The 2026 US midterm elections are bringing together outspoken progressives seeking political breakthroughs, moderate Republicans navigating Donald Trump’s influence, and candidates whose controversies have turned once-predictable contests into competitive races.
The outcome could determine more than which party controls Washington. These candidates may also reveal which political messages, strategies, and personalities resonate with voters across the country. Can a Democrat break through in Republican-leaning Kansas? Is Texas finally within reach for Democrats? Could allegations of misconduct or prolonged absences cost incumbents their seats? And how much influence does online visibility have on electoral success?
Another question looms over the Republican Party: Can its candidates distance themselves from Trump, the dominant figure in modern Republican politics, as his approval declines?
The answers could influence the 2028 presidential race and reshape Congress at a pivotal moment for both parties.
Abdul El-Sayed
Democratic candidate for US Senate in Michigan
Former public health official Abdul El-Sayed emerged as the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s US Senate seat after defeating a moderate congressman in a primary marked by tens of millions of dollars in outside spending.
He now faces former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests. Michigan remains politically divided. Although Democrats have held the seat for 12 years, Trump narrowly carried the state in the 2024 presidential election.
El-Sayed has gained national progressive attention through his confrontational political style and straightforward campaign message: remove money from politics, put more money in Americans’ pockets, and establish Medicare for All.
His popularity on the left has also made him a frequent target of conservatives, including Trump and other prominent Republicans whose criticism has included Islamophobic rhetoric.
Susan Collins
Republican US senator from Maine
Susan Collins has represented Maine in the US Senate since 1997 and is seeking a sixth term. At 73, she remains one of the increasingly rare moderate Republicans serving in a Washington dominated by Trump’s MAGA movement.
Her reelection campaign comes in a state that comfortably backed Kamala Harris over Trump in 2024. Democrats see Collins’ seat as an important opportunity in their effort to regain control of the Senate.
Collins initially faced a challenge from Democrat Graham Platner, who withdrew following rape allegations. Her opponent is now Troy Jackson, a former logger and state legislator seeking to end her nearly three decades in Washington.
Adam Hamilton
Democratic nominee for US Senate in Kansas
Few political observers expected Kansas to produce a competitive Senate election in 2026. The state has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1932.
But Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor who prevailed in a crowded Democratic primary, has brought unexpected attention to the contest.
Republican senator Roger Marshall faces growing frustration among voters concerned about rising grocery and fuel prices, economic uncertainty, his limited accessibility, and his close relationship with Trump.
Marshall, a physician for 25 years, has also faced scrutiny following revelations that he sued hundreds of former patients over unpaid medical bills, with dozens subsequently arrested.
Hamilton is campaigning on a message of bipartisan cooperation and putting Kansas residents ahead of party loyalty, even when doing so requires challenging Trump.
Jon Ossoff
Democratic US senator from Georgia
At 39, Jon Ossoff is the youngest member of the US Senate. He is seeking a second term in Georgia, a southern battleground where his reelection was initially expected to be fiercely contested.
Recent polling, however, suggests a potentially comfortable victory.
Ossoff’s growing national profile, polished communication skills, and effective use of short political videos have strengthened his campaign. His rising prominence has also fueled speculation about a possible presidential bid in 2028, with comparisons to Barack Obama frequently highlighting their youth and speaking styles.
Obama joined Ossoff at a campaign rally in Georgia last week.
Ossoff has accused his Republican challenger, Congressman Mike Collins, of connections to white supremacists. Collins has strongly rejected the allegation.
James Talarico
Democratic nominee for US Senate in Texas
Could Texas elect a Democratic senator, and could a candidate emphasizing religious faith be the one to make it happen?
James Talarico, a 37-year-old state legislator, has attracted considerable national attention and record-breaking fundraising in his Senate campaign.
After defeating progressive congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary, Talarico is facing Republican attorney general Ken Paxton.
Paxton, backed by Trump, defeated incumbent senator John Cornyn for the Republican nomination. His candidacy, following numerous allegations and scandals involving fraud and misconduct during his political career, has forced Republicans to invest tens of millions of dollars defending a seat they usually win comfortably.
Trump and his allies have mocked Talarico with the nickname “Talafreako.” The Democrat, meanwhile, is appealing to independent and Republican voters through religious language and a campaign centered on confronting political corruption.
Max Miller
Republican US representative from Ohio
Ohio’s seventh congressional district would ordinarily be considered a safe Republican seat. Trump carried it by 11 percentage points in 2024.
But allegations involving incumbent representative Max Miller have given Democrats an unexpected opening.
Miller, 37, worked on Trump’s first presidential campaign before winning election to Congress in 2022.
His former wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Republican senator Bernie Moreno, has accused him of physically abusing her and their daughter. Miller denies the allegations.
Another former partner, Stephanie Grisham, who served as Trump’s White House press secretary, has also accused Miller of physical abuse. He has denied her claims as well.
The allegations have become a prominent feature of Democratic campaign advertising. His challenger, union ironworker Brian Poindexter, has focused his campaign on the rising cost of living.
Mary Peltola
Democratic nominee for US Senate in Alaska
Mary Peltola entered Alaska’s Senate contest as one of the few Democrats considered capable of seriously challenging Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan.
Her campaign sought to benefit from the state’s independent political tradition and growing opposition to Trump.
However, allegations emerged late in the campaign that Peltola had mistreated staff members, including accusations of using slurs and pushing an aide. Her campaign minimized the incidents, attributing her behavior to stress.
Further controversy followed reports of an alleged ballot strategy involving another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan.
The New York Times reported that members of Peltola’s campaign worked with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to place another Dan Sullivan on the primary ballot, potentially diverting votes from the Republican incumbent.
Peltola said she had no knowledge of the arrangement, while her campaign denied recruiting additional candidates.
Angie Nixon
Democratic nominee for US Senate in Florida
Marco Rubio’s appointment as Trump’s secretary of state in 2025 created a Senate vacancy in Florida, which Republican Ashley Moody was selected to fill.
Moody is now seeking a full term against Angie Nixon, a progressive democratic socialist who surprised political observers by winning the Democratic primary.
Although Florida’s Senate election is not widely regarded as competitive, Nixon has attracted attention beyond the state.
The small-business owner and state legislator has received campaign support from leading progressive figures, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders.
Her candidacy offers progressives an opportunity to test whether left-wing candidates can attract broader support in Republican-leaning states rather than relying exclusively on moderate Democrats.
Moody previously served as Florida’s attorney general before joining the Senate.
Darline Graham
Republican US senator from South Carolina
Darline Graham entered national politics this year with little political experience and no previous elected office.
She was appointed to represent South Carolina in the US Senate following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham, who had spent decades representing the state in both chambers of Congress.
Encouraged by Trump, she decided to seek a full term and subsequently secured the Republican nomination.
But questions about her limited political and policy experience have become central to the campaign. Growing dissatisfaction with political dynasties has also contributed to a surprisingly competitive election in a traditionally Republican state.
Polling now suggests a close contest between Graham and Democrat Dr Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who previously ran for the US House in 2022.
Juan Ciscomani
Republican US representative from Arizona
Juan Ciscomani, a 44-year-old Republican congressman born in Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Tucson, has survived two closely fought elections in southern Arizona’s sixth congressional district.
The former gubernatorial adviser narrowly defeated Democratic opponents in both 2022 and 2024.
Now seeking another term, Ciscomani has attempted to establish some distance between himself and Trump.
His campaign could offer insight into whether Latino voters who shifted toward Trump in 2024 will continue supporting Republicans or reconsider their allegiance following the administration’s aggressive deportation policies.
His Democratic opponent, Marine Corps veteran JoAnna Mendoza, has emphasized her ties to the district while criticizing Ciscomani for repeatedly supporting Trump’s legislative agenda.
Rebecca Bennett
Democratic nominee for US House in New Jersey
Rebecca Bennett’s prospects of capturing New Jersey’s competitive seventh congressional district improved after Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. spent more than three months away from his congressional duties.
Kean, 58, and his office initially offered no explanation for the prolonged absence. After returning, he disclosed that he had been hospitalized for depression.
Before the controversy, Bennett’s campaign had attracted relatively little national attention.
The 39-year-old moderate Democrat is a former Navy helicopter pilot and aircraft commander. She is seeking support from voters frustrated by Kean’s absence and the Trump administration’s policies.
The district has a history of split-ticket voting, with residents supporting candidates from different parties in the same election.
Bennett, a mother of two, has also made affordability a personal campaign issue, discussing the financial pressures facing her own family, particularly childcare expenses.