PolitiFinder

Senate seats up in 2026, ranked by their last margin

Every U.S. Senate seat on the 2026 ballot, ordered by how close its last election was, special elections marked. The order is the previous result, not a forecast.

35 U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot in 2026. The seat with the closest last result is Georgia, decided by 1.2 points (Jon Ossoff over David A. Perdue in 2021, a runoff); then Michigan, 1.7 points (Gary C. Peters over John James in 2020); then North Carolina, 1.8 points. At the other end, Wyoming was last decided by 45.0 points. This list orders seats by their previous result and nothing else: it is not a forecast and names no candidate.

Related: Closest U.S. Senate elections in history · Closest U.S. House races of 2024.

How many U.S. Senate seats are up in 2026?

35 U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot in 2026, including the special elections marked in the table.

Which Senate seat up in 2026 had the closest result last time?

Georgia: Jon Ossoff over David A. Perdue in 2021, a runoff, decided by 1.2 points.

Which Senate seat up in 2026 was last decided by the widest margin?

Wyoming: Cynthia M. Lummis over Merav Ben David in 2020, decided by 45.0 points.

Senate seats up in 2026, ranked by their last margin
#RaceHolderLast electionMargin
1Georgia U.S. SenateJon Ossoff Dsince 20212021 runoffJon Ossoff def. David A. Perdue1.2pts
2Michigan U.S. SenateGary C. Peters Dsince 20152020Gary C. Peters def. John James1.7pts
3North Carolina U.S. SenateThom Tillis Rsince 20152020Thom Tillis def. Cal Cunningham1.8pts
4Minnesota U.S. SenateTina Smith Dsince 20182020Tina Smith def. Jason Lewis5.2pts
5New Mexico U.S. SenateBen Ray Luján Dsince 20212020Ben Ray Luján def. Mark V Ronchetti6.1pts
6Ohio U.S. SenateSpecialJon Hustedappointed January 21, 2025 · no profile yet2022JD Vance def. Tim Ryan6.1pts
7Iowa U.S. SenateJoni Ernst Rsince 20152020Joni Ernst def. Theresa Greenfield6.5pts
8Maine U.S. SenateSusan Margaret Collins Rsince 19972020Susan Margaret Collins def. Sara I. Gideon8.5pts
9Colorado U.S. SenateJohn W. Hickenlooper Dsince 20212020John W. Hickenlooper def. Cory Gardner9.3pts
10Texas U.S. SenateJohn Cornyn Rsince 20022020John Cornyn def. Mary Mj Hegar9.6pts
11Mississippi U.S. SenateCindy Hyde-Smith Rsince 20182020Cindy Hyde-Smith def. Mike Espy10.0pts
12Montana U.S. SenateSteve Daines Rsince 20152020Steve Daines def. Steve Bullock10.0pts
13South Carolina U.S. SenateDarline Grahamappointed July 14, 2026 · no profile yet2020Lindsey O. Graham def. Jaime Harrison10.3pts
14Kansas U.S. SenateRoger Marshall Rsince 20212020Roger Marshall def. Barbara Bollier11.4pts
15Virginia U.S. SenateMark R. Warner Dsince 20092020Mark R. Warner def. Daniel M. Gade12.1pts
16Alaska U.S. SenateDan Sullivan Rsince 20152020Dan Sullivan def. Al Gross12.7pts
17New Hampshire U.S. SenateJeanne Shaheen Dsince 20092020Jeanne Shaheen def. Corky Messner15.7pts
18Illinois U.S. SenateRichard J. Durbin Dsince 19972020Richard J. Durbin def. Mark C. Curran Jr.16.1pts
19New Jersey U.S. SenateCory A. Booker Dsince 20132020Cory A. Booker def. Rikin Rik Mehta16.3pts
20Florida U.S. SenateSpecialAshley Moodyappointed January 21, 2025 · no profile yet2022Marco Rubio def. Val Demings16.4pts
21Oregon U.S. SenateJeff Merkley Dsince 20092020Jeff Merkley def. Jo Rae Perkins17.6pts
22Kentucky U.S. SenateMitch McConnell Rsince 19852020Mitch McConnell def. Amy McGrath19.5pts
23Alabama U.S. SenateTommy Tuberville Rsince 20212020Tommy Tuberville def. Doug Jones20.4pts
24Delaware U.S. SenateChristopher A. Coons Dsince 20102020Christopher A. Coons def. Lauren Witzke21.5pts
25Nebraska U.S. SenatePete Ricketts Rsince 20232024 specialPete Ricketts def. Preston Love Jr.25.2pts
26Oklahoma U.S. SenateAlan Armstrongappointed March 24, 2026 · no profile yet2022 specialMarkwayne Mullin def. Kendra Horn26.5pts
27Tennessee U.S. SenateBill Hagerty Rsince 20212020Bill Hagerty def. Marquita Bradshaw27.0pts
28Idaho U.S. SenateJames E. Risch Rsince 20092020James E. Risch def. Paulette Jordan29.4pts
29South Dakota U.S. SenateMike Rounds Rsince 20152020Mike Rounds def. Dan Ahlers31.5pts
30Massachusetts U.S. SenateEdward J. Markey Dsince 20132020Edward J. Markey def. Kevin J. O'Conner32.3pts
31Arkansas U.S. SenateTom Cotton Rsince 20152020Tom Cotton def. Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.33.1pts
32Rhode Island U.S. SenateJack Reed Dsince 19972020Jack Reed def. Allen R. Waters33.1pts
33Louisiana U.S. SenateBill Cassidy Rsince 20152020Bill Cassidy def. Adrian Perkins40.3pts
34West Virginia U.S. SenateShelley Moore Capito Rsince 20152020Shelley Moore Capito def. Paula Jean Swearengin43.3pts
35Wyoming U.S. SenateCynthia M. Lummis Rsince 20212020Cynthia M. Lummis def. Merav Ben David45.0pts

How this ranking is measured

Every U.S. Senate seat on the 2026 ballot, ordered by the margin of its most recent election, which is a special election or a runoff where that was the last decision for the seat. A seat is on the ballot when its term ends on January 3, 2027, or when its holder was appointed and the remainder of the term goes to the voters (the special elections). Holders, dates and results come from the same records as the rest of the site (lib/ballot2026.ts). The order is the previous result and nothing else; this page makes no forecast and names no candidate.

Compiled by PolitiFinder · published June 14, 2026 · sources: Data & sources · data last verified October 6, 2026.