Democrats and Republicans are suiting up for a fierce final stretch to the November midterm elections.
With Labor Day seen as the unofficial general election kickoff, they have just over two months to win over voters.
The upper chamber is split 50-50, but Democrats hold a slight edge over Republicans through Vice President Harris’s tiebreaking vote. That one-woman majority has helped Democrats deliver a number of legislative victories, including a multibillion-dollar climate, tax and health care package.
This November, Democrats are looking to expand that majority to tick more tasks off of their agenda, while Republicans are intent on tipping the balance of power in their favor to put a check on Democrats in Washington.
These are the seven Senate races that could decide the majority in the upper chamber:
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home to one of the most highly watched Senate contests this cycle, with Republican celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz facing off against Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) for the seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Toomey (R).
Democrats view the race as one of their best pickup opportunities in the upper chamber, and two election forecasters last month moved the race from “toss-up” to “lean Democrat.”
Oz, who was endorsed by former President Trump, won the Republican nomination by just 1,000 votes over former hedge fund CEO David McCormick. Fetterman, who is considered a progressive, easily beat out centrist Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) for his party’s nomination.
The race between the two men has turned personal.
Fetterman has worked for months to portray Oz as a carpetbagger from New Jersey and an out-of-touch television-star-turned-politician, while Oz has tried to put a spotlight on Fetterman’s health.
The lieutenant governor suffered a stroke in May, days...