Washington Examiner investigations editor Sarah Bedford said Republicans may still have a good chance at holding the Senate.
“It’s going to be tough, but I think it’s looking good,” Bedford said on The Hugh Hewitt Show on Wednesday. “They’ve got some pickup opportunities in Michigan, for example.”
The Michigan Senate race between Democratic nominee Abdul el Sayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers has been one of the closely watched races this midterm cycle.
El Sayed has faced extensive heat, especially his association with Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer who has made comments widely criticized as antisemitic.
“Abdul el Sayed seems to be flailing a little bit,” Bedford said. “He’s bogged down in controversies. He keeps putting his foot in his mouth talking about the race of the vice president’s wife and things that just have nothing to do with the concerns of Michigan’s working-class voters.”
In Maine, GOP Senate nominee and incumbent Susan Collins seems to be gearing up to hold on to her seat.
“The mainstream media doesn’t talk about it a lot, but Troy Jackson is now trailing Susan Collins in the Real Clear Politics average,” Bedford said. “[Graham] Platner was not at the time that he dropped out, so that is not looking good for Democrats.”
The Cook Political Report has changed its rating for the New Hampshire Senate race to a “sleeper offensive opening” for the GOP, shifting to a toss-up.
“That is potentially a bright spot for Republicans as well,” Bedford said. “ I think Democrats weren’t expecting to sweat that one, but the polls are certainly showing that tightening.”
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The Texas Senate race has gained traction and media attention as Democratic nominee James Talarico is hoping to flip the seat blue, a feat many other candidates, such as former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, have tried and failed to do in the historically red state. Bedford said she wasn’t concerned about the race despite polling showing Talarico neck-and-neck with GOP nominee Ken Paxton.
“Even though there’s been some pollings that Democrats are getting excited about with James Talarico, you just can’t convince me that he’s going to win in Texas,” Bedford said. “This happens every year.”