Polls Show Several Toss-Ups in Key Congressional Races

WASHINGTON, D.C. – We are days away from the midterm elections. Republicans hold both the House and the Senate but according to the latest polls, Republicans are in jeopardy of losing key seats and it could cost them the majority. 

In midterm elections, political scientists said the party in power typically loses some seats and a recent Pew Research Center poll said President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have dropped substantially over the course of his second term, potentially putting Republicans in jeopardy of losing key seats. 

In the Senate, Republicans hold the majority with 53 seats. Most of the seats Republicans are defending are in states the President easily won in 2024 but there are some toss ups.  

Looking at Michigan, a state where the President won over Kamala Harris by just one point, most polls show Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Republican candidate Mike Rogers by just one or two points for the open Senate seat.  

In the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority, there are about four House races in Pennsylvania that both parties are fighting hard for that cover areas in Bucks County, Lehigh Valley, Scranton, Harrisburg and York. According to the Cook Political Report, those seats, which are currently held by Republicans, could go either way.  

In New York’s 17th congressional district, currently held by Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, the New York Times said it’s a toss up. Different polls show either Lawler or his opponent, Democratic nominee Cait Conley, of having the advantage over each other.  

In previous midterms elections, like in 2006, Democrats flipped 31 seats in the House and five in the Senate, winning both chambers during President George W. Bush’s term. In 2018, President Trump’s first term, Democrats flipped 41 seats in the House, but were not able to win control of the Senate. It’s unclear if it will be a blue wave that Democrats are hoping for.