Midterm Senate Watch: Texas, Michigan, Ohio

Washington, D.C. Political analysts are closely monitoring three Senate races in Texas, Michigan, and Ohio as Election Day approaches. The outcomes in these states will decide which party holds the majority in the U.S. Senate.

In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. Paxton secured the Republican nomination with an endorsement from President Donald Trump, defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton faces scrutiny following a corruption impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House, though he was later acquitted. A win for Talarico would mark the first time Texas has elected a Democratic U.S. senator in over 30 years.

The Michigan contest features public health administrator Abdul El-Sayed against Republican Rep. Mike Rogers. The open Senate seat has drawn attention to El-Sayed's Muslim faith, which President Trump has cited as a flashpoint. Trump has alleged extremist ties to El-Sayed without presenting evidence, a claim El-Sayed has denied while asserting his allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), who ran against El-Sayed in the primary, announced her support for Rogers on Sunday after withdrawing her endorsement of El-Sayed.

In Ohio, Republican Sen. Jon Husted is running against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Husted was appointed to the seat when J.D. Vance became vice president. Brown is seeking a political return after losing his 2024 reelection bid to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno. The winner of this race will serve the remaining two years of Vance's term.

Voters in all three states will cast ballots in the general election on Tuesday. The results will finalize the balance of power in the Senate for the next two years.