2026 United States Senate elections explained

Election Name:2026 United States Senate elections
Country:United States
Flag Year:1960
Type:legislative
Ongoing:yes
Previous Election:2024 United States Senate elections
Previous Year:2024
Election Date:November 3, 2026
Next Election:2028 United States Senate elections
Next Year:2028
Seats For Election:33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate
Majority Seats:51
1Blank:Seats up
2Blank:Races won
Map Size:310px
Majority Leader
Before Election:TBD in 2024

The 2026 United States Senate elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections, the winners of which will serve 6-year terms in the United States Congress from January 3, 2027, to January 3, 2033. Senators are divided into 3 groups, or classes, whose terms are staggered so that a different class is elected every 2 years. Class 2 senators were last elected in 2020, and will be up for election in 2032.

Partisan composition

All 33 Class 2 Senate seats are up for election in 2026; Class 2 currently consists of 20 Republicans and 13 Democrats. If vacancies occur in Class 1 or Class 3 Senate seats, that state might require a special election to take place during the, possibly concurrently with the other 2026 Senate elections.

Change in composition

Each block represents one of the one hundred seats in the U.S. Senate. "D#" is a Democratic senator, "I#" is an Independent senator, and "R#" is a Republican senator. They are arranged so that the parties are separated and a majority is clear by crossing the middle.

Before the elections

Each block indicates an incumbent senator's actions going into the election.

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Key
align=center DDemocratic
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Retirement

No senators have announced plans for retirement in 2026.

Race summary

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners will be elected for the term beginning January 3, 2027.

State
IncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral historyLast race
AlabamaRepublicandata-sort-value=2020 2020 data-sort-value=60.1 60.1% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
AlaskaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=53.9 53.9% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
ArkansasRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=66.5 66.5% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
ColoradoDemocraticdata-sort-value=2020 2020 data-sort-value=-53.5 53.5% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent runningnowrap
DelawareDemocraticdata-sort-value=2010 2010
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-59.4 59.4% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
GeorgiaDemocraticdata-sort-value=2021 2021 (runoff) data-sort-value=-50.6 50.6% Ddata-sort-value=1 Incumbent runningnowrap
IdahoRepublicandata-sort-value=2008 2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=62.6 62.6% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
IllinoisDemocraticdata-sort-value=1996 1996
2002
2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-54.9 54.9% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
IowaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=51.8 51.8% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
KansasRepublicandata-sort-value=2020 2020 data-sort-value=53.2 53.2% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
KentuckyRepublicandata-sort-value=1984 1984
1990
1996
2002
2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=57.8 57.8% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
LouisianaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=59.3 59.3% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent runningnowrap
MaineRepublicandata-sort-value=1996 1996
2002
2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=51.0 51.0% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
MassachusettsDemocraticdata-sort-value=2013 2013
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-66.2 66.2% Ddata-sort-value=1 Incumbent runningnowrap
MichiganDemocraticdata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=-49.9 49.9% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
MinnesotaDFLdata-sort-value=2018 2018
2018
2020
data-sort-value=-48.7 48.7% DFLdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
MississippiRepublicandata-sort-value=2018 2018
2018
2020
data-sort-value=54.1 54.1% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent runningnowrap
MontanaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=55.0 55.0% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
NebraskaTBDTBDdata-sort-value=2024 2024 TBDdata-sort-value=3 Incumbent to be
determined in 2024
nowrap
New HampshireDemocraticdata-sort-value=2008 2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-56.7 56.7% Ddata-sort-value=1 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
New JerseyDemocraticdata-sort-value=2013 2013
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-57.2 57.2% Ddata-sort-value=1 Incumbent runningnowrap
New MexicoDemocraticdata-sort-value=2020 2020 data-sort-value=-51.7 51.7% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
North CarolinaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=48.7 48.7% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
OklahomaRepublicandata-sort-value=2022 2022 data-sort-value=61.9 61.9% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
OregonDemocraticdata-sort-value=2008 2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-56.9 56.9% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
Rhode IslandDemocraticdata-sort-value=1996 1996
2002
2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-66.5 66.5% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
South CarolinaRepublicandata-sort-value=2002 2002
2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=54.4 54.4% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
South DakotaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=65.7 65.7% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
TennesseeRepublicandata-sort-value=2020 2020 data-sort-value=62.2 62.2% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
TexasRepublicandata-sort-value=2002 2002
2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=53.5 53.5% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent runningnowrap
VirginiaDemocraticdata-sort-value=2008 2008
2014
2020
data-sort-value=-56.0 56.0% Ddata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
West VirginiaRepublicandata-sort-value=2014 2014
2020
data-sort-value=70.3 70.3% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
WyomingRepublicandata-sort-value=2020 2020 data-sort-value=73.1 73.1% Rdata-sort-value=0 Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap

Alabama

See also: List of United States senators from Alabama. Incumbent Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has filed paperwork to run for re-election.[1] He was elected in 2020 with 60.1% of the vote.

Alaska

See also: List of United States senators from Alaska. Two-term Republican Dan Sullivan was re-elected in 2020 with 53.9% of the vote. U.S. Representative Mary Peltola is considered a potential Democratic candidate.[2]

Arkansas

See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas. Incumbent two-term Republican Senator Tom Cotton was re-elected in 2020 with 66.5% of the vote. Democratic activist and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 and 2022, Dan Whitfield, has announced his campaign.[3] [4]

Colorado

See also: List of United States senators from Colorado. Incumbent Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper, who was first elected in 2020, has stated that he plans to run for re-election.[5] [6] Hickenlooper received 53.5% of the vote in 2020.

Delaware

See also: List of United States senators from Delaware. Two-term Democrat Chris Coons was re-elected in 2020 with 59.4% of the vote.

Georgia

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in Georgia.

See also: List of United States senators from Georgia. Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is running for re-election to a second term in office.[7] He was first elected in a 2021 runoff with 50.6% of the vote. Republican U.S. Representative Buddy Carter has publicly expressed interest in running.[8] Other potential Republican candidates include Attorney General Chris Carr, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler,[9] and Governor Brian Kemp, who will be term-limited in 2026.[10]

Idaho

See also: List of United States senators from Idaho. Three-term Republican Jim Risch was re-elected in 2020 with 62.6% of the vote.

Illinois

See also: List of United States senators from Illinois. Incumbent five-term Democrat and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin was re-elected in 2020 with 54.9% of the vote. Durbin had filed paperwork to run for re-election. Should Durbin be elected to a sixth term, he would become the longest serving senator from Illinois, surpassing Senator Shelby M. Cullom, who served five terms before losing the Republican renomination in 1912. If he decides against running, potential Democratic candidates include Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lauren Underwood, Nikki Budzinski, Alexi Giannoulias, Kwame Raoul, Susana Mendoza, Juliana Stratton, Mike Frerichs, and Robin Kelly; potential Republican candidates include Darin LaHood.[11]

Iowa

See also: List of United States senators from Iowa. Two-term Republican Joni Ernst was re-elected in 2020 with 51.7% of the vote. She plans to run for a third term.[12]

Kansas

See also: List of United States senators from Kansas. One-term Republican Roger Marshall was elected in 2020 with 53.2% of the vote.

Kentucky

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky.

See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky. Seven-term Republican and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell was reelected in 2020 with 57.8% of the vote. McConnell is retiring as leader after the 2024 elections but says he plans to serve out the remainder of his term, leading to speculation that he may not run for reelection.[13] If McConnell chooses to retire, former Kentucky Attorney General and 2023 Republican gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron, as well as Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky's 4th district, are considered strong contenders for the Republican nomination.[14] [15] Other potential Republican candidates include U.S. Representative Andy Barr, Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, and former United Nations ambassador and 2023 Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft. U.S. Representative James Comer has declined to run.[16]

Though there was some speculation that Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear might seek the open seat, he has stated he does not intend to run, citing his desire to finish out his second term as governor.[17]

Louisiana

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in Louisiana.

See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana. Two-term Republican Bill Cassidy was re-elected in 2020 with 59.3% of the vote in the first round of the "Louisiana primary" and is running for re-election to a third full term.[18]

John Bel Edwards, the former Governor of Louisiana, is a potential Democratic candidate.[19] [20] U.S. Representative Clay Higgins and Louisiana State Treasurer and former U.S. Representative John Fleming are considered potential Republican challengers.[21]

Maine

See also: List of United States senators from Maine. Incumbent five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins, who was re-elected in 2020, is eligible to run for re-election to a sixth term in office. In 2020, she received 51.0% of the vote. She has not formally declared that she is running for a sixth term but has filed paperwork to fundraise for a campaign.[22]

Massachusetts

See also: List of United States senators from Massachusetts. Two-term Democrat Ed Markey was re-elected in 2020 with 66.2% of the vote and is running for re-election to a third full term.

Michigan

See also: List of United States senators from Michigan. Two-term Democrat Gary Peters was re-elected in 2020 with 49.9% of the vote.

Minnesota

See also: List of United States senators from Minnesota. One-term Democrat Tina Smith was re-elected in 2020 with 48.7% of the vote after being appointed in 2018 and subsequently winning a special election that same year.

Mississippi

See also: List of United States senators from Mississippi. One-term Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith was re-elected in 2020 with 54.1% of the vote after being appointed in 2018 and subsequently winning a special election that same year. She is running for a second term in office.

Montana

See also: List of United States senators from Montana. Two-term Republican Steve Daines was re-elected in 2020 with 55.0% of the vote.

Nebraska

See also: List of United States senators from Nebraska. Two-term Republican Ben Sasse resigned early in the 118th Congress to become president of the University of Florida.[23] Former governor and 2006 Senate nominee Pete Ricketts was appointed as interim senator on January 12, 2023, by Governor Jim Pillen. A special election will take place in 2024, for the completion of the term.[24]

New Hampshire

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire.

See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire.

Three-term Democrat Jeanne Shaheen was re-elected in 2020 with 56.6% of the vote. On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has publicly expressed interest in running.[25]

New Jersey

See also: List of United States senators from New Jersey. Two-term Democrat Cory Booker was re-elected in 2020 with 57.2% of the vote and is running for re-election to a third full term.

New Mexico

See also: List of United States senators from New Mexico. One-term Democrat Ben Ray Luján was elected in 2020 with 51.7% of the vote.

North Carolina

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina.

See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina. Two-term Republican Thom Tillis was re-elected in 2020 with 48.7% of the vote. On June 10, 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party censured Tillis over his bipartisan support on gun control and same-sex marriage.[26] Outgoing U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel and outgoing governor Roy Cooper are considered potential Democratic candidates.[27] [28] In July 2024, after reporting that the Kamala Harris presidential campaign might select him as vice presidential nominee, Cooper publicly withdrew himself from consideration, furthering speculation that he may be planning to run for Senate.[29]

Oklahoma

See also: List of United States senators from Oklahoma. Incumbent Markwayne Mullin won a special election in 2022 with 61.8% of the vote to complete the remainder of the term vacated by fellow Republican Jim Inhofe, who resigned on January 3, 2023.[30]

Oregon

See also: List of United States senators from Oregon. Three-term Democrat Jeff Merkley was re-elected in 2020 with 56.9% of the vote.

Rhode Island

See also: List of United States senators from Rhode Island. Five-term Democrat Jack Reed was re-elected in 2020 with 66.5% of the vote.

South Carolina

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina.

See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina. Four-term Republican Lindsey Graham was re-elected in 2020 with 54.4% of the vote. U.S. Representative Ralph Norman has been named as a potential challenger for Graham in the Republican primary.[31] Democratic activist, author, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022, Catherine Fleming Bruce, has filed to run.[32]

South Dakota

See also: List of United States senators from South Dakota. Two-term Republican Mike Rounds was re-elected in 2020 with 65.7% of the vote.

Tennessee

See also: List of United States senators from Tennessee. One-term Republican Bill Hagerty was elected in 2020 with 62.2% of the vote.

Texas

See main article: 2026 United States Senate election in Texas.

See also: List of United States senators from Texas. Four-term Republican John Cornyn was re-elected in 2020 with 53.5% of the vote and is running for a fifth term in 2026. Republican U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton have expressed interest in running.[33] [34]

Virginia

See also: List of United States senators from Virginia. Three-term Democrat Mark Warner was re-elected in 2020 with 56.0% of the vote.

West Virginia

See also: List of United States senators from West Virginia. Two-term Republican Shelley Moore Capito was re-elected in 2020 with 70.3% of the vote.

Wyoming

See also: List of United States senators from Wyoming. One-term Republican Cynthia Lummis was elected in 2020 with 73.1% of the vote.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1502906. docquery.fec.gov.
  2. IvanMoore1 . 1649568159626833921 . Just went into the field with this poll question. Results in a week… #aksen #ouch.
  3. Web site: FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1663097 . December 26, 2022 . Federal Elections Commission.
  4. Dan Whitfield . danwhitcongress . 1600596619854024728 . I have filed to run against Tom Cotton in 2026. Check out my campaign video, and if you like it please retweet! . December 26, 2022 . . en.
  5. Web site: Festenstein . Noah . Colorado's Hickenlooper says he'll seek reelection in 2026, favors declassifying marijuana . Denver Gazette . December 16, 2023 . August 18, 2023.
  6. Hickenlooper . 1682500683730132992 . It's hard to believe we're already gearing up for the 2024 presidential election, which means the 2026 cycle won't be far off. And you know who's up for re-election in 2026? Me! . John Hickenlooper.
  7. Web site: Bluestein . Greg . January 25, 2023 . AJC poll: As Kemp readies State of the State address, he's never been stronger . January 25, 2023 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  8. News: Nelson . Craig . Carter says he’s weighing 2026 run against Ossoff . May 22, 2024 . TheCurrentGA.org . May 22, 2024.
  9. News: Bluestein . Greg . US Rep. Lucy McBath says she’s open to 2026 bid for Georgia governor . May 29, 2024 . May 29, 2024 . . English . 1539-7459.
  10. Web site: Allison . Natalie . Brian Kemp will attend GOP convention as he builds up political operation . June 7, 2024 . May 28, 2024 . Politico.
  11. News: McClelland . Edward Robert . The 10 Pols Who Could Replace Dick Durbin . January 16, 2024 . . January 16, 2024.
  12. Web site: May 30, 2024 . Ernst seeking third term in U.S. Senate, but open to role in a Trump cabinet. July 23, 2024 . . en.
  13. Web site: Bolton . Alexander . April 2, 2024 . McConnell will serve out full term through 2026 . August 7, 2024 . . en.
  14. Web site: Catanese . David . November 9, 2023 . After a bruising loss to Andy Beshear in Kentucky, what's next for Daniel Cameron? . Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20231110051310/https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/news/world_nation/after-a-bruising-loss-to-andy-beshear-in-kentucky-what-s-next-for-daniel-cameron/article_1c8eec7e-c528-534a-8afa-a27e1b7397f9.html . November 10, 2023.
  15. News: Catanese . David . A different seat in the chamber: What's ahead for Mitch McConnell in the US Senate? . March 19, 2024 . Lexington Herald-Leader.
  16. News: Catanese . David . Who would be the front-runner for McConnell's Senate seat in 2026? . March 21, 2024 . . March 21, 2024.
  17. Web site: Czar. Karyn. Beshear rules out possible Senate run in 2026. Mar 1, 2024. WUKY.
  18. News: Hilburn . Greg . Bill Cassidy discusses reelection plans while blistering Louisiana closed party primary law . January 31, 2024 . . January 30, 2024.
  19. Web site: Hutchinson . Piper . Outgoing Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards won't rule out another run for office. Louisiana Illuminator.
  20. Web site: Grace . Stephanie . Stephanie Grace: John Bel Edwards won twice for governor, but other electoral roads are rocky . NOLA.com . en . September 16, 2021.
  21. Web site: Bridges . Tyler . Bill Cassidy faces uphill battle to win reelection but independents can still vote for him . The Advocate . en . January 28, 2024.
  22. Web site: November 12, 2020 . The story behind Susan Collins' comeback to win a historic 5th term .
  23. News: Emanuel. Mike. October 6, 2022. Sasse resigning Senate seat, likely to be next University of Florida president. en-US. The New York Times.
  24. Web site: Everett. Burgess. Levine. Marianne. Sasse expected to resign from Senate. Politico. October 5, 2022.
  25. Web site: Former Sen. Scott Brown hosts 2024 GOP presidential contenders in NH as he mulls another Senate run in 2026 . June 16, 2023 . Fox News.
  26. News: N.C. Republicans censure Sen. Thom Tillis after his bipartisan votes. June 12, 2023. September 27, 2023. The Washington Post. Praveena. Somasundaram.
  27. Web site: WRAL . August 11, 2022 . Cooper laughs off 2026 Senate speculation, says he's 'open to new ideas' on teacher pay . October 18, 2023 . WRAL.com . en.
  28. Web site: December 14, 2023 . Democrat Wiley Nickel to leave Congress after N.C. redistricting, teeing up 2026 Senate run . December 14, 2023 . NBC News . en.
  29. News: Goldmacher. Shane. Epstein. Reid J.. Roy Cooper Withdraws From Harris's Vice-Presidential Field. New York Times. July 29, 2024.
  30. News: Martin. Jonathan. February 24, 2022. James Inhofe, Oklahoma Senator, Is Said to Plan an Early Retirement. en-US. The New York Times. February 25, 2022. 0362-4331.
  31. News: Playbook: Scoop: McCarthy's secret promise to Trump. Bade. Rachael. Lizza. Ryan. Daniels. Eugene. July 20, 2023. July 20, 2023. Politico. South Carolina GOP Rep. RALPH NORMAN is considering a primary challenge to top Trump ally Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM, according to a source familiar with the situation [...] Outside groups and constituents reached out to Norman to encourage him to run. Norman told them he would consider it..
  32. Web site: FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1606714 . December 26, 2022 . Federal Elections Commission.
  33. Web site: Svitek. Patrick. U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, prominent Trump ally, weighing U.S. Senate run in 2026. September 19, 2022.
  34. Web site: Ken Paxton suggests he could primary Sen. John Cornyn in 2026 . Politico.