Democrats Gain Ground in 2 Key Senate Races

Democrats just got a hint of daylight in two states long painted deep red, while Republicans got some good news elsewhere. The Cook Political Report has nudged Mississippi's Senate race from "solid" to "likely" Republican and shifted South Carolina from "likely" to "lean" Republican, suggesting both contests are tightening, reports the Washington Post. Cook's forecasts aren't all shifting left, notes CNN: The nonpartisan election forecaster moved Minnesota's Senate race from "likely Democrat" to "lean Democrat," with Democratic nominee Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan losing third-quarter fundraising momentum to GOP nominee Michelle Tafoya. One state Dem calls that race "far too close for comfort."

National Democrats are putting money behind the gains: The Senate Majority PAC is spending $1.2 million on Mississippi ads hammering Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith as ineffective and self-serving while boosting Democratic nominee and prosecutor Scott Colom. Hyde-Smith beat Mike Espy by 10 points in 2020, and President Trump won the state by nearly 23 points in 2024. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews is taking on Sen. Darline Graham, sister and successor of the late long-serving Sen. Lindsey Graham. Cook cites candidate strength and a rough national climate for Republicans in its reassessment. Trump, meanwhile, was continuing his midterm push with a stop Wednesday morning in North Carolina to campaign for two GOP House candidates, adds the AP.