Republicans are entering the 2026 midterms with a 53-47 majority in the Senate (including the two independents who caucus with the Democrats). This cycle, 35 Senate seats are up for election, including special elections to permanently fill the Ohio seat JD Vance vacated to become vice president and the Florida seat Marco Rubio left to be secretary of state.
Nine senators are retiring — five Republicans and four Democrats — creating 11 open seats, as Democrats defend nine incumbent seats and Republicans defend 15. To retake the Senate, Democrats must hold all of their seats and flip four Republican-held ones — a difficult task even given the fact that the party out of power typically gains ground in midterms.
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