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U.S. Senate

Midwestern States Most Likely to Vote Against President’s Party in US Senate Elections

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | April 16, 2026 | 2
Official seal of the US Senate

Midwestern states hold the Bottom Five and eight of the Bottom 10 slots in backing the party of the sitting president in U.S. Senate elections.

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Michigan Democrats Brace for Rare Competitive US Senate Primary

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | March 26, 2026 | 1
Michigan Democratic Party logo

Only two of 40 primaries in party history have been decided by less than 16 points.

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What Size Footprint Will Libertarians Leave on Texas’ US Senate Race?

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | March 22, 2026 | 0
Texas Libertarian Party logo

The best performance by a Texas Libertarian U.S. Senate nominee fails to crack the Top 70 in party history.

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Illinois’ US Senate Primary by the Numbers

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | March 18, 2026 | 7
Illinois Democratic Party logo

A record number of Democratic candidates led to a Top 5 party-best competitive primary.

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Mullin Vacancy Would Give Oklahoma Eight US Senate Elections in 12 Years

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | March 8, 2026 | 1
Official seal of the State of Oklahoma

Ten states have held at least eight elections across a 12-year span during the direct election era.

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Will Crockett vs. Talarico Also Head to a Runoff?

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | March 2, 2026 | 2
Texas Democratic Party logo

Only one out of 11 Texas U.S. Senate primary elections with three candidates on the ballot have failed to yield a nominee.

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A Review of US Senate Elections without Two Major Party Candidates

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | February 15, 2026 | 6
New Mexico Republican Party logo

Voters in at least one and in as many as four states will not have candidates from both major parties on the ballot in 2026’s U.S. Senate elections.

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How Often Do Sitting US Senators Place Third (Or Worse) in Primaries?

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | February 9, 2026 | 6
Photo of Texas Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn

A competitive Texas Republican U.S. Senate primary could lead to a result not seen in more than 60 years.

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Minnesota Poised to Elect a Woman to US Senate for 5th Straight Contest

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | January 25, 2026 | 5
Michele Tafoya, former sportscaster and Minnesota gubernatorial candidate.

Only four states have ever accomplished this historical feat.

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Comparing the Electoral Experience of Texas’ GOP US Senate Primary Fields Across the Decades

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | December 11, 2025 | 0
Texas Republican Party logo

A record four candidates seeking the 2026 Republican nomination have been elected to political office.

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Minnesota Historical Election Archive

Explore over 160 years of election results in Minnesota

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