With longer terms and fewer members, it can seem like Senatorial elections receive less attention than their House counterparts. However, the Upper House provides equal representation for the States, drawing two Senators from each and allowing even the smallest an authentic voice on Capitol Hill. Additionally, with six years in each term, each elected Senator can attempt lasting change when two congressional years often fall short in bureaucracy-laden DC. Once a term is secure, the Senator can eschew campaign activities that often overwhelm significant portions of Lower House terms. The 117th Congress hosts 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and 2 Independents who joined the Democratic caucus, making it an even split that technically breaks left thanks to the tiebreaker vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. This midterm year, 35 senate seats come up for reelection- 14 currently held by Democrats, 21 by Republican incumbents- and the present divide could shift majorly with 2022 turnover. Here are a few high-profile races toward the Upper Chamber to watch as both parties vie for partisan control over the legislature.
Adam Laxalt in Nevada
A former Naval officer and veteran of the Iraq war, Adam Laxalt is no stranger to challenging circumstances, and his close race against Nevada incumbent Catherine Cortes- Masto is precisely that. A graduate of both Georgetown University and Law School, the Reno native spent four years as Nevada Attorney General working for the people of the Silver State with a particular interest in pursuing human traffickers and addressing the State's egregious backlog of untested rape kits. Further, he was a leader in anti-opioid legislation and policy, an expertise that can only benefit when fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans 18-45. Laxalt faces off against Catherine Cortes-Masto, a one-term incumbent considered the protégé of late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a race widely regarded to be a 'toss-up.' The traditionally swing state trends more Democratic, but the region in question has struggled over the past few years, and crippling tourism destroying shutdowns alongside some of the highest gas prices in the nation and could tip for Laxalt.
Herschel Walker in Georgia
After 12 years in the NFL, Herschel Walker has turned his attention from the football field to the federal government and has incumbent Raphael Warnock very much on the defense. This University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner is no stranger to the spotlight, and all eyes are once again on him. A CEO who cut his political teeth as chair of President Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, Walker is also personally invested in mental health awareness and advocacy, particularly regarding members of the United States Military. A fifth-degree blackbelt who represented the United States in the 1992 Olympics for bobsledding, Walker seems to accomplish anything he sets his mind to, and the Georgia Senate may very well be next. The tight race has been called both a toss-up and a lean right in the weeks leading up to the election and could very well help decide the partisan makeup of the Senate moving forward.
Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania
Another surprisingly tight home stretch is shaping up in Pennsylvania, where celebrity Dr. Oz faces off against incumbent John Fetterman. After a narrow primary victory, Oz ran a dedicated ground game that had him talking in person to voters daily in nearly every Pennsylvania county. This vigor helped the surgeon-turned-television personality close a double-digit deficit and put him well within striking distance for a midterm comeback. While his opponent played mostly to an online crowd, attacking Oz on social media, the Doctor and businessman instead opted for whistle-stop campaigning and edged his way into Pennsylvania hearts seemingly one by one. Additionally, Oz's medical credentials may seal the deal in a time of unprecedented drug overdoses and mental health crises on the heels of a global pandemic.
How are the Senate races shaping up in your State? Do any seats look likely to change party hands?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.
Original source can be found here.
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