91欧美激情

Republicans hold edge in effort to retake US Senate

Visit 91欧美激情鈥檚 Election 2024聽page for our comprehensive coverage.聽.聽Sign up for 91欧美激情鈥檚聽Election Desk newsletter聽for headlines and analysis from now until Inauguration Day.

Democrats always knew they faced a difficult political map to retain their narrow majority in the U.S. Senate this election year.

Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat opened up with the retirement of longtime Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, but it was initially not considered in play, since voters hadn’t elected a Republican senator in more than four decades.

But that changed when former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan became the GOP nominee in the race against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

Democratic leaders suddenly had to consider how much they were going to spend on a race the party originally felt they could easily win.

Overall contributions to the candidates have soared to well over $80 million, easily making it the most expensive U.S. Senate race in the state’s history.

Alsobrooks has sought to blunt the popularity of the former governor by emphasizing the importance of the race in national terms, pointing out that Republicans can retake control of the U.S. Senate, by just flipping a few states.

Hogan has distanced himself from former President Donald Trump and has pledged not to undermine abortion rights in a state where registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans.

While political analysts say Hogan has run a solid campaign, he always faced an uphill battle in a state that is very blue.

The Alsobrooks, but he’s also forced Democrats to put a lot of resources into her campaign.

And Democrats have plenty of challenges in other states, as they try to hold onto their 51-49 majority.

Senate control runs through Big Sky country聽

Democrats were dealt a blow when Sen. Joe Manchin announced he was not going to seek reelection in West Virginia. He also left the Democratic Party to become independent.

Election 2024 West Virginia Senate
FILE – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice checks out the stage with his dog, “Babydog,” before the Republican National Convention, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Republican Gov. Jim Justice is now heavily favored to become West Virginia’s newest senator in a state that is deep red, flipping the seat to the GOP.

That would mean Democrats could only lose one more seat out of 33 other contests.

Republicans are feeling increasingly confident that the seat could be the one held by Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana.

“The Republicans really should be able to flip the Senate this year,” said Kyle Kondik, with Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia.

While Kondik noted nothing in politics is guaranteed, it does appear Tester is in trouble.

Montana is also a very red state and Tester has bucked the political odds for many years.

But Tester is now widely considered one of the most endangered Democrats, as he fights to stay in office against Republican Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and businessman.

Polls indicate he trails Sheehy and Sabato’s Crystal Ball has moved the race from “tossup” to “leans Republican.”

The stakes are so high that more than $240 million has been spent on the race, which comes out to over $300 per registered voter in the state.

No other state has had more money spent per voter than Montana.

Other races to watch

Republicans are hoping to do more than flip two seats and their candidates have closed the polling gap in several other races.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is facing a tough challenge from Republican former hedge fund manager Dave McCormick, who lost the GOP Senate nomination two years ago to Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Election 2024 Pennsylvania Senate
This combination of photos taken in Pennsylvania shows Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., left, at a campaign event, Sept. 13, 2024,and David McCormick, the Republican nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania, at a campaign event, April 25, 2024, in Harrisburg. (AP Photo)

Oz, a celebrity surgeon, was defeated by Democrat John Fetterman.

McCormick has been gaining in recent polls and Casey recently started running an ad in which he notes he supported former President Trump’s effort to put tariffs on China.

In another battleground state, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin has also not shied away from noting in an ad that she worked to get Trump to sign her “Made in America” bill to help the manufacturing industry.

Baldwin is in a competitive race with Republican Eric Hovde, a banking executive.

The Senate seat in Michigan is open, with the retirement of longtime Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin is trying to keep the seat in the Democratic column, in another race that appears to be close.

Republican Mike Rogers, a former Michigan congressman who at one time chaired the House Intelligence Committee, is running against Slotkin.

“There’s some real upside potential for Republicans to get beyond 51 seats,” Kondik said.

One potential bright spot for Democrats may be in Texas, a state where the party for years has been trying to win back a Senate seat.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is still favored, but Democratic Rep. Collin Allred has been getting closer in recent polls.

Allread, a former NFL linebacker, has been able to raise a lot of money.

But Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke also had strong fundraising in 2018 and Cruz narrowly defeated him.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

漏 2024 91欧美激情. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Mitchell Miller

Mitchell Miller has worked at 91欧美激情 since 1996, as a producer, editor, reporter and Senior 91欧美激情 Director.聽After working "behind the scenes," coordinating coverage and reporter coverage for years, Mitchell moved back to his first love -- reporting. He is now 91欧美激情's Capitol Hill reporter.

Federal 91欧美激情 Network Logo
Log in to your 91欧美激情 account for notifications and alerts customized for you.