US Senate elections – November 3, 2026
Democrats (plus 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats) currently have 47 seats in the Senate and need 51 to end MAGA control of the Senate. Vote swappers need to help Democrats hold onto 4 purple seats they are defending in Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, plus win four more to take control of the Senate.
The four most likely to flip from red to blue are: North Carolina, Texas, Maine, and Alaska. But none of those can be assured.
Less likely but still possible: Ohio, Iowa, South Carolina and Kansas. And long shots at this point: Florida and Mississippi.
Nebraska is a likely win for Independent Dan Osborn, which would help deny Republicans control of the Senate but wouldn’t necessarily give control to the Democrats.
Other states that have been traditionally red but are now considered purple, based on recent opinion polls, include Louisiana, Arkansas, Idaho and South Dakota. In the first two of these, the Democrat is polling close behind the Republican, and in the last two, the Democrat has withdrawn, as in Nebraska, leaving Independent candidates closing the gap with the Republicans there.
States colored purple above are tight races between Democrat and Republican candidates. States colored red are solidly Republican and states colored blue are solidly Democratic. Gray states do not elect a Senator in 2026.
If you live in a critical “purple” state, voting strategically means voting for the Democratic Senate candidate. Whether you like that candidate or not, it is crucial to end MAGA control of the Senate and stop Trump from taking this country any further down the road to total destruction of the planet.
But if you don’t like the idea of voting Democrat or you don’t like your particular Democratic candidate, you can swap your vote with someone in another state who will vote for your preferred party or candidate in exchange for you voting out the Republican. That way, you are still giving your preferred third party or independent an additional vote (in another state). And don’t just hold your nose while you vote, tell the Democrat why you are doing that!
If you live in a Red or Blue state where the outcome is already assured one way or the other, another vote for the Democrat is not going to change the outcome. But you can swap your vote to enable someone in a critical state to vote out the Republican and put a stop to Trump’s rampage. You are thereby increasing the chances of a Democrat-controlled Senate even though you are not voting Democrat in your own state.