Power at the Polls: A Student’s Guide to Key Senate Races This Midterm Cycle

By: Madison Maynard

A College Student’s Rundown to Key Senate Races This Midterm Cycle

It is incredibly important for young Black college students to be engaged in our political process and participate in our democracy. To vote is to actively make your voice heard and to ensure that your elected officials are representing you and your community in the best way possible. If you don’t vote, you did not participate in advocating for policies that best serve you and others, such as student loan forgiveness or healthcare reform.

If you live in a key battleground state, such as Georgia or Ohio, those races will determine whether Democrats take back Congress or if Republicans remain in power. Here is a guide for you to follow the key Senate races this midterm cycle. If you live in one of these states or in any state across the nation, make sure you vote this November or apply for an absentee ballot to vote by mail. If you go to Vote.org, you are able to register to vote, apply for an absentee ballot and learn the election laws of your state.

Alaska: Dan Sullivan vs. Mary Peltola and Others

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is running for reelection against a competitive challenger in Democrat Mary Peltola. They are both running against two other candidates who advanced to the general election, as Alaska’s primary, which places candidates of all parties in the same primary race, advances the top four candidates to the general election. Those other candidates are Daniel J. Sullivan (yes, he has the same name as the senator) and Gerald Heikes. But Peltola is the main opponent for Sen. Sullivan.

Maine: Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson

Republican Sen. Susan Collins is running for reelection against Democrat Troy Jackson. This race has gained a lot of attention, as the original Democratic nominee Graham Platner,  a progressive who was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, had a campaign plagued with controversies, with an eventual allegation of sexual assault leading him to drop out of the race. A special Democratic convention was held in the aftermath, and the delegates selected logger and former candidate for governor, Troy Jackson. This unique circumstance leads many to wonder if Sen. Collins will pull off a victory again.

Texas: Ken Paxton vs. James Talarico

Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico is facing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Trump-backed candidate. Talarico and the Democratic Party hope this is the moment to turn the red state blue this midterm cycle. Paxton has also been plagued with personal scandals, mainly involving his family life and marriage, but President Trump still endorsed him over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Talarico faced Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary and came out victorious.

Michigan: Mike Rogers vs. Abdul El-Sayed

Democrat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers. Fueled by grassroots organizing, El-Sayed, a progressive candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, narrowly won the Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens, a moderate Democrat who was heavily backed by corporate and AIPAC money. Rogers ran unopposed in the Republican primary; therefore, he had multiple months prior to El-Sayed to prioritize the general election. Due to being a progressive, many wonder if El-Sayed will be able to win in a state like Michigan against a known Republican candidate.

Ohio: Jon Husted vs. Sherrod Brown

Republican Sen. Jon Husted is running for reelection against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his reelection bid in 2024 to Sen. Bernie Moreno. Brown is considered a strong opponent to Husted, as he has always maintained his image as a working-class man and still has name recognition in the state. There is still a battle ahead for Democrats, as President Trump won Ohio by 10 points in 2024 and the state has backed Republicans in the last three presidential elections. But Brown only lost by 4 points in 2024, in a state where Trump won by a large margin, which makes his chances of winning not impossible.

North Carolina: Michael Whatley vs. Roy Cooper

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is running against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in an incredibly competitive race. This Senate race is probably the best chance for the Democratic Party to flip a Republican seat to a Democratic one, as Cooper is a well-known and previously electable Democrat in a state that tends to vote Republican. However, this is Whatley’s first time running for political office, as he has worked for Republican politicians, including former President George W. Bush. Voters will determine if Cooper will win after almost 20 years without Democratic representation in the Senate for North Carolina.

Iowa: Ashley Hinson vs. Josh Turek

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek are battling in Iowa for the Senate seat, which has also become a competitive seat that has leaned to the right in the last few years. Republicans have been incredibly supportive of Hinson, as she promised if elected to the Senate that she would be a “top ally” to the president. Turek’s goal is to flip this Senate seat in Iowa blue, but he also vows to work with President Trump if elected, as he has a record of working across the aisle.

New Hampshire: John Sununu vs. Chris Pappas

There is an open Senate seat in New Hampshire, with former Republican Sen. John Sununu facing Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. The seat is currently held by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who previously won against Sununu, who was the incumbent at the time. Pappas is a current member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, which is bipartisan, and he prides himself on being an independent voice in Washington. Republicans often don’t win in New Hampshire, as the state hasn’t elected a Republican for president since 2000 and hasn’t elected a Republican senator since 2010.