Georgia, North Carolina Senate Races Heat Up with High-Profile Challengers

The 2026 U.S. Senate races are becoming highly competitive in several key states. In Georgia, incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff faces a crowded Republican primary field including U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, who both support former President Trump, as well as outsider Reagan Box and possibly former coach Derek Dooley, with Governor Brian Kemp reportedly backing Dooley. Ossoff has criticized the Republican candidates and Trump’s policies, while Democrats highlight divisions within the GOP, particularly between Trump supporters and Kemp loyalists. In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper entered the Senate race following Republican Sen. Thom Tillis’s decision not to seek reelection after Trump criticized him. Meanwhile, in Louisiana, incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy appears vulnerable after voting to convict Trump, with State Treasurer John Fleming leading in polls among registered Republicans. These races underscore the ongoing influence of Trump’s endorsement and the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party ahead of the midterms.