doing in the Senate.
Mitch McConnell (Kentucky)
Yes, the Big Kahuna himself — the Senate Majority Leader — is facing a very uncertain future as he’s being challenged by a Amy McGrath, who just so happens to be a war hero and is greatly respected in the Bluegrass State. Also, McConnell’s cozy relationship with Trump could well spell doom for him.
There are also four other Republican Senators who are looking weak as we near November: John Cornyn of Texas; Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi; Joni Ernst of Iowa, and David Perdue of Georgia.
November 3 looks like it’s going to be very good to Democrats. Republicans meanwhile, especially in the Senate, are weaker than they’ve been in a generation.
I hope they all lose their elections.
Encouraging news at last. Hope still glimmers for us all so badly affected by these goons there in congress only to lick boots of trump and his family of thugs. Paid enormous salary by a grieving public. Will be a chance for shake down of the Policies and Procedures that have been so abused by this cabinet of GOP performers causing so much chaos and pain. Nice to read of positive changes too on a wet cold morning.
It is so important to defeat these un-American politicians. When you see a double or triple match request, give, even if it is only $5.00.
They all enabled Trump and will reap the reward… a generation in political opposition. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of people.