The path to protecting the senate majority still is very narrow. We must protect Jon Tester (MT), Jacky Rosen (NV), Sherrod Brown (OH), Bob Casey (PA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI). We must win the two open seats for Democrats Ruben Gallego (AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (MI). Even without a majority in the House, the value of the Senate majority is priceless: Judicial confirmations, Cabinet confirmations, and protections from fraudulent MAGA impeachments.
Some other possibilities have been in the news lately.
Florida Senate Race
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is running against incumbent Republican Rick Scott and an Emily’s List poll shows them tied within the margin of error. On April 1st, the Florida State Supreme Court allowed a six week abortion ban to go into effect. They also approved two statewide ballot initiatives: Amendment 4 for Abortion Rights and Amendment 3 for Marijuana Legalization. Trump won Florida by only 3.36% in 2020. Florida is now in play. Help Field Team 6 register new Democrats.
Maryland Senate Race
Republican Larry Hogan has entered the senate race in Maryland. Democrats will choose their candidate in the primary on May 14th. While Cook Political rates this race as “likely Democrat,” Hogan is a popular moderate with good name recognition. Early polls show him in the lead. However the same poll also shows that Marylanders prefer Democratic control of the Senate. We need to watch this one closely.
Although not up for re-election until 2028, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently said that she will not vote for Trump and teased the possibility of leaving the Republican party. She has a good track record of fighting against radicals – in 2010 she won as a write-in candidate after a primary loss to a Tea Party candidate. Could she help us retain the majority? Too early to tell, but fun to imagine.