This guide was compiled in May 2020.
In recent years, Americans have been frustrated by ever-growing congressional gridlock. This is a crucial election year for races from the presidency to Congress to state and local elections, but flipping the US Senate should be a priority for Democrats across the country in 2020.
The following is a reference guide to the 2020 US Senate Elections. Listed by state in alphabetical order, this guide includes The Objective of each election, The Democrat or Democrats in the race including relevant links to their websites, and a brief summary of The State of the Race including commentary as well as assessments from various reports and polls. It includes the 33 races where Democrats are running and 2 bonus races at the end where you can learn about the Independent candidates who are running where no Democrat is on the ballot.
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A REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE 2020 US SENATE ELECTIONS
Alabama
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Doug Jones
The State of the Race:
Toss-up/Lean Republican/Likely Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Alabama is a particularly important state to hold as it is one of only two states with a Democratic incumbent senator in a state that Trump won in 2016. In order to regain control of the Senate, we must not only flip red seats blue but also hold critical blue seats such as Alabama.
Senator Doug Jones ran a successful race just three years ago in the 2017 special election where he received national attention as well as impressive support from African American voters and African American women in particular. This win for Jones is a beacon to Alabama Democrats who have not seen a Democrat elected to represent the state in Congress since 2008 or to sit in the Senate since 1997. In 2017, Senator Jones beat his Republican opponent by 1.7% so Democrats cannot lose focus on this 2020 reelection race for the Senator.
Senator Jones trails both Republican challengers in the latest poll conducted in February by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research (rated B+ by FiveThirtyEight, sample 625 registered voters): Jones-Tuberville 42–50, Jones-Sessions 41–54 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020). However, according to an editorial staff member from Ballotpedia, The Cook Political Report rates this race as a ‘Toss-up’ as of May 5, 2020, up from its previous rating as ‘Lean Republican’ (Ballotpedia May 2020), making this a crucial race to support.
Arizona (Special Election)
The Objective: Flip
The Democrat: Mark Kelly
The State of the Race:
Toss-up/Toss-up/Lean Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
In the most recent poll from OH Predictive Insights (Rated B/C by FiveThirtyEight, sample 600 likely voters), Kelly was up 8 points against incumbent Republican Senator Martha McSally: Kelly-McSally 51-42. Kelly also lead Senator McSally in two March polls conducted by Marist College (rated A+ by FiveThirtyEight, sample 2,523 registered voters) and Monmouth University (rated A+ by FiveThirtyEight, sample 847 registered voters): Kelly-McSally 48–45 (Marist), Kelly-McSally 50–44 (Monmouth) (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
Arizona is an increasingly purple state and with Mark Kelly as the nominee, Democrats have a real chance to flip this Arizona seat blue. During his 2020 race, Kelly has picked up endorsements from the DSCC, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the HRC, and has valuable support from Arizonians by proxy of former Representative Gabby Giffords who he is married to. Kelly is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he achieved the rank of Captain before joining NASA as an astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander.
Colorado
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: John Hickenlooper and Andrew Romanoff
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 30, 2020
The State of the Race:
Toss-up/Tilt Democratic/Lean Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Former Governor of Colorado and former candidate for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, John Hickenlooper, endorsed by the DSCC and NARAL, leads Republican incumbent Senator Cory Gardner in a May poll conducted by Keating Research (rated B/C by FiveThirtyEight, sample 600 likely voters): Hickenlooper-Gardner 54–36 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
Democrats have a strong chance of flipping this Colorado seat, one of only two seats currently held by a Republican in a state won by Hillary Clinton in 2016 making Colorado an important race to support in 2020.
Delaware
The Objective: Hold
The Democrats: Senator Chris Coons and Jessica Scarane
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on September 15, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Democratic Senator Chris Coons has served in the US Senate since 2010. An asset to Senate Democrats as something of a ‘Republican whisperer’ (USA Today October 2018), Senator Coons is the Vice Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee and is regarded as an effective bipartisan senator.
Senator Coons will need to first secure the Democratic nomination, facing Democratic challenger Jessica Scarane, before running to hold this blue seat for the State of Delaware.
Georgia
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Jon Ossoff, Teresa Tomlinson, Sarah Riggs Amico, Maya Dillard Smith, James Knox, Tricia Carpenter McCracken, Marckeith DeJesus
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 9, 2020
The State of the Race:
Likely Republican/Likely Republican/Likely Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Jon Ossof leads the field of Democrats in fundraising (NYT May 2020) and is polling just six points behind Republican incumbent Senator David Perdue according to an April poll conducted by Cygnal (Rated A/B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 591 likely voters): Ossoff-Perdue 39-45 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020). Ossoff lost by less than 4% of the vote in a 2017 special election in a Republican-leaning Atlanta house district (NPR June 2017).
Other leading candidates include former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and businesswoman and 2018 candidate for lieutenant governor Sarah Riggs Amico. Ossoff, Tomlinson, and Riggs Amico will face off against each other and Air Force veteran James Knox, former Georgia ACLU head Maya Dillard Smith, and Markeith DeJesus on June 9, 2020. If no candidate reaches 50% of the vote, they will compete in a runoff scheduled for August 11, 2020.
Georgia (Special Election)
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Raphael Warnock, Matt Lieberman, Ed Tarver, Deborah Jackson, Jamesia James, Tamara Johnson-Shealey, Joy Felicia Slade, Richard Dien Winfield
The State of the Race:
This special election is being held to fill the seat of former Republican Senator Johnny Isakson who vacated the seat with two years remaining in the term. Governor Brian Kemp appointed Republican Kelly Loeffler to hold the seat until the special election on November 3, 2020. The Democrats will be facing off against 6 Republican candidates including incumbent Senator Kelly Loeffler. If no candidates reach a majority, a runoff election is scheduled for January 5, 2021.
The DSCC has supported Democratic Candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock who outraised both Republican front runners Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins in the first quarter of 2020. Warnock reported raising about $1.5 million over two months from over 300,000 donors, 95% of whom contributed under $100 (AJC April 2020).
Idaho
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Paulette E. Jordan and James Vandermaas
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 2, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Solid Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Paulette Jordan, former Idaho House of Representatives member and former gubernatorial candidate, and James Vandeermaas, former candidate for Idaho’s 1st District, will compete in the June 2 Democratic Primary before challenging two-term Republican incumbent Senator Jim Risch in November.
Illinois
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Dick Durbin
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Dick Durbin is running to represent the people of Illinois for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate. The Senator currently serves as the Senate Minority Whip, a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Defense (Appropriations) and Subcommittee on the Constitution (Judiciary).
Iowa
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Theresa Greenfield, Michael Franken, Kimberly Graham, Eddie Mauro, Cal Woods
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 2, 2020
The State of the Race:
Lean Republican/Lean Republican/Lean Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Democrat Theresa Greenfield has risen in the polls against incumbent Republican Senator Joni Ernst despite ‘Lean Republican’ race ratings. Greenfield trailed Sen. Ernst by just one point in a recent May poll from Public Policy Polling (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 1,222 voters): Greenfield-Ernst 42-43. Greenfield is one of six women running for Senate to be endorsed by EMILY’s List for the 2020 election cycle and has also been endorsed by the DSCC and NARAL.
Kansas
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Dr. Barbara Bollier, Usha Reddi, Adam Smith, Robert Tillman
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on August 4, 2020
The State of the Race:
Lean Republican/Lean Republican/Likely Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
The Democrats are vying for the seat occupied by Republican Senator Pat Roberts for the last 23 years. Senator Roberts is not seeking reelection and six Republicans will face off in their own primary before competing against the Democratic nominee for the seat.
Democratic frontrunner Dr. Barbara Bollier is narrowly leading Republican frontrunner Kris Kobach in an April poll from Public Policy Polling (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 1,271 voters): Bollier-Kobach 44-42.
Dr. Bollier is new to the Democratic Party, joining after she determined, “Morally the [Republican Party] is not going where my compass resides. I’m looking forward to being in a party that represents the ideals that I do, including Medicaid expansion and funding our K-12 schools” (The Hill December 2020). Dr. Bollier has been endorsed by EMILY’s List, along with five other Democratic women running for Senate in 2020, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood, and the DSCC.
Kentucky
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Amy McGrath, Charles Booker, Mike Broihier, Jimmy Ausbrooks, Maggie Jo Hilliard, Andrew Maynard, Eric Rothmuller, John Sharpensteen, Bennie Smith, Mary Ann Tobin
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 23, 2020
The State of the Race:
Likely Republican, Solid Republican, Likely Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Democrats in Kentucky are racing to flip the seat held by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for the last 35 years. Many Democrats are running impressive grassroots, progressive campaigns across the state. The fundraising and polling frontrunner, United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath reported raising $5.3 million more than Senate Leader McConnell in the first quarter of 2020. Both candidates had an average donation in the $30 range and have similar amounts of cash on hand for their campaigns (The Hill April 2020). Such a lead on first quarter fundraising is a good sign for Democrats in Kentucky and a reason to keep an eye on this race despite forecasts of the ‘likely republican’ and ‘solid republican’ race.
DSCC backed Amy McGrath ties Senate Leader McConnell in a February poll from Change Research (rated C by FiveThirtyEight, sample 1,281 likely voters) and trails Senator McConnell in a February poll from Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group (rated B/C by FiveThirtyEight, sample 802 likely voters): McGrath-McConnell 41–41 (Change) and 40–43 (Garin-Hart-Yang) (FiveThirtyEight March 2020).
Louisiana
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Antoine Pierce and Dartanyon Williams
Primary Information: All candidate Primary on November 3, 2020.
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Democrats Antoine Pierce and Dartanyon Williams will face Republican incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy and two Independent candidates, Gregory Fitch and Jamar Myers-Montgomery in a Primary election on November 3. If no candidate receives a majority (50%) of the vote, a general election between the top two candidates is scheduled for December 5, 2020.
Maine
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Sara Gideon, Bre Kidman, Betsy Sweet
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on July 14, 2020.
The State of the Race:
Toss-up/Toss-up/Toss-up (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Two women, Sara Gideon and Betsy Sweet, and the first openly non-binary candidate for U.S. Senate, Bre Kidman make up the Democratic ballot in the primary for the toss-up seat held by Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins.
Gideon is one of the six Democratic women running for Senate endorsed by EMILY’s List and has also picked up endorsements from the DSCC, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood for 2020. The campaign reported raising $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, propelling herself ahead of Senator Collins who reported $2.4 in fundraising to the FEC (The Hill April 2020).
Sara Gideon leads Senator Collins in the latest March poll from Public Policy Polling (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 872 voters): Gideon-Collins 47-43 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020) bringing further excitement to this toss-up race that Democrats have a good chance of flipping.
Massachusetts
The Objective: Hold
The Democrats: Senator Edward Markey, Representative Joseph Kennedy III, Washington Blask
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on September 1, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Safe Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Ed Markey is running to hold his seat for a second term. A progressive Democrat, Senator Markey co-sponsored the Green New Deal with Freshman Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and, during his tenure in the House representing Massachusetts’ 7th and 5th districts, served as the Chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Recently, Senator Markey co-sponsored the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act, a plan that would support Americans with $2,000 per month amid the COVID-19 crisis, alongside Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Representative Joe Kennedy is challenging Senator Markey along with Washington Blask in the September Democratic Primary. In a new poll from Emerson College, Representative Kennedy leads Senator Markey 58% to 42% (Emerson College Polling May 2020). Representative Kennedy is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and votes with lower alignment to the President’s position than the incumbent Senator; 10.7% in Kennedy’s career versus 15% in Markey’s and 2.8% compared to 13.5% in the 116th Congress (Kennedy, Markey: FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
Michigan
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Gary Peters
The State of the Race:
Lean Democratic/Lean Democratic/Lean Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Gary Peters leads Republican front-running challenger John James in an April Public Policy Polling poll (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 1,270 voters) and an April Fox News poll (rated A- by FiveThirtyEight, sample 801 registered voters): Peters-James 46-37 (Public Policy Polling) and 46-63 (Fox News) (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
As important as flipping red seats blue is in 2020, holding at risk blue seats is also crucial. Senator Peters has been endorsed by NARAL and the HRC and has been supported by the DSCC. Michigan is one of two states with a Democratic incumbent Senator in a state won by Trump in 2016 making Michigan a crucial state to hold.
Minnesota
The Objective: Hold
The Democrats: Senator Tina Smith, Steve Carlson, Paula Overby
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on August 11, 2020
The State of the Race:
Likely Democratic/Solid Democratic/Likely Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Incumbent Senator Tina Smith will face off against Steve Carlson and Paula Overby in the Democratic Primary on August 11, 2020.
Senator Smith has served in the Senate since winning a special election in 2018 and will be facing Republican former Representative Jason Lewis in November. One of six women running for Senate endorsed by EMILY’s List, Senator Smith is an advocate for reproductive rights and is the only US Senator who has worked for Planned Parenthood (Planned Parenthood December 2018). The Senator is also recognized by NARAL for her advocacy for reproductive freedom and as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community by the HRC.
Mississippi
The Objective: Flip
The Democrat: Mike Espy
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Solid Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Mike Espy is running to unseat Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith who was narrowly elected in the 2018 Mississippi special election. Espy trails Senator Hyde-Smith in a February poll from Mason-Dixon Polling & Research (rated B+ by FiveThirtyEight, sample 625 registered voters): Espy-Hyde-Smith 43-54 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
Despite recent polls and forecasts in favor of the Republican incumbent, Mississippi is still a race to watch. Back in 2018, Espy landed in a special general runoff election against Senator Hyde-Smith after neither of them reached a 50% vote threshold in the special general election. In the runoff, Espy received 46.4% of the vote to Senator Hyde-Smith’s 53.6%. Espy is backed by the DSCC and is known across the state and can tap into momentum from 2018 to work with in this 2020 race.
Montana
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Governor Steve Bullock and John Mues
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 2
The State of the Race:
Lean Republican/Lean Republican/Lean Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Democratic frontrunner, Governor, and former 2020 Presidential candidate Steve Bullock has done well in recent polls despite Republican leaning forecasts. An April poll from Montana State University Bozeman/University of Denver (sample 459 likely voters) showed Bullock leading Republican incumbent Senator Steve Daines: Bullock-Daines 46-39. Governor Bullock tied Senator Daines in a March poll from Public Policy Polling (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 903 voters): Bullock-Daines 47-47 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
Nebraska
The Objective: Flip
The Democrat: Chris Janicek
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Chris Janicek is running to unseat Republican incumbent Senator Ben Sasse. Janicek is running on a platform that emphasizes the importance of social justice, climate change, reproductive rights, gun control, and organized labor among other issues.
New Hampshire
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Jeanne Shaheen
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Jeanne Shaheen has done well in polling ahead of Republican challengers in a February poll from the University of New Hampshire (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 576 likely voters): Shaheen-Messner 52-28 and Shaheen-Bolduc 49-30 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020). Boasting endorsements from EMILY’s List and Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Senator is seeking reelection to serve the people of New Hampshire for a third term.
Senator Shaheen served as New Hampshire’s first female governor, currently serves as New Hampshire’s first female senator, and is the first woman to serve as a state governor and senator in U.S. history.
New Jersey
The Objective: Hold
The Democrats: Senator Cory Booker and Lawrence Hamm
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on July 7, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Fresh off the campaign trail for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, Senator Cory Booker is polling well against Republican challengers in the race to hold his seat for a second term (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
New Mexico
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Representative Ben Ray Luján
The State of the Race:
Likely Democratic/Likely Democratic/Solid Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Representative Ben Ray Luján is running to fill the seat of Senator Tom Udall who is not seeking reelection to his seat in 2020. Luján currently represents New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2015 to 2019 and currently is the Assistant Majority Leader of the House making him the highest-ranking Latino in Congress.
New Mexico is certainly a battleground state, but Representative Luján has done well so far in fundraising and has endorsements from the DSCC, NARAL, and the HRC. The campaign reported raising $1 million in the first quarter, outraising his three Republican challengers combined (AP April 2020).
North Carolina
The Objective: Flip
The Democrat: Cal Cunningham
The State of the Race:
Toss-up/Toss-up/Toss-up (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Cal Cunningham has demonstrated promise to flip this red seat, held by Republican incumbent Senator Thom Tillis, blue. The Army veteran and businessman outraised Senator Tillis in the first quarter of 2020, reporting $4.4 million in fundraising, more than doubling Senator Tillis’ first quarter donations totaling $2.1 million (The Hill April 2020). Cunningham has been endorsed by the DSCC, NARAL, and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to ‘Win the Era’.
In three April polls from Public Policy Polling (rated B by FiveThirtyEight, sample 1,318 voters), SurveyUSA (rated A by FiveThirtyEight, sample 580 likely voters) and Meredith College (sample 604 registered voters), Cunningham lead Senator Tills: Cunningham-Tillis 47-40 (Public Policy Polling), 41-39 (SurveyUSA), 44-34 (Meredith College) (FiveThirtyEight May 2020). Clearly, Cunningham has performed well in recent polls, however, this battleground state race is still very much a toss-up and deserves our close attention and support.
Oklahoma
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Abby Broyles, Sheila Bilyeu, Elysabeth Britt, R.O. Joe Cassity
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 30, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
The Democrats will face each other in the Oklahoma Democratic Primary on June 30, 2020 before going head-to-head with Republican incumbent Senator Jim Inhofe.
Oregon
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Jeff Merkley
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Safe Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Jeff Merkley is running to represent Oregonians for a third term. A progressive leader in the Senate, Senator Merkley is an ardent critic of Citizens United, supporter of the Green New Deal, and proponent of providing opportunity for America’s working and middle classes.
Rhode Island
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Jack Reed
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Safe Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Jack Reed has represented the people of Rhode Island as in Congress since 1991. After serving three terms in the House he was elected to the U.S. Senate with over 63% of the vote. Senator Reed is running to represent the people of Rhode Island for a fifth term in the Senate.
South Carolina
The Objective: Flip
The Democrat: Jaime Harrison
The State of the Race:
Likely Republican/Solid Republican/Likely Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
A born and raised South Carolinian, Jaime Harrison is running to unseat Republican incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham. Harrison has risen in the ranks of the Democratic Party in recent years, currently serving as an associate chair of the DNC and previously as the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party.
Harrison has been endorsed by the DSCC, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the HRC, and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to ‘Win the Era’ and has performed well in fundraising in the first quarter of 2020. The campaign reported raising $7.2 million, surpassing Senator Graham’s reported $5.6 million (CNN April 2020).
While the forecasts remain in favor of Senator Graham, Jaime Harrison’s candidacy makes North Carolina a competitive race. Both forecasts from Cook and Sabato changed from Solid and Safe Republican to Likely Republican in the wake of changing polls in Harrison’s favor making this a race to pay close attention to.
South Dakota
The Objective: Flip
The Democrat: Dan Ahlers
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Dan Ahlers is running to unseat first-term Republican incumbent Senator Mike Rounds. As no Democrats are seeking election in South Dakota’s race for a seat in the House, a vote for Ahlers is an important opportunity for South Dakotan Democrats to have their voices heard this November.
Tennessee
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: James Mackler, Marquita Bradshaw, Gary Davis, Robin Kimbrough Hayes, and Mark Pickrell
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on August 6, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
As Senator Lamar Alexander vacates his long held seat, dozens of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents fill the ballot for the chance to represent Tennessee in the Senate. Bradshaw, Davis, Kimbrough Hayes, Mackler, and Pickrell will face each other in the Tennessee Democratic Primary on August 6 before facing the Republican nominee and Independent candidates in November.
Texas
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: MJ Hegar and Royce West
Runoff Information: Democratic Runoff on July 14, 2020
The State of the Race:
Likely Republican/Likely Republican/Likely Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
After their runoff on July 14, either MJ Hegar or Royce West will go head to head against Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
Both Hegar and West trail Senator Cornyn in a recent poll from the University of Texas at Tyler (rated B/C by FiveThirtyEight, sample 1,183 registered voters): West-Cornyn 24-35 and Hegar-Cornyn 24-37 (FiveThirtyEight May 2020).
In the increasingly purple state of Texas, Hegar and West raised a combined $2 million, $1.6 donated to the Hegar campaign and just over $400,000 to West (Texas Tribune April 2020). Hegar has picked up endorsements from the DSCC, EMILY's List, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood while West has been endorsed by a number of former primary opponents as well as Democracy for America, signaling progressive support for West (Texas Tribune April 2020).
Virginia
The Objective: Hold
The Democrat: Senator Mark Warner
The State of the Race:
Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic/Solid Democratic (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
Senator Mark Warner is running to hold this blue seat to represent the people of Virginia. After flipping the state legislature in a victorious midterm, Democrats must continue to show support for their Democratic leaders by voting for Senator Warner in November.
West Virginia
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Paula Jean Swearengin, Richard Ojeda, Richie Robb
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on June 9, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
The Democrats are running to flip this West Virginia seat held by Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito. Ojeda, an Army veteran and former West Virginia State Senator, Robb, another Army veteran and former Mayor of South Charleston, West Virginia, and Swearengin, a community activist from an Appalachian coal mining family will face off in the Democratic Primary on June 9.
Paula Jean Swearengin received national attention after running for the Democratic senate nomination against Senator Joe Manchin III and for being featured in the 2019 Netflix documentary “Knock Down the House” which also heavily featured Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). In the 2018 West Virginia primaries, even coming in second behind Senator Manchin, Swearengin earned more votes than Republican nominee Patrick Morrisey in his own Republican Primary. In 2020 Swearengin is reactivating her enthusiastic support from 2018 and giving a voice to West Virginians who support the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, focusing on hard-working and hard-hit coal mining communities like her own.
Wyoming
The Objective: Flip
The Democrats: Merav Ben-David, Chuck Jagoda, Yana Ludwig
Primary Information: Democratic Primary on August 18, 2020
The State of the Race:
Solid Republican/Solid Republican/Safe Republican (Cook/Inside Elections/Sabato May 2020)
After the August 18 primary, one of the three Democratic candidates will run to flip the seat left vacant by Republican Senator Mike Enzi.
Bonus: Alaska
The Objective: Remove Republican Incumbent
The Candidate: Dr. Al Gross (Independent)
The State of the Race:
While running as an Independent, Alaska Democrats still have the opportunity to flip a red seat currently held by Republican incumbent Senator Daniel Sullivan. Dr. Al Gross has earned the endorsement of the Alaska Democratic Party, the DSCC, and Planned Parenthood.
Bonus: Arkansas
The Objective: Remove Republican Incumbent
The Candidate: Dan Whitfield (Independent)
The State of the Race:
Progressive Activist Dan Whitfield is running as an Independent to unseat Republican incumbent Senator Tom Cotton. While no Democrats will be on the ballot in Arkansas in November, Democrats still have a chance to add a progressive voice to the Senate and take a red seat from the GOP.