AP Special Report Democrats see a path to win the Senate. It's narrow and has little room for error THOMAS BEAUMONT and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press Jan 17, 2026 Jan 17, 2026 Updated Feb 12, 2026 0 × USA Today - Vertical Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is a former Navy fighter pilot and astronaut turned senator. Here's what else to know about Arizona's senator. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic leaders believe they have a path to winning the majority in November, though it's one with very little wiggle room.kAm%96 A2CEJ 8@E 2 ?6H 3FCDE @7 4@?7:56?46 H96? 7@C>6C #6A] |2CJ !6=E@=2 2??@F?465 |@?52J D96V== CF? 7@C E96 $6?2E6 :? p=2D<2] %92E 8:G6D s6>@4C2ED[ H9@ >FDE ?6E 7@FC D62ED E@ 6586 #6AF3=:42?D @FE @7 E96 >2;@C:EJ[ 2 4C:E:42= 7@FCE9 42?5:52E6 H:E9 DE2E6H:56 C64@8?:E:@? :? DE2E6D H96C6 #6AF3=:42? D6?2E@CD D66< C66=64E:@?]k^AmkAm#6AF3=:42?D 5@F3E E96 492?46D s6>@4C2ED 42? AF== @77 DF49 2 E2D<[ 4@?D:56C:?8 >@DE @7 E96 a_ae 4@?E6DED 2C6 :? DE2E6D E92E s@?2=5 %CF>A 62D:=J H@? :? a_ac]k^Am kAm$E:==[ :?56A6?56?E G@E6CD 5C:7E65 :? s6>@4C2EDV 5:C64E:@? @G6C E96 A2DE J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6H v2==FA A@==] k^Am People are also reading… Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Smyth officials urge US Forest Service to reopen Grindstone Campground Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Chilhowie switches to biodegradable bags for yard waste Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates Virginia football QB Chandler Morris denied preliminary injunction in pursuit of 7th year Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident $1M goal for Smyth County HealthTrust scholarship fund is near Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Trump issues an expletive-filled threat against Iran as details of US aviator's rescue emerge US and Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire as Trump seizes diplomatic offramp Government-politics More Americans identify as political independents, a new poll shows LINLEY SANDERS and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press kAmQx D2J :EVD 2 >F49 H:56C A2E9 E92? E96 D<6AE:4D E9:?<[ 2?5 2 >F49 H:56C A2E9 E92? :E H2D E9C66 >@?E9D 28@ 2?5 46CE2:?=J 2 J62C 28@[Q $6?2E6 |:?@C:EJ {6256C r9F4< $49F>6C @7 }6H *@C< D2:5 %F6D52J]k^Amk9amc DE2E6H:56 42?5:52E6D :? v~!\96=5 DE2E6Dk^9am Then-Rep.-elect Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, is interviewed Sept. 12, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, Associated Press kAm$49F>6C 2C8F6D E92E !6=E@=2[ 6=64E65 EH:46 DE2E6H:56 E@ p=2D<2VD 2E\=2C86 w@FD6 D62E[ AFED E96 EJA:42==J #6AF3=:42?\=62?:?8 DE2E6 :? A=2J 2D 2 A@E6?E:2= A:4<FA 7@C s6>@4C2ED]k^Am kAmxEVD 2 56G6=@A>6?E D:>:=2C E@ @E96C DE2E6D H96C6 $49F>6C 36=:6G6D s6>@4C2ED C64CF:E65 DEC@?8 42?5:52E6Di 7@C>6C E9C66\E6C> $6?] $96CC@5 qC@H? :? ~9:@[ 7@C>6C EH@\E6C> v@G] #@J r@@A6C :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 2?5 EH@\E6C> v@G] y2?6E |:==D :? |2:?6]k^Am kAm%96J 92C5=J C6AC6D6?E 8F2C2?E66D] qC@H?[ 2 =@?8E:>6 AC@\=23@C AC@8C6DD:G6 :? :?4C62D:?8=J v~!\=62?:?8 ~9:@[ 2?5 !6=E@=2[ H9@ H2D 6=64E65 5FC:?8 2 DA64:2= 6=64E:@? :? a_aa[ 3@E9 =@DE C66=64E:@? :? a_ac] |:==D[ 7:?:D9:?8 96C D64@?5 E6C> 2D 8@G6C?@C[ 7246D 2 4@>A6E:E:G6 AC:>2CJ 492==6?86 7C@> AC@8C6DD:G6 G6E6C2? 2?5 @JDE6C 72C>6C vC292> !=2E?6C]k^Am kAm}@?6 @7 E96 7@FC 925 CF?2H2J A@AF=2C:EJ H:E9 G@E6CD :? E96:C DE2E6D :? a_ac] p3@FE 92=7 @7 G@E6CD 925 D@>6H92E @C G6CJ 72G@C23=6 G:6HD @7 2== @7 E96>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ p! '@E6r2DE[ 2 DFCG6J @7 E96 6=64E@C2E6]k^AmkAmp86 C6>2:?D 2?@E96C :DDF6] p7E6C !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?[ :? 9:D 62C=J g_D[ H:E95C6H 7C@> E96 a_ac C246 2>:5 4@?46C?D 96 H2D E@@ @=5 E@ D6CG6[ s6>@4C2E:4 $6?2E6 =6256CD9:A 92D?VE 492?865 4@FCD6] $49F>6C[ fd[ C64CF:E65 42?5:52E6D H9@ 2C6 @=56C[ H:E9 D6G6C2= E@A C64CF:ED — :?4=F5:?8 |:==D 2?5 qC@H? — H6== :?E@ E96:C f_D]k^Am kAmQ'@E6CD D6?E 2 G6CJ 4=62C >6DD286 :? a_ac E92E E96JVC6 D:4< @7 E96 86C@?E@4C24J] %96JVC6 D:4< @7 s6>@4C2ED AFEE:?8 FA @=5 42?5:52E6D 2?5 E92E E96J H2?E D@>6 ?6H 3=@@5[Q D2:5 {:D $>:E9[ 2 ?2E:@?2= s6>@4C2E:4 DEC2E68:DE] Qp?5 D@>6 @7 E96 C64CF:ED[ =:<6 :? |2:?6[ D66> E@ 4@>A=6E6=J :8?@C6 E96 >6DD286 E92E G@E6CD D6?E :? a_ac]Qk^Am kAmQxEVD ?@E J@F?8 G6CDFD @=5] xEVD ?@E =67E G6CDFD 46?E6C] xEVD H9@ 42? 36DE H:? :? E96 DE2E6D[Q $49F>6C D2:5] Q$@[ E96D6 2C6 2== C62==J 8@@5 42?5:52E6D[ 2?5 x 5@?VE E9:?< J@F =@@< 2E E96> E9C@F89 @?6 ?2CC@H AC:D>] *@F =@@< 2E H9@ 42? H:?]Qk^Am Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks Tuesday during the Senate Democrat policy luncheon news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rod Lamkey Jr., Associated Press k9am!C:>2C:6D 2?5 A2CEJ E6?D:@?Dk^9amkAms6>@4C2ED 7:CDE >FDE ?2G:82E6 D@>6 AC:>2C:6D E92E 9:89=:89E 5:G:D:@?D H:E9:? E96:C A2CEJ]k^Am kAm!=2E?6C[ 6?5@CD65 3J :?56A6?56?E $6?] q6C?:6 $2?56CD @7 '6C>@?E[ 56>@?DEC2E65 7@C>:523=6 7F?5C2:D:?8 7@C 9:D |2:?6 4@?E6DE[ 56DA:E6 4@?EC@G6CD:6D DFCC@F?5:?8 A2DE D@4:2= >65:2 A@DED 2?5 2 E2EE@@ =:?<65 E@ }2K: :>286CJ] $@>6 s6>@4C2ED H@CCJ 96 4@F=5 36 2 =:23:=:EJ :? }@G6>36C :7 96 :D E96 ?@>:?66]k^Am kAmx? |:49:82?[ s6>@4C2E:4 $6?] v2CJ !6E6CDV C6E:C6>6?E @A6?65 2 D62E :? 2 DE2E6 %CF>A ?2CC@H=J 42CC:65] #6AF3=:42?D F?:7:65 369:?5 7@C>6C #6A] |:<6 #@86CD[ H9:=6 s6>@4C2ED 7246 2 4C@H565 pF8FDE AC:>2CJ 27E6C 72:=:?8 E@ C64CF:E v@G] vC6E496? (9:E>6C]k^AmkAmrC@H565 @C 4@?E6?E:@FD AC:>2C:6D 2=D@ 2C6 A=2J:?8 @FE :? |:??6D@E2[ %6I2D 2?5 x@H2[ 7@C4:?8 s6>@4C2ED E@ 56G@E6 C6D@FC46D :? DE2E6D ?@E 46?EC2= E@ E96:C A2E9 E@ 2 >2;@C:EJ]k^Am kAm$6?] r9C:D '2? w@==6? :D A2CE @7 2? :?7@C>2= 8C@FA @7 s6>@4C2E:4 D6?2E@CD <?@H? 2D u:89E r=F3 E92E :D @A6?=J 4C:E:42= @7 A2CEJ =6256CD9:AVD 2AAC@249 E@ E96 >:5E6C>D] w6 D2:5 E96 8C@FA @3;64E65 E@ H92E :E D66D 2D E96 $6?2E6 s6>@4C2EDV 42>A2:8? 2C> — 4@?EC@==65 3J $49F>6C — QH25:?8 :?E@ 46CE2:? s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2C:6D]Qk^Am kAmQ$@[ J6D[ H6VC6 E2<:?8 2 =@@< 2E 2== @7 E96>[Q '2? w@==6? D2:5 @7 6?5@CD:?8 >@C6 AC@8C6DD:G6 42?5:52E6D]k^Am Government-politics What Americans think about Trump's military intervention abroad, according to a new poll LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press k9am#6AF3=:42?D 2=D@ =:<6 E96:C @55Dk^9amkAmq6EDJ p?<?6J[ A@=:E:42= 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= #6AF3=:42? $6?2E@C:2= r@>>:EE66 :? a_a_[ 24<?@H=65865 s6>@4C2EDV 56D:C6 E@ >2<6 E96 42D6 7@C 4@>A6E:E:G6?6DD 3FE 492C24E6C:K65 %CF>AVD AC6D:56?E:2= G:4E@C:6D :? p=2D<2 2?5 ~9:@ :? a_ac — 3J `b 2?5 `` A6C46?E286 A@:?E >2C8:?D[ C6DA64E:G6=J — 2D 6?@C>@FD 9FC5=6D]k^Am kAm$96 D2:5 #6AF3=:42?D 2C6 QC:89E=J 7@4FD65[ @? C62= E2?8:3=6 E2C86ED :? v6@C8:2[ :? |:49:82?[Q 42==:?8 E96> QG6CJ C62= A:4<FA @AA@CEF?:E:6D]Qk^AmkAms6>@4C2EDV D9@E 2E E96 >2;@C:EJ 2=>@DE 46CE2:?=J 56A6?5D @? $6?] y@? ~DD@77 H:??:?8 C66=64E:@? :? v6@C8:2[ H96C6 %CF>A H@? :? a_ac 3J a]a A6C46?E286 A@:?ED[ 2?5 9@=5:?8 |:49:82?[ 2 DE2E6 %CF>A 42CC:65 3J `]c A6C46?E286 A@:?ED]k^AmkAmQxEVD ?@E ;FDE 23@FE H96C6 E96 s6>@4C2ED 42? A=2J] xEVD 23@FE H96C6 H6 42? A=2J[ E@@[Q p?<?6J D2:5]k^Am k9am&?D6EE=65 A@=:E:42= 6?G:C@?>6?Ek^9amkAms6DA:E6 E96 492==6?86D[ s6>@4C2ED D66 C62D@?D 7@C @AE:>:D> :? E96 3C@256C A@=:E:42= 4=:>2E6]k^Am kAmp ?6H v2==FA DFCG6J 7@F?5 cfT @7 &]$] 25F=ED ?@H :56?E:7J H:E9 @C =62? E@H2C5 E96 s6>@4C2ED[ H9:=6 caT 2C6 #6AF3=:42?D @C =62? #6AF3=:42?] %92E 8:G6D s6>@4C2ED E96 25G2?E286 :? A2CEJ 277:=:2E:@? 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 %CF>AVD 7:CDE E6C>]k^Am kAmqFE E96 52E2 DEC@?8=J DF886DED E92E :?56A6?56?ED >@G65 E@H2C5 s6>@4C2ED 3642FD6 @7 E96:C D@FC:?8 2EE:EF56 E@H2C5 %CF>A[ C2E96C E92? 8C62E6C 8@@5H:== E@H2C5 s6>@4C2ED] %96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJVD 72G@C23:=:EJ :D DE:== =@H[ 2?5 v2==FAVD 2?2=JD:D 7@F?5 E92E[ 2D >@C6 p>6C:42?D :56?E:7J 2D :?56A6?56?ED[ E96J E6?5 E@ 8C2G:E2E6 E@H2C5 E96 A2CEJ E92E :D @FE @7 A@=:E:42= A@H6C — H96E96C :EVD E96 s6>@4C2ED @C E96 #6AF3=:42?D]k^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story House GOP pushes strict proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters ahead of midterm elections The bill passed Wednesday is a Trump administration priority aimed at scrutinizing ballot access. But it faces blowback in the Senate. Who is Mark Kelly? What to know about Arizona's Democratic senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is a former Navy fighter pilot and astronaut turned senator. Here's what else to know about Arizona's senator. Watch Now: Related Video Melania Trump denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein in a White House address 2026-04-09T122029Z_1_LWD113809042026RP1_RTRWNEV_D_1138-IRAN-CRISIS-EXPLOSIVE-MEDIA.MP4 2026-04-09T122029Z_1_LWD113809042026RP1_RTRWNEV_D_1138-IRAN-CRISIS-EXPLOSIVE-MEDIA.MP4 Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again, accuses US of breaking ceasefire Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again, accuses US of breaking ceasefire Salvation Army Center of Hope to create pathway to stability | 8@4 Salvation Army Center of Hope to create pathway to stability | 8@4
Government-politics More Americans identify as political independents, a new poll shows LINLEY SANDERS and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press
Government-politics What Americans think about Trump's military intervention abroad, according to a new poll LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press
House GOP pushes strict proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters ahead of midterm elections The bill passed Wednesday is a Trump administration priority aimed at scrutinizing ballot access. But it faces blowback in the Senate.
Who is Mark Kelly? What to know about Arizona's Democratic senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is a former Navy fighter pilot and astronaut turned senator. Here's what else to know about Arizona's senator.
