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Long Shot Senate Democratic Candidates In Midterm Elections Of 2026!

Ronald 6 Comments

Several states have Democratic candidates for the US Senate, which seem unlikely to have success, but some possibility of surprises.

These include the states of Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

Florida has Alex Vindman; Kansas has Adam Hamilton; Kentucky has Charles Booker; and Mississippi has Scott Colom.

These are all strongly Republican states, but there are possibilities that one or more of these four states could spring a surprise victory for the Democrats.

In Florida, Alex Vindman, a retired US Army Lieutentant Colonel, who served as the Director of European Affairs for the National Security Council until 2020, and became part of the first Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump over the Trump-Ukraine Scandal, is the likely nominee after Florida has its primary elections this coming Tuesday.

His Republican opponent will be Senator Ashley Moody, appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to fill the vacancy in 2025 caused by the appointment of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Polls indicate a tight race, with the possibility that Vindman might win the seat.

In Kansas, Adam Hamilton, a minister and pastor of the United Methodist Church, a mainline Protestant Church in the Greater Kansas City area, is running against Republican Senator Roger Marshall. Polls indicate that Hamilton has a possibility of winning the seat, although Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate in nearly a century.

In Kentucky, Charles Booker, who lost an earlier race for the US Senate to Rand Paul, and has served in state government under Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, is running for an open seat caused by the soon retiring Mitch McConnell, with his opponent being Republican Congressman Andy Barr. The fact that Beshear has been able to hold the Governorship as a Democrat, despite the strong Republican leanings of the state, creates the possibility of an upset in this race.

In Mississippi, Scott Colom, who is District Attorney for the 16th Judicial District of Mississippi, is challenging Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who has served eight years in the US Senate. This would likely be the most difficult state for a Democrat to win, but in the mood of the nation regarding the problems in the economy, there is a slight chance of an upset that elects Colom.

US Senate In Great Flux As Fall Elections Arrive!

Ronald 18 Comments

The United States Senate is in great flux as the Midterm Elections of 2026 arrive in less than four months.

Turnover will be massive:

11 Senators are retiring.

2 Senators have been defeated for renomination.

1 Senator (Lindsey Graham) just passed away.

Seven other Senators running for reelection face the possibility of losing their seat, 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats.

Dan Sullivan in Alaska (R)
Ashley Moody in Florida (R)
Jon Ossoff in Georgia (D)
Susan Collins in Maine (R)
Ed Markey in Massachusetts (D)
Pete Ricketts in Nebraska (R)
Jon Husted in Ohio (R)

Additionally, with Republican Senator Mitch McConnell still in recovery from a fall and a bout with pneumonia, and with Lindsey Graham’s passing creating a void on key Senate committees, plus the opposition of several Republican Senators to some Donald Trump agenda items, it is unlikely that what the White House wants will occur in the three and a half months until the midterms.

Senators John Cornyn of Texas, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky when he returns to the Senate, are all “wild cards” that make major actions unlikely.

Also, the fact of Lindsey Graham’s death opens up the possibility that his South Carolina Senate seat might be a possible gain for Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews.

Many Octogenarian US Senators, With Need For Younger Generation Entering The US Senate!

Ronald 8 Comments

It is disturbing that the US Senate now has more Octogenarian members than ever before, even though some are retiring:

Dick Durbin of Illinois
Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

However, the following Octogenarians remain in the Senate:

Peter Welch of Vermont 79–will reach 80 in May 2027
Ed Markey of Massachusetts 80
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut 80
Angus King of Maine 82
Jim Risch of Idaho 83
Bernie Sanders of Vermont 84
Chuck Grassley of Iowa 92

Markey and Risch are running for reelection in 2026, while the others come up for reelection in 2028, except King and Sanders who have their seats until 2030.

Interestingly, of these ten Senators listed above, two are Independents (King and Sanders); three are Republicans (McConnell, Risch, Grassley); and the remaining five are Democrats (Durbin, Shaheen, Welch, Markey, Blumenthal).

Also of interest, six of the ten Senators are from New England—Shaheen, Welch, Markey, Blumenthal, King, and Sanders—with that section of the nation having the overall oldest average age population.

It is essential that a younger generation of US Senators are elected to the chamber, and there are many inspiring potential Senators who are in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s, as outlined in this blogger’s entry on June 30, 2026!

Major US Senate Turnover Coming In 120th Congress (2027-2029)

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The nation will witness a major US Senate turnover in the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This would be due to retirements, primary defeats, potential election defeats, and 4 Senators running for Governor.

For now, the following is certain:

The following 11 US Senators are retiring:

Republican Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, running for Governor
Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois
Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa
Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan
Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota
Republican Steve Daines of Montana
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Republican Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, appointed temprarily to replace Markwayne Mullin
Republican Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming

The following two US Senators were defeated in primaries:

Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Republican John Cornyn of Texas

The following seven US Senators are endangered for reelection:

Republican Dan Sullivan of Alaska, challenged by Mary Peltola
Republican Ashley Moody of Florida, challenged by Alex Vindman
Democrat Jon Ossoff of Georgia, challenged by Republican nominee
Republican Susan Collins of Maine, challenged by Graham Platner
Democrat Ed Markey of Massachusetts, challenged by Seth Moulton in primary
Republican Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, challenged by Independent Dan Osborn
Republican Jon Husted of Ohio, challenged by former Senator Sherrod Brown

Likely gains for Democrats seem possible or likely in

Alaska, North Carolina (open seat), Maine, Ohio, and with outside chances in Texas (open seat), Iowa (open seat), Montana (open seat), and Florida.

But Republicans have possibilities in Georgia, Michigan (open seat), and New Hampshire (open seat).

Also, the following US Senators are running for Governors of their states, and if elected, would resign from the Senate, and a replacement would be appointed or elected:

Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado
Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Republican Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

IF all of the above were to occur, the maximum number of new US Senators, either by election or appointment for replacements, could reach the mid 20s in number.

Imagining about 20 new Senators as a minimum, is very likely to occur!

Republican Senate Majority In “Free Fall” For Remainder Of 2026!

Ronald 68 Comments

The Republican Party in the US Senate, under Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, is facing a “free fall” for the remainder of 2026, through the contentious Midterm Elections this coming November.

While there are 53 Republican US Senators, with the recent defeat of Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas;

and the coming retirement of Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina;

and the continuing reputation for “independence” of Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska;

along with the usual difficult balancing act of Susan Collins of Maine, who faces a very difficult reelection campaigan against Graham Platner;

the potential for the loss of support for Donald Trump for the remainder of this year is likely.

Additionally, Utah Senator John Curtis is an independent minded member, and cannot be counted upon to be in loyal support of Trump on a constant basis, and is not up for reelection until 2030. As the successor to Mitt Romney, he is from the same tradition, as the former Senator and 2012 Presidential nominee, one of total independence.

Congressional Republicans’ Support Of Trump Splintering

Ronald 32 Comments

The sycophancy of Congressional Republicans, particularly Senate Republicans, toward Donald Trump is showing signs of splintering on a number of matters, further endangering the party as the Midterm Elections of 2026 come upon us in a little over five months.

Trump’s insistence of total loyalty of party members is wearing thin, as he alienated many by working against the renomination of Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy; endorsed Ken Paxton over Senator John Cornyn for the Texas Senate nomination that will be decided next week; and most divisive, his plan to set up a 1.776 Billion Compensation Fund, also termed the “Anti Weaponization Fund”, for so called victims of government “mistreatment”, including the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrectionists, who went to prison for their crimes, before being pardoned by Trump on Day One of his second term.

The willingness of many Republican Senators to be openly critical of the idea of paying insurrectionists and convicted criminals compensation, often in the millions of dollars, was made evident after a tumultuous two hour meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Among those who were outraged were Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Maine Senator Susan Collins, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, North Carolina, Senator Thom Tillis, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson.

But also there are opponents of the proposed White House Ballroom; the proposed Triumphal Arch; and other spending on vanity projects that Trump has promoted.

With Trump’s public approval ratings reaching an all time low, and with the Iran War continuing without any end in sight, and the abuses of ICE and other government agencies and the horrors of so many Trump government officials, we are finally seeing a disintegration of party support for Trump.

The question is however how far will the revolt against Trump develop over the next months until November, and beyond.

US Senators 70 And Over: Most Ever!

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The US Senate has 16 members over 75, more than ever before in US History.

They include:

Chuck Grassley (R) Iowa—92
Bernie Sanders (I) Vermont—84
Jim Risch (R) Idaho—83
Angus King (I) Maine—82
Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut—80
Ed Markey (D) Massachusetts—79
Peter Welch (D) Vermont—78
Mazie Hirono (D) Hawaii—78
Jack Reed (D) Rhode Island—76
Elizabeth Warren (D) Massachusetts (76)
Ron Wyden (D) Oregon—76
Patty Murray (D) Washington—75
Chuck Schumer (D) New York—75
John Boozman (R) Arkansas—75
Deb Fischer (R) Nebraska—75
Jim Justice (R) West Virginia—75

Risch, Markey, and Reed are running for reelection this fall, which means they would be in their early to late 80s over the next six years term.

This list does not include the following, who are retiring at the end of this year:

Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky—84
Dick Durbin (D) Illinois—81
Jeanne Shaheen (D) New Hampshire—79

And there are four US Senators who range from age 70-75, and will be in the high 70s during their term if reelected this fall.

Susan Collins (R) Maine
John Cornyn (R) Texas
Shelley Moore Capito (R) West Virginia
Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina

So one fifth of the US Senate (20), not counting the three Senators who are retiring, fit the definition of “senior citizens”, over the age of 70!

Nine are Republicans, nine are Democrats, and there are two Independents (Sanders and King)

Clearly, there is a dire need for a “youth movement” in the US Senate, as well as in the House of Representatives!

The Age Issue In Congress

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A total of 24 members of Congress in 2026 are over the age of 80, and 13 of them are planning to remain in Congress, if the voters agree in this upcoming Midterm Election of 2026.

Among those leaving are:

Nancy Pelosi of California, former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, age 85
Steny Hoyer of Maryland, former Democratic House Majority Leader, age 86
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, former Republican Senate Majority Leader, age 84
Dick Durbin of Illinois, Senate Democratic Whip, age 81

Among those 80 or over who are remaining in Congress, and are running for reelection are:

James Clyburn of South Carolina, former Democratic House Whip, age 85
Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Republican Congresswoman, age 82
Maxine Waters of California, Democratic Congresswoman, age 87
Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democratic Senator, age 84
Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Republican Senate President Pro Tempore, age 92
Jim Risch of Idaho, Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, age 82
Angus King of Maine, Independent Senator, age 82
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic Senator, age 80
Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Democratic Senator, age 80

While age alone should not be the only factor in judging who should be in Congress at an advanced age, it is perceived that Congress, overall, is out of touch with the vast number of Americans of younger generations!

Four Challenging Senate Races For 2026 For Democrats

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Several states with Republican Senate seats up for 2026 will be a challenge for Democrats, with them needing at least a gain of four seats, assuming the party keeps all of the seats they have coming up for reelection, in order to regain control of the US Senate in 2027.

This includes the states of:

Alaska
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Nebraska
North Carolina
Ohio
Texas

Today, there will be examination and analysis of the first four races listed above, with a later article on the latter four states.

In Alaska, native American former Congresswoman Mary Peltola is challenging Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, and this is believed to be a potential gain for Democrats, who see her race as the crucial one on the road to a Democratic majority in the Senate.

In Iowa, Senator Joni Ernst is retiring, and Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is favored as the Republican nominee, seen as having an edge in a state that has trended Republican in recent times.

However, there are two Democrats who have drawn interest—Zach Wahls, who became noticed 15 years ago when he openly supported his lesbian parents, and would end up in the Iowa state legislature, as a liberal activist; and Josh Turek, born with spina bifida, but while being in a wheelchair for his lifetime, has been a competitor in wheelchair basketball sports, along with service in the Iowa legislature. Wahls is seen as more progressive, while Turek is seen as more moderate in views.

Kentucky, a strongly Republican state, is choosing a successor to long term Senator Mitch McConnell, who had been both Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader. The Republican favorite is former State Attorney General Daniel Cameron, but challenged by Congressman Andy Barr, one of the most extreme right wing members of the Republican Party in Congress.

Democrats have two former contenders for the Senate—Amy McGrath, former Marine fighter pilot; and Charles Booker, former state legislator. Sadly, it would be a major upset if either Democrat won the Senate seat.

The state of Maine will have the most hotly contested election for the Senate, with Republican incumbent Susan Collins, in her 30th year in the Senate, and having a moderate image, but under attack by both her own party, including Donald Trump, but also Democrats who see a great opportunity to take this seat.

Collins is in her mid 70s, and her two Democratic opponents are sitting Governor Janet Mills, who would be, at 79, the oldest first term US Senator in history, if she won; and Graham Platner, oyster farmer, harbor master, and military veteran, who has become controversial for his past statements, his chest tattoo, and his perceived extreme utterances on a multitude of issues.

Polls indicate a very close competition between Mills and Planter, and between either of them and Collins, and this could be the tipping point election for control of the Senate in 2027.

At this point, the states of Alaska and Maine seem potential gains for the Democrats, with some possibility in Iowa, but unlikely any chance to win in Kentucky!

The Issue Of “Age” In Upcoming Midterm Elections In 2026

Ronald 21 Comments

The US Congress, in both chambers, is the oldest in age of any period of American history, and the issue of whether it is time for members in their 70s, 80s, and beyond to move on, and allow a younger generation better able to relate to the future, to be replacing them.

David Hogg of Florida, who was a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, caused controversy in promoting such change, and he was pushed out, and is working with others to challenge many older, longer serving members in upcoming primaries for the 2026 Congressional Elections.

And the issue has come to the forefront, particularly, in the state of Maine, where Democratic Governor Janet Mills, age 77, is challenging sitting Republican Senator Susan Collins, who will have served for 30 years in the upper chamber, and is presently 72 years old.

So Graham Plattner, age 41, an oyster famer and Marine Corp veteran, is challenging Janet Mills, with the issue of age being a crucial one.

And Maine already has Senator Angus King, who just won reelection at age 80 in 2024, and Vermont has Bernie Sanders, who won reelection in 2024 at age 83.

But there are other such cases, as with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massacusetts, age 80, who has served a half century combined in the House of Representatives until 2013, and since then in the Senate. Congressman Seth Moulton, age 47, is arguing that while Markey has been an excellent leader for Massachusetts, it is time for change.

Other Democratic Senators of advanced age are retiring, including Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Also Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is retiring in 2026.

But there are others who are over 70 and choosing to run for reelection, or planning to when the next elecion for their seat takes place, including Ron Wyden of Oregon and Chuck Schumer of New York in 2028.

Also, in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of California, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the fist three past leaders in the chamber, are running again in 2026, despite their being in their 80s. And Republican Senator and President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley also could run for reelection in 2028, although at present, he is 92 years old!

It would seem legitimate that these older political leaders would finally give up their positions, and allow for the future generation to take over Congress.