Democrats need net gain of four Senate seats amid competitive races

Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control. An ECU poll released Nov. 1 showed Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley by nine points in North Carolina after Thom Tillis retired in June 2025. In Ohio, Mike DeWine appointed Jon Husted after J.D. Vance resigned in January 2025; Husted faces Sherrod Brown. A Suffolk/USA Today poll Oct. 28 showed Brown up three points within a +/-4.4 margin, with spending near $270 million as of Oct. 19. Trump won Ohio by about 11 points two years earlier. After Lindsey Graham died in July, Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham. Trump campaigned for her twice before the primary runoff against Ralph Norman. She said in debate, "National security is not my thing," and faces Annie Andrews after an October debate on Trump closeness and qualifications. South Carolina has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. Reuters/Ipsos on Oct. 26 put Trump approval at 32%. NPR/PBS/Marist Oct. 19-20 showed Democrats leading 52%-44% among likely voters, with 44% calling the vote retaliatory against Trump. Left-rated outlets foregrounded North Carolina flip prospects; no right-rated coverage was present. Results are unresolved.