“I think if you give truth serum to Republicans, Republicans even think Democrats are going to get North Carolina Republican held seat. That the Republicans have kind of diverted resources away from. The polling's been strong for the Democrat there, Roy Cooper. So if that's one, they still need three more.”
Texas Tribune TribCast · US Politics · October 2026
Context
NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki described the Democrats' path to a Senate majority, which requires a net gain of four seats, on the Texas Tribune's TribCast on October 20, 2026.
Transcript
Senate, the Republicans trying to defend their majority, the Democrats trying to take it over, the Democrats need.
A A net gain of four seats nationally.
And, you know, right now they they think and I think if you give truth serum to Republicans, Republicans even think Democrats are going to get North Carolina Republican held seat. that the Republicans have kind of diverted resources away from. The polling's been strong for the Democrat there, Roy Cooper. So if that's one, they still need three more. The other one I think Democrats are quite hopeful for is Maine.
Why?
Because it's the only Republican-held seat in a state that Trump lost in 2024, lost to all three times he ran for the presidency. That's Susan Collins, the longtime incumbent there. She's been an elusive target for Democrats, certainly, so it's by no means a gimme. But Even if they get those two…
And we could talk about this.