Battleground Voters Could Decide Senate Control

Control of the U.S. Senate may hinge on close races and voter groups in battleground states, including Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Maine. Republican strategists are concerned that Libertarian candidates could draw conservative votes away from GOP nominees in several tight contests, while a Republican-linked group is promoting a socialist candidate in Ohio in an apparent effort to divide Democratic support. Kansas has more unaffiliated voters than registered Democrats, reflecting a broader rise in independent identification, particularly among younger voters. In Maine’s close Senate contest, ranked-choice voting could determine the winner and delay the result, while officials report unusually high early and absentee turnout. Coverage of the broader Senate battle also highlights six toss-up races among nine battleground states, where voter demographics could decide which party controls the chamber.