The map of the Senate is expanding (again): from the political office

Welcome to From the political officea daily newsletter bringing you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC News Politics team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, Bridget Bowman examines the last red state for which Democrats play a role in the battle for the Senate. Additionally, Jane C. Timm provides insight into the key races for Secretary of State in the midterm elections.

—Adam Wollner

Democrats enter Mississippi Senate race

By Bridget Bowman

With two weeks until Election Day, Senate Democrats’ super PAC is launching a new ad campaign in the Mississippi The Senate race, the latest example of a party seeking to make inroads in traditionally Republican states in the fight for the majority.

Senate Majority PAC announced a $1.2 million ad campaign in the state through Nov. 3, starting with a 30-second spot boosting the prosecutor. Scott Colom as a Democrat who will “fight corruption in both parties” and nominate the Republican senator. Cindy Hyde Smith as a “do nothing” holder.

“The Senate Majority PAC has been watching this race closely, and it’s clear that Colom is running a competitive race that has Hyde-Smith on his heels,” Lauren Frenchsuper PAC spokesperson, said in a statement, also noting that the group will advertise on television and digital platforms.

The group, which is aligned with the Senate minority leader Chuck SchumerDN.Y., focused on deep red states in the middle of the president Donald TrumpApproval ratings are falling. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate, which means flipping several states that Trump won handily in 2024.

Mississippi is the reddest state the super PAC has launched into so far — Trump won it by 23 points two years ago. No Democrat has won a Senate race in Mississippi since 1982.

The PAC, which has a majority in the Senate, also spends Kansaswhich Trump won by 16 points, as well as other states the president won by double digits in 2024, including Alaska, Iowa, Ohio And Texas.

The group’s Republican counterpart, the Senate Leadership Fund, also runs ads in those states, except Mississippi. In addition, the SLF has invested in South Carolina to support the Republican senator. Darline Graham as she seeks a full term and Nebraskawhere the Republican senator. Pete Ricketts faces challenge from independents Dan Osborn.

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Battleground state voters wonder who should oversee their elections

By Jane C. Timm

Voters in a handful of swing states will decide next month who will hold critical election oversight power in the upcoming presidential election.

Arizona, Georgia, Michigan And Nevada — all of which have been critical battlegrounds in recent national elections — elections for secretary of state are on the ballot. A role that was once unsung, these offices have become much more high-profile amid a constant drumbeat of unfounded election fraud claims from the president. Donald Trump and its allies.

The 2022 secretary of state elections have particularly received outsized national attention following Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 results. During this election cycle, Democrats spent more than $71 million on campaign ads for secretary of state elections across the country, while Republicans spent nearly $15 million, according to AdImpact data.

This year, spending is down across 26 elections for secretary of state: Democratic campaigns and outside groups have spent $16.6 million on advertising, compared to more than $5 million for Republicans.

But the focus is once again on the closely divided swing states, which are expected to be front and center in the 2028 presidential map.

In Arizona and Nevada, two Democratic incumbents are running against far-right Republicans who have pushed election conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, free elections in Georgia and Michigan have attracted Republicans who portray themselves as moderates seeking to increase confidence, while Democrats portray them as Trump allies who will undermine confidence in the election.

Ancient Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Graysona Republican, said Republican candidates vying to be their states’ top election officials face a difficult balance: They must appeal to ardent Trump supporters, who believe widespread fraud, without alienating independents.

“You know what happened; you know what safeguards exist in your state and across the country. On the battlefields, it’s almost like you have to go full throttle” to combat voter denialism, he said. “But in doing so, you make it very difficult, if not impossible, to win in the fall.”

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That’s all that’s coming from the politburo for now. Today’s newsletter was written by Adam Wollner.

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