The nine key races that will decide who controls the Senate, and where they stand

Democrats have widened their path to a Senate majority, but they still need several tight races to go their way. With just over two weeks until Election Day, Republicans hold the chamber 53-47, so Democrats must gain a net four seats. A big Democratic wave could yield 52 or 53 seats; GOP outperformance of the polls would keep its majority, according to Fox News.

Fox News Power Rankings currently project 47 seats for each party, with six races as toss-ups and three as leaners, one notch less competitive. Remy Numa, a Fox News contributor who oversees the rankings, observes that polling by itself makes every one of these races a potential toss-up. Republicans hold six of the nine seats, so they are mostly on defense.

President Donald Trump's sinking approval, lingering inflation, and pricey gasoline that polls tie to an unpopular Iran war add to the usual midterm drag on the president's party. Among the toss-ups, Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska faces former Rep. Mary Peltola; Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa and state Rep. Josh Turek contest retiring Sen. Joni Ernst's seat; and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine meets Troy Jackson.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →