Welcome back to Know Your Vote, USA TODAY Network's one-week series on everything you need to know to be an informed voter. |
Today, we're covering important down-ballot races to watch. |
When voters go to the polls this November, they won't just be choosing the next president. |
The outcome of key House and Senate races are likely to determine which party controls Congress, enabling or obstructing the future president's policy goals. And in select states, voters will weigh in on policies that will have direct impact on their communities, from abortion access to voting rights. | Margins are tight in Senate races across the country. Veronica Bravo, Getty Images |
Margins are tight in Senate races across the country. Democrats and Republicans are waging war for the control of the Senate in 2025 and beyond. Democrats are on defense – Republicans only need to win two new seats, or one seat and the White House, to retake control. |
Here's a rundown of the most vulnerable senators and their competitors: |
| • | Ohio: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) vs. entrepreneur Bernie Moreno (R) | | • | Montana: Sen. Jon Tester (D) vs. entrepreneur Tim Sheehy (R) | | • | Nevada: Sen. Jacky Rosen (D) vs. former Army captain Sam Brown (R) | | • | Michigan: Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) vs. former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) (Current Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow isn't seeking another term.) | | • | Pennsylvania: Sen. Bob Casey (D) vs. businessman David McCormick (R) | | • | Wisconsin: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) vs. entrepreneur Eric Hovde (R) | | • | Arizona: Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) vs. TV news anchor Kari Lake (R) (current Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is not seeking another term.) | | • | Maryland: Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), vs former Gov Larry Hogan (R) | |
All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs every midterm and presidential election year. Much like the Senate, control of the House will come down to a handful of tight races. Republicans are defending their turf here – they control the lower chamber by only two seats – as the nation watches these make-or-break contests. |
| • | California: Four Republicans will defend their seats in districts that voted for Biden in 2020. GOP Rep. John Duarte vs. Democrat Adam Gray in the 13th District; Rep. David Valadao vs. Democrat Rudy Salas in the 22nd District; Rep. Mike Garcia vs. Democrat George Whitesides in the 27th District, and Rep. Ken Calvert vs. Democrat Will Rollins in the 41st District. | | • | New York and New Jersey: Three Republican New Yorkers will similarly defend their turf in Democratic-leaning districts. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito vs. Democrat Laura Gillen in the 4th District; Rep. Mike Lawler vs. Democrat Mondaire Jones in the 17th District; and Rep. Marc Molinaro vs. Democrat Josh Riley in the 19th District. New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Will aim to defend his seat from Democrat Susan Altman in the state's 7th District. | | • | Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania: Democrats will have their own turf to defend in these Rust Belt states. Retiring Rep. Dan Kildee and Senate candidate Rep. Elissa Slotkin are leaving open seats to be contested in Michigan: Democrat Curtis Hertel vs. Republican Tom Barrett in the 7th District and Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet vs. Republican Paul Junge in the 8th District. In Ohio, Rep. Marcy Kaptur will face Republican Derek Merrin in the 9th District and Rep. Emilia Sykes will face Republican Kevin Coughlin in the 13th District. Pennsylvania. And in Pennsylvania, it's Rep. Susan Wild vs. Republican Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th District and Rep. Matt Cartwright vs. Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr. In the 8th District. | | • | New Mexico and Arizona: Two Republicans will defend seats in Arizona: Rep. David Schweikert vs. Democrat Amish Shah in the 1st District and Rep. Juan Ciscomani vs. Democrat Kirsten Engel in the 6th District. Next door in New Mexico, Democratic Rep. Gabriel Vasquez faces Republican Yvette Herrell in the 2nd District. | |
There are 11 seats up for grabs this election, and a handful of competitive gubernatorial races this year. |
| • | North Carolina: Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein will aim to keep control of the Tar Heel state in his party's hands after two terms under Gov. Roy Cooper. He's up against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who would be the state's first Black governor if elected. | | • | New Hampshire: Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig is facing off against former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who has been endorsed by current GOP Gov. Chris Sununu. | | • | Washington: Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee is retiring, leaving a chance for Republicans to take this largely blue state. Former Rep. Dave Reichert, a Republican, is running for the spot and will face off against Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson. | |
In 2024, voters will make their voices heard on contentious ballot initiatives that could shift the way their states approach major issues. Here are the measures to watch this year: |
| • | Abortion: State-level measures to protect abortion rights will appear on ballots in 10 states this fall after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Nebraska voters will weigh in on two abortion measures – one backing abortion rights and one widely barring the procedure in the second and third trimesters, with exceptions. | | • | Marijuana legalization: Voters in Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota will weigh in on marijuana access. Some states, like Florida, may legalize weed for residents, while others could just loosen more specific restrictions. | | • | Voting: Connecticut residents will decide whether future voters will be able to request a mail-in ballot for any reason, and Ohio voters will choose how their congressional maps will be drawn – by the state legislature as it is now, or by a redistricting commission. | | • | Open primaries: Several states will vote on whether to switch their elections to an open primary system, which allows the top vote getters to advance to the general election regardless of party. It can make general elections in deeply Republican or Democratic states more competitive. Oregon, Idaho, South Dakota and Nevada will vote on such measures, and organizers in Montana say they have enough signatures to put a similar proposal on the ballot in their state. | |
Tomorrow, we'll outline which states, and counties, are the ones to watch this election. We hope you'll join us. |
-The USA TODAY Network 2024 Election Team | | | |
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