Republicans are facing a potential Election Day onslaught by Democrats, with control of the House and Senate in jeopardy after an October polling collapse that put a raft of candidates in danger and threatened to wipe out multiple incumbents previously thought to be holding safe seats.
asserted
that → face → seats
President Trump tried to stop the bleeding through a succession of rallies in red states, a move his advisors said was an effort to goose MAGA turnout after polls showed Democrats were anxious to vote and turning out in record early numbers.
asserted
Democrats → try → numbers
He is already promising to brandish his veto pen if Democrats manage to take charge.
asserted
Democrats → promise → charge
By Saturday, the Cook Political Report was eyeing seven “toss up” Senate races, six in normally Republican territory like Kansas and Alaska, with one in blue-leaning Michigan.
asserted
Report → eye → Michigan
The non-partisan analysts are now predicting a Democratic gain of 12-25 House seats, enough to wipe out the four-vote Republican majority and make Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaker.
asserted
Jeffries → predict → majority
Democrats were “slight favorites” to overcome the GOP’s current 53-47 Senate majority.
asserted
Democrats → overcome → majority
Here are some of the Midterm nail-biters that will determine the outcome:
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that → determine → outcome
The late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline beat back experienced Republicans with a lift from President Trump, but admitted her inexperience in a debate, saying “I’m not that informed on national security.”
asserted
I → beat → security
A GOP group plowed a late $750,000 into the race as Andrews gained in the GOP-leaning state.
asserted
Andrews → plow → state
Alaska: Dan Sullivan (R) vs. Mary Peltola (D)
A fight over ballot manipulation threatened to upend the race at the 11th hour after a report linking Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign to the effort to put a “Decoy Dan” with the same name as incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) on the ballot.
asserted
fight → threaten → ballot
The DOJ is firing off subpoenas to determine if laws are broken.
asserted
laws → fire → subpoenas
Susan Collins (R) vs. Troy Jackson (D)
Lefty Democrats had hoped to finally oust Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) but lefty oyster farmer Graham Platner’s campaign imploded.
asserted
campaign → hop → Collins
His replacement, Troy Jackson, has been subpar, but got a chance to rebound when Collins’ camp mocked the logger as someone fit only to sell a “cord of wood.”
asserted
camp → get → wood
Republicans have spent weeks trying to put out a prairie fire in Kansas after Democratic megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton weaponized high diesel prices tied to the war in Iran.
asserted
Hamilton → spend → Iran
Marshall risked blowing a race Republicans haven’t lost since 1932 after voters soured on the obstetrician’s aggressive medical billing practices.
asserted
voters → risk → practices
Ken Paxton (R) vs. James Talarico (D)
Republicans poured close to $400 million into the race after scandal-tarred candidate AG Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the primary.
asserted
Paxton → pour → primary
State Rep. James Talarico (D-TX) ran as a mild-mannered centrist but Trump branded him as “Talafreako.”
asserted
Trump → run → Talafreako
Mike Rogers (R) vs. Abdul El-Sayed (D)
Abdul El-Sayed faces scrutiny of his anti-Israel positions and family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in his bid to keep former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) from avenging a prior Senate run loss.
asserted
Rogers → face → loss
Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist” and JD Vance called him a “little weasel.”
asserted
Vance → call → him
El-Sayed led every public poll in October, but still had Democrats sweating and lost some prominent Jewish Democrats.
asserted
Democrats → lead → Democrats
Ohio: Jon Husted (R) vs. Sherrod Brown (D)
President Trump talked up the “ass” of appointed Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) during his trips and TV appearances meant to boost the former Division III defensive back.
asserted
Trump → talk → back
That hasn’t helped focus Husted’s message against a tough competitor, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), even in a Republican stronghold.
asserted
That → help → stronghold
Ashley Hinson (R) vs. Josh Turek (D)
Rep. Ashley Hinson, a former TV journalist, was a welcome standard-bearer for Republicans amid a field of under-performing candidates, helping stave off hardships brought by high diesel prices and tariffs.
asserted
Hinson → perform → prices
Democrat four-time Paralympian Turek used his bio to make his race a jump ball in a Republican state.
asserted
race → use → state
Louisiana: Julia Letlow (R) vs. Jamie Davis (D)
President Trump scrambled the race by endorsing Letlow (R-La.), a telegenic loyalist, over sitting Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who had voted for his 2021 impeachment.
asserted
who → scramble → impeachment
A shock Hart Research poll Friday had Letlow and Democrat Davis tied at 45%, with the small time farmer Davis dominating among independents and reaching out to black voters, who make up one-third of the electorate, through repeat media interviews.
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who → have → interviews
Trump planned an 11th hour telerally for Letlow Monday.
asserted
Trump → plan → Letlow
House
New York-21 — Anthony Constantino (R) vs. Blake Gendebien (D)
One of the nastiest House races in the country came in an Upstate district Trump carried by 20 points in 2024.
asserted
Trump → come → 2024
Sticker Mule owner Anthony Constantino put a huge Trump sign on his factory roof and commissioned a bronze statue of the president.
asserted
Constantino → put → president
But North Country voters were sour on tariffs, giving dairy farmer Blake Gendebien a shot.
asserted
voters → give → shot
Max Miller (R) vs. Brian Poindexter (D)
Family abuse allegations upended the chances of former White House aide Rep. Max Miller, to the point where he released a TV ad in October about “the pain of divorce,” which he called “messy and complicated.”
asserted
he → upend → which
His rival, ironworker Brian Poindexter, decades ago pleaded guilty to assault and has other skeletons.
asserted
rival → plead → skeletons
Tejano singer Bobby Pulido made limonada out of limones after incumbent Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) mocked his career by telling voters: “This election isn’t about who you want performing at your niece’s quinceañera.”
asserted
you → make → quinceañera
Pulido responded by performing at dozens of quinceañeras around the state, turning the race into a toss-up even after reports he once had a convicted sex-offender in his band.
asserted
he → respond → band
Even National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), who is charged with getting Republicans elected, may have been sweating his race against retired Army Maj. Richard Ojeda.
uncertain
Republicans → charge → Ojeda
He utilized an NRCC mailer that showed him holding a shotgun and wearing a camouflage hunting jacket, in a district Trump carried by 16 points that includes Fort Bragg.
asserted
that → utilize → Bragg
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