Texas and Iowa Senate races slip into toss-ups ahead of midterms

Two key Senate races — in Texas and Iowa — have moved from lean Republican to toss-ups per The Cook Political Report, leaving control of the Senate competitive as Democrats seek to flip four seats. In Texas, Republican AG Ken Paxton trails Democrat James Talarico in a tight race amid Paxton’s scandals and cautious GOP fundraising; in Iowa, Democrat-leaning conditions persist in a contest between Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) and Democrat Josh Turek, reflecting a challenging environment for Republicans there. National Democrats have yet to pour money into Texas, underscoring the broader, favorable climate for Democrats as the map tightens near the midterms.