A Paralympian vs a former TV news anchor - and other US Senate races to watch

What the report says

BBC World News reports that attention in the upcoming US midterm elections is focused on a small group of Senate contests that could determine which party controls the chamber. Democrats would need a four-seat gain to take control, a shift that would affect President Donald Trump’s agenda, including judicial nominations and oversight of his administration. The article says billions of dollars are being spent across 35 Senate races, but only a few are considered true toss-ups.

The BBC highlights several closely watched matchups. In Alaska, Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola amid controversy over a second candidate with the same name on the ballot. In Maine, veteran senator Susan Collins is seeking another term against Troy Jackson, with both candidates positioning themselves around issues affecting working-class voters and Trump-era politics. In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are contesting the most expensive Senate race on record, with the race carrying implications for whether Democrats can make future gains in the state.

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are locked in a combative race that has featured sharp attacks over ideology, foreign policy and identity. More broadly, the BBC says these contests matter not only for the Senate majority, but also as indicators of how national politics, Trump’s influence and state-specific issues may shape the balance of power heading into the next Congress.