This was always going to be a tough year for Senate Democrats because Republicans have the most favorable Senate map they’ve had in years. Assuming Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) prevails in his race against Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), who he’s currently leading in the RealClearPolitics average of polls by 4.2 points, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) defeats his opponent, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), whom he is leading by an average of 5 points, Republicans are widely expected to take back control of the Senate in November.
The retirement of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in ruby-red West Virginia left an easy opening for the state’s Republican Gov. Jim Justice to flip his seat. The single poll of this race, conducted in late August, shows Justice ahead of his Democratic opponent, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, by 34 points. Justice’s victory will provide the GOP with its 50th seat.
