The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Senate races to watch on election night
WASHINGTON — Republicans have a huge advantage as they seek to hold or expand their 51-49 Senate majority, with the battle for control running mostly through states that President Donald Trump won in 2016.
Out of the 35 Senate contests taking place Tuesday, 10 involve Democratic incumbents seeking re-election in states that Trump won, often handily. He’s spending much of the final week before the election traveling to those states in the hope that it will nudge his supporters to the polls.
Key races to watch for those keeping score:
Indiana
Democratic Sen. Joe Don- nelly is trying to fend off Republican businessman Mike Braun in a state that Trump won by 19 percent- age points. Donnelly is Indi- ana’s lone Democrat elected statewide and has sought to align himself with Trump on the hot-button issue of expanding the border wall with Mexico. He has portrayed himself as a moder- ate who works with both parties to pass legislation. “I go against my party all the time,” he said recently.
Polls close at 7 p.m. EST.
Florida
Democratic Sen. Bill Nel- son is seeking a fourth term in the race against Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Scott has spent millions of dollars out of his own personal fortune to help fund his campaign. He has said that he would work to cut taxes and regulation if sent to Washington.
The two have clashed sharply on gun violence, a big issue in Florida fol- lowing the February shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HighSchool. Nelson has stressed that he favors a ban on military-style assault weapons and implement- ing a comprehensive system of background checks. Scott signed legislation in Florida that requires anyone wanting to buy a gun to be 21 years old, but the bill didn’t include a ban on assault weapons.
New Jersey
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez is facing a tough re-election fight, and it has nothing to do with Trump. Rather, allegations of cor- ruption have alienated some New Jersey voters. His brib- ery trial ended last year with a hung jury.
Democratic groups have spent millions in the state to boost Menendez in his race against Republican Bob Hugin, a former pharmaceutical executive who has tapped his own wallet for $24 million to finance a TV-adheavy campaign.
Tennessee
Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn is running against former two-term Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in a state Trump won by 26 percent- age points.
Blackburn would be the state’s first female senator if elected. She has served eight terms in the House and is viewed as one of the more conservative members of that chamber.
North Dakota
Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is trying to fend off a strong challenge from Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer in a state Trump won by 36 percentage points.
Heitkamp has sought to draw differences with Cramer on health care and trade. She says she is working to improve the Affordable Care Act while he’s been working to eliminate it. Cramer has argued that President Donald Trump’s approach on trade must be given time to work.
Texas
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is seeking a second term against Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a rising star in the Democratic Party who has shattered Senate campaign fundraising records despite shunning donations from outside political groups.