Wide-Open Primaries Complicate Competitive November Senate Races – By Louis Jacobson (US News) / March 10, 2022
The winners in a handful of mostly Republican primaries will help determine how competitive some Senate races end up being in the November general election – and if Democrats can hold their slim majority.
For months, political soothsayers have been predicting doom for the Democrats’ House majority in the 2022 midterm elections, due to both longstanding historical patterns and President Joe Biden’s sagging approval ratings.
However, the fate of the Democratic majority in the Senate, while shaky, is less clear.
One of the reasons for this uncertainty is the surplus of unusually wide-open primaries for Senate races. The winner of these mostly Republican primaries will help determine how competitive these races end up being in the November general election.
Overall, nine of the 34 Senate races on tap in 2022 are expected to be competitive in November. Of these, five are currently held by Republicans and four are held by Democrats. One additional Republican-held seat, in Missouri, might become competitive, though only if the stars align
