Jon Husted

Editor's Note: NBC Chicago's Lexi Sutter will be covering the latest details on the battle for control of Congress on Election Night, both on our streaming news channel beginning at 8 p.m. and on our newscast at 10 p.m.

The 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to be a massive battle for control of the Senate and the House, and there are a load of key races that will help decide that balance of power.

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Several states in the Midwest will feature key races in that battle, including Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin, but the battle is truly going to be nationwide, as some states could see control of seats flip for the first time in decades.

Here’s what we’re keeping an eye on leading into Tuesday’s election.

Republicans currently control 53 seats in the U.S. Senate, with 45 Democrats and two independents in the opposition, but there’s a very real chance control of the chamber could flip on Tuesday.

At least one seat appears poised to flip for Democrats, as an open election in North Carolina’s Senate race looks like it’s former Gov. Roy Cooper’s race to lose against former GOP chair Michael Whatley in the state.

Elsewhere Democrats have targeted a slew of seats to potentially flip, including in Ohio where the seat once held by Vice President JD Vance is in jeopardy. Sen. Jon Husted is trying to defend the seat against former Sen. Sherrod Brown, with polling showing Brown with a very slight lead.

Texas could also elect its first Democrat to a Senate seat since 1988, as James Talarico is engaged in a hotly contested battle with former Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race that has seen hundreds of millions of dollars spent.

Alaska’s Senate seat, currently held by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, could also be vulnerable, along with an open seat in Iowa, the seat of Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, and the seat of Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

Democrats are also trying to hold three open seats, with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed battling Mike Rogers in Michigan, Peggy Flanagan facing Michelle Tafoya in Minnesota, and Chris Pappas facing John Sununu in New Hampshire.

Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House, but even with redrawn districts in numerous states, there are concerns the GOP could lose control of that chamber as well.

Democrats seem assured of at least two pickups in the House, including in California’s 1st district and in an open election in Nebraska’s 2nd, but there are some opportunities for pickups for Republicans, including in North Carolina’s 1st district where incumbent Rep. Don Davis is defending his seat against republican Laurie Buckhout.

Seats in Tennessee and Texas are also potentially going to flip to the Republican column, but the list of seats that could flip over to Democrats is even longer, including Republican-held seats in Arizona, California and Iowa.

Another seat to keep an eye on is Pennsylvania’s 1st district, where incumbent Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is facing a tough challenge from Democrat Bob Harvie.

Closer to the Midwest, political experts are keeping an eye on an open House seat in Iowa’s 2nd district, as well as Wisconsin’s 3rd district, where incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden is facing a strong challenge.