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5 pivotal 2026 Senate races will determine whether Republicans maintain governing trifecta under Trump

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper faces former RNC Chair Michael Whatley in a blockbuster 2026 Senate race, while Sen. Jon Ossoff defends his seat.

ThebalanceofpowerinWashington,D.C.,isupforgrabsin2026asahandfulofkeySenateraceswilldeterminewhetherPresidentDonaldTrumpandRepublicanswillmaintaintheirgoverningtrifecta.  Inadditiontotheirowncompetitiveness,manyofthesekeySenateracesmaysaymoreaboutthestateofpoliticsin2026—andtherespectiveparties—beyondtheirindividualresults. FIVESLEEPERRACESTHATCOULDUPEND2026–FROMPENNSYLVANIA’SALLEGHENIESTONEWMEXICO Sen.JonOssoff,D-Ga.,facesacompetitiveSenateraceinGeorgiawhereDemocratswilllooktoretainaseatinastatethatwenttoPresidentDonaldTrumpby2.2%in2024.Ossoffwillhavetodefendhisparty’sroleintheextendedgovernmentshutdownthatespeciallyhurtGeorgia’sairline-heavyeconomy.  Duringthe43-daystretch,OssoffvotedwithRepublicanstomakepartialprovisionsforfederalworkersbutvotedagainstthespendingpackagethateventuallyendedtheshutdown. Ossoffwonhislastelectionina2021runoffa