4 minPolitics
Five Senate Races Test Democratic Primary Choices
Democrats have nominated hard-left candidates in five battleground Senate races, and Republicans are betting that voters will reject them in November.
Democrats have nominated a slate of hard-left candidates in five battleground Senate races, and Republicans are betting that the choices will cost them seats in November. The candidates — Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, James Talarico in Texas, Troy Jackson in Maine, Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota, and Chris Pappas in New Hampshire — have each moved their campaigns away from the political center, giving Republican opponents an opening to cast them as out of step with their states.
In Michigan, El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary by about one percentage point, a far smaller margin than polls had predicted. Republican Mike Rogers, a former House Intelligence Committee chairman, has quickly positioned himself as a mainstream alternative, highlighting El-Sayed's past association with activist Hasan Piker, who campaigned with him on the final day of the primary. Early absentee voting in Michigan begins next week, and Republicans see the state as a prime pickup opportunity.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico has drawn attention for a series of unscripted remarks, including naming drag queen Alyssa Edwards as his favorite when asked at a campaign event. His Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, is expected to use the clip in statewide advertising. A recent poll showed Talarico tied with Paxton, but Republicans argue that Talarico's comments will alienate the independents and moderates he needs to win in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in decades.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is seeking another term and has become one of the most powerful figures in Congress. Democrats initially recruited Graham Platner, but he dropped out amid scandals. The party then turned to Troy Jackson, a perennial candidate who finished third in this year's Democratic gubernatorial primary. Republicans say Jackson's lack of charisma and long political record make him a weak challenger to Collins, who has built a reputation for moderation and has cast more than 10,000 consecutive roll call votes.
In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan entered the Senate race after Gov. Tim Walz abandoned his re-election bid amid fraud scandals. Flanagan, who is backed by Bernie Sanders and aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, faces Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL reporter and five-time Emmy winner. Tafoya has surged to a tie in deep-blue Minnesota by presenting herself as a pragmatic moderate, and Republicans say the state is weary of progressive policies on crime and fraud.
New Hampshire Democrats chose Chris Pappas, a left-leaning political lifer who has held office since graduating from Harvard in 2002. He is running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jean Shaheen. His Republican opponent, John Sununu, comes from a family that has served New Hampshire for decades and is running a classic retail campaign. With moderate Gov. Kelly Ayotte also on the ballot, Republicans believe Sununu has the advantage.
Four other competitive Senate races — in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and North Carolina — are also in play. All four states were carried by President Trump in 2024, and Republicans are optimistic about their chances, particularly in Ohio, where incumbent Sen. John Husted faces former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was voted out two years ago after five decades in office.
