Democrats are hoping President Donald Trump’s unpopularity and voter discontent with the economy and cost of living will help them flip control of the U.S. House — and achieve the even more difficult hurdle of winning back the U.S. Senate.

Republicans currently control the Senate 53 to 47 and senators serve six-year terms, meaning a third of the Senate is up every election cycle. For Democrats to win back the chamber in 2026, they’d need to hold on to every seat they have, including competitive ones in Georgia and Michigan. They would also have to flip four GOP-held seats — targets include Maine, North Carolina, and even more Republican-leaning states such as Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas.

Women candidates are on the ballot in some of 2026’s biggest Senate races, and some, like Julianna Stratton and Mary Peltola, have the potential to make history.