Three Senate Races Decide Control of Congress on Tuesday

Voters in Texas, Michigan, and Ohio will decide the balance of power in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The outcome of these three specific contests will determine which political party controls the chamber in the coming years.

In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton runs against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. Paxton secured the nomination with support from President Donald Trump, defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. The Texas House, which is controlled by Republicans, impeached Paxton on corruption charges. He was later acquitted of those charges. If Talarico wins, he will become the first Democratic U.S. senator from Texas in more than 30 years.

In Michigan, public health administrator Abdul El-Sayed faces Republican Rep. Mike Rogers for an open seat. El-Sayed's Muslim faith has drawn attention during the campaign. President Trump accused El-Sayed of having extremist ties, a claim El-Sayed denies. He stated that his allegiance lies with the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Haley Stevens, who defeated El-Sayed in the primary, withdrew her support for him on Sunday. She endorsed Rogers instead.

In Ohio, Republican Sen. Jon Husted challenges former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Husted was appointed to the seat after J.D. Vance left to become vice president. Brown seeks a comeback after losing his reelection bid in 2024 to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno. The winner of this race will serve the remaining two years of Vance's term.