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Two Senate Races Remain

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Talking PointsTwo U.S. Senate races remain uncalled — and Democrats hold narrow leads over Republican incumbents in both.

Here’s where things stand:

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The Election They Didn’t See Coming

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Talking PointsLosing in a national wave is one thing. Failing to see it coming is another.

Republicans had plenty of reason to prepare for a difficult election.

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Having Money Isn’t the Same as Having Support

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Talking PointsI got hooked on politics as a kid, in part watching a neighbor run for city council. She later became Connecticut’s lieutenant governor and eventually ran for governor.

But what stayed with me wasn’t her political rise. It was something she said about money.

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The Outsider Who Can’t Govern

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Talking PointsDonald Trump’s greatest political skill is convincing voters to put him in power.

His greatest weakness is what happens once they do.

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A Bigger Majority, a Different Headache

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Talking PointsRep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is poised to become the first Black speaker of the House.

If today’s results hold, he would begin with more than 250 Democratic seats. That makes governing so much easier. 

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Trump Dragged Down GOP Governors, Too

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Talking PointsGovernors’ races usually offer candidates a way to escape the national political climate.

This year, Republicans found nowhere to hide.

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Understanding the Scale of the Democratic Victory

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Talking PointsThere’s almost too much to unpack from last night’s historic Democratic sweep.

But a few more observations stand out:

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The Election That Changed Everything

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Talking PointsLast night was a once-in-a-century political earthquake. You have to go back to 1974, in the aftermath of Watergate, to find anything remotely comparable.

And we’re only beginning to understand the consequences.

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A Historic Night for Diversity

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Talking PointsDemocrats barely talked about diversity on the campaign trail.

Yet Tuesday’s election produced a remarkable series of historic firsts.

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A Generational Political Earthquake

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Talking PointsI’ve watched a lot of elections over the years, but I can’t remember one quite like this.

A few more thoughts on an extraordinary night:

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A Few Early Thoughts on the Blue Tsunami

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Talking PointsPolls are still open across much of the country, but the scale of the Democratic victories tonight has already become clear.

What looked like a blue wave in the final weeks of polling is beginning to look more like a tsunami.

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A Democratic Senate Would Be an Electoral Earthquake

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Talking PointsThe prospect of a Democratic Senate has become familiar enough over the last couple of weeks that it’s easy to miss how astonishing it would be.

Democrats need to gain four seats to take control. Maine and North Carolina offer plausible pickups.

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A Few Thoughts on the Haley Stevens Fiasco

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Talking PointsSeveral readers have asked about Rep. Haley Stevens rescinding her endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate — and then endorsing Mike Rogers.

The distinction between those two decisions is the entire story.

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It’s Getting Harder to Bet Against a Democratic Wave

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Talking PointsThe Senate map moved sharply toward Democrats over the final week of the midterm campaign.

Democrats have gained in the polls across nearly every key Senate race.

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Questions I’d Like Answered on Election Day

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Talking PointsAs we head into the final weekend of a fascinating 2026 midterm campaign, I have some questions.

Beyond who wins and who loses, the answers could tell us a great deal about where American politics is headed.

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Dirty Trick Hands Ranked-Choice Critics an Opening

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Talking PointsThe effort by Democrats to recruit a second Dan Sullivan into Alaska’s Senate race could have a bigger impact on the state’s voting system than on the race itself.

Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D) has denied involvement in the ballot-stacking scheme.

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An Old Political Trick Returns in Alaska

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Talking PointsThe controversy surrounding Mary Peltola (D) and the recruitment of another Dan Sullivan to challenge Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) may be the latest example of ballot-stacking — but it’s hardly a new trick in politics.

The practice of recruiting candidates with identical or similar names to confuse voters dates back at least to 1946, when supporters of John F. Kennedy reportedly recruited a second Joseph Russo to run against a rival with the same name in his first congressional campaign.

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The One State to Watch

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Talking PointsWant an early read on how big a night Democrats are having next Tuesday?

I’ll be watching Iowa.

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Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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