U.S.ASK BBN
The seven races that will decide control of the Senate
Democrats need a net gain of four seats for control, while Republicans would keep their fifty-three to forty-seven majority by winning all seven toss-ups; the spending is not small.
Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN After Hours at 2:09 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Washington Post's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by The Washington Post: “The seven races that will decide control of the Senate”, with reporting from Detroit News (Washington Post story), Al Jazeera and WFAA.
- Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 2:09 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Alaska Senate.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The Washington PostThe seven races that will decide control of the Senate
- Detroit News (Washington Post story)The seven races that will decide control of the Senate October 28, 2026 · facts used on air
- Al JazeeraUS midterms 2026: All you need to know in maps and charts October 26, 2026 · facts used on air
- WFAAMidterm elections: Here are the key races that will decide control of the Senate facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOkay, so what happened? Why are seven races deciding the whole Senate?

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe Washington Post says seven toss-up races will decide control. Democrats hold narrow leads in all seven, though most are within the margin of error.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWithin the margin of error. So Democrats lead in all seven, most of them by about a typo.

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorDemocrats need a net gain of four seats to reach fifty-one, because Vice President Vance can break ties for Republicans.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDoes this affect me? Because my phone thinks I'm the seventh race.

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBoth. The Senate decides what gets confirmed and passed. And in Alaska, AdImpact says Republicans will outspend Democrats by nine point five million dollars.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhat if Republicans win all seven?

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThey keep their fifty-three to forty-seven majority.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the best case for one side is that nothing moves. They spent all that to keep the couch where it is.
More Shorts
All videos →From the archive: everything BBN aired on Thursday, October 29, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months


Photo: DUNCAN KIRK · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Montclair Film · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
