A series of retirements, candidate shakeups, and high-stakes legislation has redefined the battlefield for control of the Senate in 2026, as both parties brace for competitive showdowns in five states that could determine the majority, The Hill reported.

The 2026 Senate map is beginning to take shape, with five battleground states emerging as the most likely to flip as President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans push major legislative wins and Democrats hunt for openings to reclaim ground.

The top spot now belongs to North Carolina, where Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., stunned colleagues with his announcement that he will not seek a third term. The move has created a power vacuum in a state both parties were already targeting. The Cook Political Report responded by shifting its race rating from “lean Republican” to “toss up.”

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