Texas Senate Race Becomes Unlikely Battleground

The New York Post counts 36 governor races in the 2026 midterms, which means the anchors are going to need a bigger pot of coffee than the rest of us. Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are fighting over the Texas Senate seat now held by John Cornyn. The Hill says Ohio's Sherrod Brown and GOP Sen. Jon Husted have been neck and neck in the polls, which is what two bulls look like trying to get through the same gate. Sen. Jeff Merkley wants a fourth term against state senator David Brock Smith, so Oregon is getting a sequel nobody asked for. Over in Rhode Island, Democratic voters already showed Gov. Dan McKee the door in September, and Republicans didn't have to lift a finger. I call that efficient, if not particularly loyal.