Sign up for our daily briefing

Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Catch up on the day's biggest business stories

Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Stay on top of the latest market trends

Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Sports news worthy of your time

Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Tech news worthy of your time

Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Get the inside stories

Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?

Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?

Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?

Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?

Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?

Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

Please enter a valid email.

Please enter a valid email.

Subscription failed
Thank you for subscribing!

These Senate seats are up for election in 2020

Photo: Getty Images

There are 35 Senate seats up for election in 2020 — including a special election in Arizona — many of which are expected to be brutally competitive as Democrats vie for control of the Senate.

Quick take: The Senate is currently made up of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats. Dems must win 3 or 4 GOP-held seats to take control of the Senate — 3 if the new vice president is a Democrat and 4 if not.

  • Republican senators representing left-leaning states or states that are shifting demographically — Susan Collins (Maine), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Martha McSally (Ariz.) — are considered among the Democrats’ clearest 2020 targets.
  • As Democrats from Trump-won states, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) are also vulnerable.

Republicans - Cook Political Report race classification:

  • Sen. Martha McSally (Ariz.) - Lean Democratic
  • Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) - Toss up
  • Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) - Toss up
  • Sen. Steve Daines (Mt.) - Toss up
  • Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) - Toss up
  • Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.) - Toss up
  • Sen. David Perdue (Ga.) - Toss up
  • Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) - Lean Republican
  • Sen. Kelly Loeffler (Ga.) — Lean R
  • Sen. James Risch (Idaho) - Lean R
  • Open Kansas seat held by retiring Pat Roberts - Lean R
  • Sen. Dan Sullivan (Alaska) - Likely R
  • Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) - Likely R
  • Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) - Solid R
  • Sen. Mike Rounds (S. D.) - Solid R
  • Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.) - Solid R
  • Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) - Solid R
  • Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (Miss.) - Solid R
  • Sen. James Inhofe (Okla.) - Solid R
  • Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.) - Solid R
  • Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.V.) - Solid R
  • Open Tennessee seat held by retiring Lamar Alexander - Solid R
  • Open Wyoming seat held by retiring Mike Enzi - Solid R

Democrats - Cook Political Report race classification:

  • Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.) - Lean Republican
  • Sen. Gary Peters (Mich.) - Lean Democrat
  • Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Chris Coons (Del.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Ed Markey (Mass.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Tina Smith (Minn.) - Solid D
  • Sen. Mark Warner (Va.) - Solid D
  • Open New Mexico seat held by retiring Tom Udall - Solid D

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show 35 Senate seats up for election in 2020, not 36.

Go deeper

Ursula Perano
Updated Dec 7, 2020 - Politics & Policy

The top Republicans who have acknowledged Biden as president-elect

Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Some elected Republicans are breaking ranks with President Trump to acknowledge that President-elect Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

Why it matters: The relative sparsity of acknowledgements highlights Trump's lasting power in the GOP, as his campaign moves to file multiple lawsuits alleging voter fraud in key swing states — despite the fact that there have been no credible allegations of any widespread fraud anywhere in the U.S.

Go deeper (4 min. read)Arrow
Rebecca Falconer
2 hours ago - World

In photos: Egypt unveils 3,000-year-old "lost golden city"

A view on Saturday of the city, dubbed "The Rise of Aten," dating to the reign of Amenhotep III, uncovered near Luxor. Photo: Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images

A top Egyptian archaeologist on Saturday outlined details of a newly rediscovered "lost golden city" near Luxor that dates back more than 3,000 years.

Why it matters: Zahi Hawass told NBC News the large ancient city, unveiled Thursday, tells archaeologists for the first time "about the life of the people during the Golden Age." Johns Hopkins University Egyptology professor Betsy Brian said in a statement it's "the second most important archeological discovery since the tomb of Tutankhamen."

See photos (<1 min. read)Arrow
Rebecca Falconer
3 hours ago - Science

1 dead as severe storms pummel the South

A tree that fell on a home carport damaged a vehicle during a storm in Central, Louisiana. No injuries were reported, according to Central Fire Department. Photo: Central Fire Department/Twitter

Strong storms lashed the South early Saturday, spawning at least one tornado and unleashing powerful winds and hail. And forecasters warned more severe weather was expected to hit parts of the region in the coming hours.

Details: Thousands of customers lost power in Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, according to tracking site poweroutage.us. An F3 tornado that hit St Landry Parish, Louisiana, killed one person and wounded seven others.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow