Which party will control the Senate? Here's every seat up for grabs in the 2022 midterms

The midterm elections are approaching. 

Historically, midterms have not usually gone well for the party in power, and experts originally predicted that the upcoming races would bring a wave of victories for Republicans. But some legislative wins for Democrats and other factors tightened up the race for control of the so-called upper chamber. 

There are Senate elections in 34 states this year, with voters taking to the ballot box to make their voices heard in races across the country. In some states, incumbents are seeking another term against a challenger. But there are also open races in several states, such as Alabama and Pennsylvania. 

• What does incumbent mean? An incumbent is the person who already holds the office. For example, if President Joe Biden runs for reelection in the 2024 presidential election, he would be considered the incumbent president. 

This list of Senate races from coast to coast includes Republican and Democratic candidates, though candidates who identify as Libertarian, Independent and with other political parties may also appear on ballots in some states. If you are interested in more information on these candidates in your area, you can often find information through your county or state election officials. 

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Alabama 

There is no incumbent senator defending their seat in Alabama, after Republican Sen. Richard Shelby announced last year that he would not seek reelection in 2022.  

The Alabama Senate race will be held between Republican candidate Katie Britt and Democratic candidate Will Boyd. Britt was previously the former president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama and Shelby's chief of staff. Boyd is a pastor and the presiding bishop of Zion Ministries. 

Alaska 

Incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is defending her seat, running for reelection to a fourth term in the Senate.  

But there will be three options for Alaska voters this fall, including Murkowski. She is also running against Kelly Tshibaka, another Republican and Alaska’s former commissioner of administration. Educator Pat Chesbro is the only Democrat on the ballot.  

Arizona

Incumbent Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is running against Republican Blake Masters. Kelly is running for a full six-year term after serving two years for winning a 2020 special election.  

Masters is a venture capitalist who has the backing of former President Donald Trump, who has voiced support for several Republicans on this list.  

Arkansas  

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is running for a third term in the Senate. He will face Democratic challenger Natalie James, a realtor. 

California 

Incumbent Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was appointed to his Senate seat in 2021 to take the place of Vice President Kamala Harris. He will face off against Republican Mark Meuser, an attorney. 

California residents will cast their votes in two separate U.S. Senate elections for the same seat – a vote on who will finish the term ending in January 2023, and a vote for the term ending in 2029.  

Colorado  

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., is running against against Republican candidate Joe O'Dea, the CEO of a construction company.   

Connecticut 

In Connecticut, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is seeking a third term in office. He's running against Republican challenger Leora Levy, who is currently the Republican National Committeewoman for the state of Connecticut. 

Florida  

Incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will face off against U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla. Rubio is seeking his third term in the Senate. 

Georgia  

In one of the most closely watched races across the country, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., is running to serve a full six-year term in the Senate after he won a special election in 2020. He’s running against Republican challenger and former NFL running back, Herschel Walker. 

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Walker, who has also been backed by Trump, has made headlines in recent weeks after the Daily Beast reported that he paid for a former girlfriend's abortion over a decade ago. Walker, who has supported a national ban on abortion after 15 weeks, has denied the report.  

Hawaii  

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, is defending his seat against Republican candidate Bob McDermott, a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. Schatz is seeking reelection for his second full term. 

Idaho

In Idaho, incumbent Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, will face off against Democrat David Roth, the executive director of the Bonneville Youth Development Council. Crapo is seeking his fifth term in the Senate.  

Illinois  

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is running for reelection to her second term. She is campaigning against Republican Kathy Salvi, an attorney. 

Indiana 

Incumbent Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., is facing off against Thomas McDermott Jr., the mayor of Hammond, Indiana. Young is running for a second term. 

Iowa  

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is running for reelection in 2022 against Democratic candidate Michael Franken.

Grassley was first elected in 1980, and he is seeking reelection to his eighth term. Franken is a retired U.S. Navy admiral.  

Kansas

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., is seeking reelection to a third term in office. Democrat Mark Holland, the former mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, will challenge him in the 2022 general election.  

Kentucky  

Democrat Charles Booker, a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, is running to unseat Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who is running for a third term.  

Louisiana  

The 2022 U.S. Senate election in Louisiana will be held between incumbent Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., and a slate of challengers.

The results would be decided in the Nov. 8 race if one candidate wins more than 50% of the state's votes. If no candidate meets that bar, then the top two will advance to a runoff in December. 

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Maryland  

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., is up for reelection against Republican candidate Chris Chaffee. Van Hollen is seeking his second term.  

Missouri  

There is no incumbent candidate running in Missouri’s 2022 Senate election. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., announced last year that he would not seek reelection.

Instead, Republican candidate Eric Schmitt, the attorney general of Missouri, will face off against Trudy Busch Valentine, an heiress to the Anheuser-Busch beer fortune and philanthropist.  

Nevada  

Nevada is another Senate race to watch, with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., facing off against her Republican opponent, former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt. It’s a key race Republicans have identified as a chance to flip.  

New Hampshire  

In another critical race, Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., is taking on Republican Don Bolduc, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general.

Establishment Republicans were hoping to avoid Bolduc’s victory in the state’s GOP primary, believing that his chances of being elected across the state  could risk their plans to reclaim control of the Senate.  

New York  

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is seeking reelection to a fifth term against Republican candidate Joe Pinion, a former political news commentator.  

North Carolina  

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., is running against former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Cheri Beasley, the Democratic candidate.

No incumbent is running in the race, after Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., announced in 2016 that he would not seek reelection in 2022.  

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North Dakota  

Incumbent Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is seeking a third term in office, running against Democrat Katrina Christiansen. 

Ohio  

In Ohio, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is campaigning against “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance.

Trump campaigned for the Republican candidate last month, saying “The entire MAGA movement is for J.D. Vance.”  

Incumbent Republican Ohio Sen. Rob Portman is not seeking reelection after serving two terms in the Senate.  

Oklahoma (two)

Oklahoma voters will cast their ballots in two U.S. Senate races this year.

In one election, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., will face off against Democratic candidate Madison Horn, a cybersecurity specialist. 

Democratic candidate Kendra Horn, no relation to Madison Horn, is running against Republican Markwayne Mullin. The two are competing in a special election to fill the remainder of Republican Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe’s fifth term. Mullin is a current U.S. representative, and Kendra Horn is a former U.S. representative.  

Oregon  

In Oregon, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is running against Republican candidate Jo Rae Perkins. Wyden is seeking his fifth full term.   

Pennsylvania  

In another highly anticipated race, Democratic nominee Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, is running against his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz. The race is open after Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., announced his retirement.  

Democrats are hoping to flip Toomey’s seat to their side in a crucial swing state. Fetterman suffered a stroke in May, but he returned to the campaign trail in August.  

South Carolina

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott is campaigning against Krystle Matthews, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Scott seeking his second full term.

South Dakota

In South Dakota, Republican Sen. John Thune is defending his seat against Democratic challenger Brian Bengs, who served in the Navy and Air Force JAG Corps. Thune is seeking his fourth term in the Senate.  

Utah  

In Utah, Republican Sen. Mike Lee is running against independent candidate Evan McMullin. There is no Democratic nominee, with Utah’s Democratic party endorsing McMullin. Lee is seeking a third term in the Senate.  

Vermont  

U.S. Rep Peter Welch, D-Vt., is running for Vermont’s open Senate seat against Gerald Malloy, a Republican and retired U.S. Army officer. Incumbent Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., announced last year that he would not seek reelection for the seat.  

Washington  

Washington voters will choose between incumbent Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley, a former triage nurse. Murray is seeking a sixth term.

Wisconsin 

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents seeking reelection, is running for a third term. He is running against Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the state’s first Black lieutenant governor who would be the state’s first Black senator if he is elected.  

Contributing: Ken Tran, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Senate seats up for election in 2022 midterms, listed by state