Democrats, already cast out into the political wilderness for the next two years, don’t appear on track to take back power anytime soon.
That’s the summary from Cook Political Report, which recently took a fresh look at U.S. Senate rankings for the 2026 elections. If projections hold, Republicans appear on track to keep their majority by a healthy handful of seats, putting them in the driver’s seat for a host of opportunities in President Donald Trump’s final two years in office.
In addition to passing legislation, the Senate is responsible for confirming all federal judicial nominations put forward by the Trump administration, including the Supreme Court, where observers believe the Republican president will have at least one more chance to add another justice. That would cement his legacy on the nine-member court, where he has already appointed three conservative members.
Currently, Republican senators hold a 53-seat majority and enjoy the luxury of Vice President J.D. Vance casting a tie-breaking vote if needed. According to Cook, the party of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is on track to return in 2027 with at least 53 seats.
Some of the most closely watched races with Republican incumbents will be in Maine and North Carolina, where Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) will ostensibly seek additional six-year terms. Collins is the last remaining moderate New England Republican senator but has managed to subsist in the age of Trump, casting votes for two of his three Supreme Court nominees. […]
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