CNN added South Carolina to its ranking of Senate seats most likely to change party control, expanding the list to 11 on Nov. 2, ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Texas and Kansas also moved higher in the ranking.
Four-seat path to a majority
Democrats need to capture four Republican-held seats while retaining all their own to win control of the Senate, CNN reported. That is the requirement for a majority, rather than a count of seats already won.
CNN described its ranking as a snapshot based on reporting, fundraising, polling and the political environment. It said the list does not predict individual winners or which party will control the chamber.
Sources: CNN’s Senate ranking, published Nov. 2, 2026, at 09:00 UTC; BlockBeats flash, published at 11:34 UTC the same day.