Polls show GOP gaining steam in race to regain Senate


Forecasts of the political climate have consistently predicted that the Republican Party will regain control of the Senate this fall. The Washington Post's new Election Lab model has fluctuated, at one point giving the GOP as much as an 86 percent chance of becoming the majority. The Post now puts the likelihood of this happening at 63 percent.
New polls, however, indicate that Republicans are gaining momentum in their pursuit to overtake six Senate seats, something Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said would "be very, very hard for them to do."
With ten weeks left until the November elections, Republican candidates appear to be pulling away from their Democratic challengers in several important elections. Fox News reports that Republican Gov. Mike Rounds has a large lead over Democratic challenger Rick Weiland in South Dakota, and that Harry Reid himself conceded likely defeat in this race. Polling in Montana, West Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Louisiana also strongly favors Republican victories.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Joe Trippi, a Democratic campaign strategist, told Fox, "We all thought four were in the bag [for Republicans]. But right now, it's looking like the bottom end of that scale isn't four anymore, it's five or six. And that means the entire Senate majority is on the bubble."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Robot kickboxing, milk for a god, and more
-
Gazer: 'paranoid noir chiller' is a gripping watch
The Week Recommends Ryan J. Sloan's debut film is haunted with 'skin-crawling unease'
-
William Kentridge: The Pull of Gravity – a 'bold' exhibition
The Week Recommends The South African artist brings his distinctive works to Yorkshire Sculpture Park
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets