Slow Boring

Slow Boring

Evening Edition

Democrats are winning the polls but losing the plot

Primary voters are far more focused on fighting each other than on fighting the G.O.P.

Halina Bennet's avatar
Halina Bennet
Aug 03, 2026
∙ Paid
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed campaigns in Michigan ahead of the state’s primary. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The basic midterm scenario remains familiar: Republicans hold a Senate majority, and Democrats need a net four-seat gain to flip it. Democrats continue to lead on the generic ballot and have a better chance of controlling the…

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