New Hampshire’s primary contests on Tuesday closed out the 2026 primary season, finalizing the matchups in the races that will decide which party controls the Senate next January. With the chamber divided 53 Republicans to 47 Democrats, including Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take the majority. Republicans, with Vice President JD Vance available to break a tie, need only hold their ground in most of the toss-ups.

Polling averages place seven races in toss-up territory. Five of those seats are held by Republicans, and two by Democrats.

View Comments (1)

Get involved in state-level prayer with IFA.

From Just the News: 

RealClearPolitics’ polling average ranks Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Texas and Alaska as toss-ups. Of those seven, five are held by Republicans and two are Democrat held.

But whereas the Senate was previously thought to be a lock for the Republicans, unexpected developments in several races have made several contests more competitive than usual. Here’s a look at those races.

The Lone Star State broke for Trump by roughly 14 points in 2024, erasing decades of slow Democratic gains in the Republican stronghold. But the 2026 Senate contest is a toss-up, and Democratic nominee state Rep. James Talarico currently holds a 2.4% average lead over Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

In Alaska, GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan faces former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who has won statewide before and leads by an average of 2.0%. A second Republican, also named Dan Sullivan, appears on the ballot, and ranked choice voting is expected to shape the outcome.

In Maine, GOP Sen. Susan Collins is running her first race since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Democratic nominee Troy Jackson, the former state Senate president, replaced Graham Platner after a series of scandals and leads by 2.3%, though Collins has a record of outperforming polls, including an 8.6-point win in 2020.

In New Hampshire, Republican nominee John Sununu, a former senator and brother of Gov. Chris Sununu, faces Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who leads by about 2% in the race for the seat Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is vacating. The state has not elected a Republican senator since 2010.

In Ohio, GOP Sen. Jon Husted, appointed to the seat Vance vacated, faces former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who leads by 2.6%. Husted has won statewide before, but appointed senators often underperform once their names appear on a ballot.

Michigan represents Republicans’ best pickup opportunity with Democratic Sen. Gary Peters retiring. Former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers faces progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who narrowly won his primary after polling suggested a landslide. El-Sayed has rejected the socialist label and distanced himself from groups including the Democratic Socialists of America. He leads by 1.7%.

Iowa is the lone toss-up where the Republican leads, with Rep. Ashley Hinson ahead of Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek by 1.8%. That is far below Trump’s double-digit 2024 margin in the state. The seat is open because GOP Sen. Joni Ernst is not seeking reelection.

CNN data journalist Harry Enten described the national picture as even, noting poll-based models give Democrats a 53% chance of winning the chamber while betting odds put them at 47%.

Scripture calls believers to pray for those in authority and to seek the good of their communities, and elections are one of the ways God’s common grace keeps nations orderly. A closely divided Senate will decide confirmations, spending and the scope of federal power for years to come, which makes these races consequential well beyond November. Christians should approach them with clear eyes, refusing both apathy and panic, and with a commitment to honest information rather than whatever polling confirms what they already believe. The priority is not that one party win, but that just laws, religious liberty and the protection of the vulnerable are advanced.

Let us pray for the candidates in these races, for integrity in the voting process, and for leaders who will govern with wisdom and fear of the Lord.

How are you praying about this issue? Share your prayers and scriptures in the comments below.

(Excerpt from Just the News. Photo Credit: fstop123 from Getty Images Signature).