Our Priority Senate Races
The Cook Political Report, a respected political analysis website, regularly assesses the competitiveness of critical Senate races across the country that will determine control of the Senate. At Activate America, we are focused on uplifting Democrats in these races to give Democrats the greatest opportunity possible to retake Congress.
Learn more about the candidates we are supporting and opposing, then join us for an action soon. This year, we have a golden opportunity to elect leaders who will put people first.
Click on the states to read more about our priority Senate race.
Alaska
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When MAGA Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan voted to kick thousands of Alaskans off of their health care, he showed us who he is. In a state that values leaders with an independent streak, Sullivan falls in line with Trump every single time. Luckily, Democrats have a candidate who has proven she can win statewide: former Congresswoman Mary Peltola. She knows that politics as usual is failing Alaskans, and she’s running on a pledge to fix the rigged systems that hold Alaska families back.
About Alaska Senate:
PVI: R+6
2020 Senate Results: Dan Sullivan (R) 53.9% v. Al Gross (I) 41.2%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) 54.5% v. Kamala Harris (D) 41.4%
Georgia
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In 2020, Activate America was the first organization in the country with postcarding opportunities in George for the Senate runoffs. It was one of our proudest moments, and it helped elect two of our country’s greatest Senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. The time has come to defend Ossoff and ensure that he can continue serving another six years. This is going to be one of the closest elections in the country, and it’s hard to see how we flip the Senate if we fail in this mission. Ossoff isn’t just a good vote; he’s a great leader, one of the most effective messengers in the Democratic Party today. He reminds us a lot of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, focused on the working people left behind in our broken political system, and we’re all in to have him guide us toward a better future.
About Georgia:
PVI: R+1
2020 Senate Runoff Results: Jon Ossoff (D) 50.6% v. David Perdue (R) 49.4%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) 50.7% v. Kamala Harris (D)
Iowa
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After the retirement of Senator Joni Ernst, the open Iowa Senate election quickly became one of the most competitive elections in the country.
The Democratic nominee, state Rep. Josh Turek, is a former paralympian gold medalist who proved he can win in the most Republican-leaning district represented by a Democrat in Iowa. A self-described “prairie populist”, Turek is focused on affordability for Iowa families: raising the minimum wage, stopping price gouging in our food supply, and preventing private equity firms from buying out homes and farmlands.
On the Republican side, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is seeking a promotion to the U.S. Senate, but she’s spent the past year in Washington thinking Donald Trump is her boss, not the people of Iowa. Hinson voted to continue Trump’s tariff policies that have been a disaster for Iowa farmers, and clinics in Iowa are already closing because of the Medicaid cuts that Hinson voted for. Don’t worry; she made sure the richest 1% got a massive tax break while thousands of Iowans lose their health care.
Iowa can’t afford to elect Ashley Hinson. Luckily, they have an exceptional alternative in Josh Turek, and polls show this race very close.
About Iowa:
PVI: R+6
2020 Senate Results: Joni Ernst (R) 51.8% v. Theresa Greenfield (D) 45.2%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) 55.7% v. Kamala Harris (D) 42.5%
Maine
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Of all Republicans in the Senate, Senator Susan Collins might be the most disappointing. She knows how damaging the MAGA movement is to our country, and her press shop is always busy putting out statements about how concerned she is. Yet time and time again, she lacks the backbone to do anything about it.
Maine is a purple state that leans blue, and it deserves a Senator who doesn’t just recognize problems but actually works to solve them. That Senator is not Susan Collins.
About Maine:
PVI: D+4
2020 Senate Results: Susan Collins (R) 51.0% v. Sara Gideon (D) 42.4%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Kamala Harris (D) 52.4% v. Donald Trump (R) 45.5%
Michigan
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If you’re reading this, you probably already know that Michigan is a perpetual toss up in American politics, and this year’s open Senate primary is no exception. With Senator Gary Peters retiring, three major Democratic candidates are in the mix, all with a path to victory. In the primary, we’ll be focused on boosting Democratic turnout and unite behind whichever candidate Michigan voters choose. This is a must-win for Democrats if we have any hope of taking back the Senate.
About Michigan:
PVI: EVEN
2020 Senate Results: Gary Peters (D) 49.9% v. John James (R) 48.2%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) v. Kamala Harris (D) 48.5%
North Carolina
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After Donald Trump drove Republican Senator Thom Tillis into retirement, it created a golden opportunity for Democrats in North Carolina. This might be the most flippable Senate seat in the country.
In former Governor and Attorney General Roy Cooper, we have an incredible and popular candidate who has proven he can win statewide. As Governor, Cooper expanded Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, secured record-setting economic investment in the state, bringing good jobs to North Carolinians, and made community college more affordable. Identifying practical solutions to improve lives is what Cooper does best.
Conversely, Republicans have elevated Michael Whatley, Donald Trump’s hand-selected Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC). With Trump’s approval rating tanking in North Carolina, now seems like a bad time to run a party boss for U.S. Senate, particularly after the string of special election embarrassments Republicans have seen across the country in Trump’s second term, but we aren’t complaining.
The choice for North Carolina voters is clear. If you want a problem solver, vote for Cooper. If you want one of Trump’s closest political operatives at the helm, vote for Whatley.
About North Carolina:
PVI: R+1
2020 Senate Results: Thom Tillis (R) 48.7% v. Cal Cunningham (D) 46.9%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) 50.9% v. Kamala Harris (D) 47.6%
Ohio
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The former Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Senator Jon Husted was appointed to fill the term of now Vice President JD Vance, and he’s fulfilling his expected role of being a rubber stamp for the Trump Administration. He voted for every Trump cabinet nominee; he’s said nothing as the Administration attacks school breakfast and lunch programs, food banks, support for family farms, Medicaid, Social Security, and the VA, and he’s dodged constituents who have demanded that he hold town hall meetings to hear their concerns.
Luckily, Democrats have the strongest possible candidate challenging Husted: former Senator Sherrod Brown. A longstanding champion for working people, Brown has been a stalwart advocate for affordable health care, higher wages, and Build America policies to create new manufacturing jobs for hardworking Ohioans. Brown narrowly lost in 2024, but he vastly outperformed the top of the ticket. In a more favorable electoral climate, with Ohio voters now fully aware of just how little Husted and Trump care about the affordability crisis, Brown is in a good position to win this.
About Ohio:
PVI: R+5
2022 Senate Results: JD Vance (R) 53.0% v. Tim Ryan (D) 46.9%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) 55.1% v. Kamala Harris (D) 43.9%
Texas
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After defeating Republican Senator John Cornyn in the primary runoff, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will face off against Democrat James Talarico.
Paxton is loathsome even by the low standards of Republicans currently in the Senate. He worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election, faced serious bribery and securities fraud accusations, and sought to block court-approved emergency abortions in cases where doctors said continuing the pregnancy posed serious health risks to the women.
Meanwhile, Talarico has run an inspirational campaign that speaks to the everyday concerns of Texas voters.
We couldn’t have asked for a better match up to flip Texas blue.
About Texas:
PVI: R+6
2020 Senate Results: John Cornyn (R) 53.5% v. MJ Hegar (D) 43.9%
2024 Trump v. Harris: Donald Trump (R) 56.1% v. Kamala Harris (D) 42.5%