Midterm elections don't tend to go too well for the incumbent's party, though as we saw with the red wave that failed to materialize in 2022, there certainly are exceptions. While 2026 is still close to two years away, and Republicans definitely do not want to get too cocky, that Democrats don't have their act together after last November's losses could be a hopeful sign. Who will be involved in helping elect more Democrats, at least in the Senate? We found out some names on Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who serves as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) chairwoman, announced some names who will serve as vice chairs.
According to Semafor's Burgess Everett, those named include Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
Schumer + Gillibrand announce DSCC vice chairs
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 29, 2025
- Schiff
- Kelly
- Blunt Rochester
Schiff and Blunt Rochester were just elected last November, and Kelly was elected in a special election in 2020, winning reelection for a full term in 2022.
Although Schiff's Republican opponent, Steve Garvey, put in a noble effort, the race was called rather early for Schiff. California is a particularly blue state and one that Vice President Kamala Harris won as the replacement Democratic nominee. Blunt Rochester also didn't exactly face a competitive election in Delaware.
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It's worth mentioning, though, that New York didn't go as brightly blue as it did in the past. While some Republican House members there lost their seats – the redistricting battle likely played a major role there – Harris only won New York by 12.6 percent, 56.3 percent to President Donald Trump's 43.7 percent. Former President Joe Biden won the state in 2020 by just over 23 percent. Gillibrand won by her smallest margins yet, with 58.8 percent of the vote, after she won by 67 percent in 2018 and 72.2 percent in 2012.
Republicans especially don't want to get cocky about 2026 after what happened in 2022, no matter how much Democrats are flailing right now. That being said, we could perhaps see that happen again, this time with Trump in office. During his first term, Republicans lost a high number of seats in the House for the 2018 midterms, though they did gain a couple in the Senate, with Senators Josh Hawley (MO) and Rick Scott (FL).
2024 looked particularly favorable for Republicans, especially in comparison to 2022 when they actually lost a seat after retired Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) was replaced by Democratic Senator John Fetterman. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) also had particularly capable leadership with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) as the chairman.
Republicans managed to win back control of the chamber with Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) replacing Democrat Sherrod Brown. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) also replaced Democrat Jon Tester, and retiring Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, once a Democrat who became an Independent, was replaced by Republican Senator Jim Justice. Although it took forever for former Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) to concede, and he even insisted on a recount, he was replaced by Republican Senator Dave McCormick.
But again, this was a good year for Republicans. And Eric Hovde, Kari Lake, Mike Rogers, and Sam Brown still lost against vulnerable Democratic incumbents.
So, who is up for reelection in 2026?
Those safe or likely safe Republican seats include Senators Tommy Tuberville (AL); Dan Sullivan (AK); Tom Cotton (AR); Ashley Moody (FL), who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to replace now Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Jim Risch (ID); Joni Ernst (IA); Roger Marshall (KS); Mitch McConnell (KY); Bill Cassidy (LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS); Steve Daines (MT); Pete Ricketts (NE); John Husted (OH), who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to replace now Vice President JD Vance; Markwayne Mullin (OK); Lindsey Graham (SC); Mike Rounds (SD); Bill Hagerty (TN); John Cornyn (TX); Shelley Moore Capito (WV); and Cynthia Lummis (WY).
Safe or likely safe Democratic seats include Senators John Hickenlooper (CO); Chris Coons (DE); Dick Durbin (IL); Ed Markey (MA); Tina Smith (MN); Cory Booker (NJ); Ben Ray Luján (NM); Jeff Merkley (OR); Jack Reed (RI); and Mark Warner (VA).
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), who led the DSCC for 2022 and 2024 announced on Tuesday he's retiring, leaving a key battleground state open for the next cycle. Although Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), who is term-limited, is not running, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is considering it. The other battleground races involve Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and potentially Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
It will thus come down to a handful of seats, barring any major surprises.
Democrats remain in disarray as to why they lost, especially when it comes to social issues, which affected former senators like Brown, and former Representative Colin Allred (D-TX), who tried to unseat Republican Senator Ted Cruz and didn't even come close. Will they get their act together in 2026 with the help of Gillibrand, Schiff, Kelly, and Blunt Rochester? Time will tell.
