By Tom Gbean | Echo
Republicans remain in a favorable position to take the Senate as Tuesday's midterm election approaches. However, according to Real Clear Politics, there are nine states whose races are toss-ups. With Democrats holding 55 seats in the Senate and the Republicans holding only 45, Republicans will have to win six of nine toss-up states to gain control. If Republicans only secure five of the nine seats, the Democrats retain control of the Senate because Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, would be the tiebreaker.
Here are the key Senate races in the 2014 midterm elections:
Alaska
In Alaska, there is a four-way contest between incumbent Mark Begich (D), Libertarian Mark Fish, Dan Sullivan (R) and Independent Ted Gianoutsos. Alaska is primarily a Republican state, placing Begich in a vulnerable position.
Arkansas
Arkansas has four candidates: Tom Cotton (R), Libertarian Nathan LaFrance, Mark Pryor (D) and Green Party candidate Mark Swaney. Data analysts at FiveThirtyEight reported rumors that Cotton hasn't lived up to analysts' expectations. Despite this, Arkansas remains a strong Republican state with unfavorable approval ratings for President Obama, FiveThirtyEight also reported. Obama's low ratings could give Cotton a small boost. Republican-sponsored surveys suggest that Cotton leads polls by 5 percent.
Colorado
Democratic incumbent Mark Udall holds a double-digit lead over Republican Cory Gardner among women (51 percent to 40 percent), according to NBC News. Yet Gardner has an even greater lead over Udall among men (53 to 38 percent). Colorado voted Democrat in the 2012 presidential election, which could favor Mark Udall.
Iowa
The race consists of Bruce Braley (D), Libertarian Douglas Butzier, Joni Ernst (R) and Independent candidates Bob Quast, Ruth Smith and Rick Stewart. According to NBC News/Marist polls, Ernst holds a 3 percent lead over Braley (49 to 46 percent). Earlier this month, Ernst's lead was just two points.
Kansas
In Kansas, Libertarian Randall Batson, Independent Gregory Orman and Pat Roberts (R) contend for the seat. Although Kansas traditionally leans Republican, Orman appears to be leading Roberts by one point. Orman's 34-point lead among independent voters boosts his standing, NBC News reported. During the primary, questions about Roberts' residency were brought into question, placing him in a bad light. Still, there are a barrage of ads linking Orman to Obama. The blow could cost Orman his seat.
Kentucky
Mitch McConnell (R), Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) and Libertarian David Patterson are in a three-way battle for the Senate seat. While Grimes holds her own in the polls, incumbent Mitch McConnell is favored. In Kentucky, a largely Republican state, Democrats have not won a Senate race in 22 years, according to FiveThirtyEight. In addition, no Democrat has won a statewide federal race in the state for 18 years.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, incumbent Kay Hagan (D) is up by 1 percent over opponent Thom Tillis (R). That's down from earlier this month when Hagan had a four-point lead. Libertarian Sean Haugh is currently getting 7 percent of the vote. According to RealClearPolitics, Tillis is the face of an unpopular state legislature, but because Obama and Hagan aren't particularly popular in the state either, Hagan maintains a slight lead.
