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 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, less critical, 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 solid 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 one of the critical purple states 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.
The Purple states Democrats need to hold onto:
Georgia
New Hampshire
Michigan
Minnesota
The Purple states where the Democrat has a good chance to oust the Republican:
Maine
North Carolina
Alaska
Ohio
If Democrats hold onto GA, MI, MN and NH, and they win in ME, NC, AK and OH, they would have a Senate majority of 51 and take back control of the Senate. But there are other seats that could potentially change hands and strengthen the chances of ending MAGA Republican control of the Senate, especially if one or more of the above seats are retained by Republicans.
Purple states that are generally Republican strongholds but could still change hands at this election:
Iowa
Texas
Florida
Plus two Purple states where an Independent could oust the Republican and reduce their influence in the Senate:
Nebraska
Montana
In all the above 13 states, voting strategically to end MAGA control of the Senate means voting Democrat (or Independent in NE or MT). BUT if you vote in any of the remaining 22 states that have Senate races in 2026, voting Democrat is not going to increase the chances of a Democrat winning in any of those states.
In MA, RI, NJ, DE, VA, CO or OR, the Democratic candidate is going to win no matter how you vote in this election. And in the remaining states that have a Senate race, the Republican candidate is going to win no matter how you vote. HOWEVER, you can still use your vote to help Democrats regain control of the Senate by Swapping Your Vote with someone in one of the purple states above!