Democrats and Republicans push to expand the Senate battleground map with long-shot races

The battle for control of the Senate is intensifying as Democrats and Republicans pour money into long-shot races on the edges of their battleground map. Despite facing challenges in states like Florida, Texas, Nebraska, and Maryland, both parties see opportunities to flip seats. Candidates are engaging in intense advertising campaigns, with challengers sometimes outspending incumbents. Issues like abortion bans, property insurance, and border security are key points of contention in these races. Both parties are using TV ads to attack each other’s positions on these issues, as well as highlighting their own strengths and policies. Ultimately, these races could be decided by factors beyond just spending, such as voter turnout and the impact of ballot measures. The article discusses various Senate races across the country, focusing on Maryland and Nebraska. In Maryland, the race between Angela Alsobrooks and Larry Hogan is competitive, with Alsobrooks leading in polls but Hogan mounting a strong challenge. Hogan is positioning himself as an independent leader, despite running as a Republican. In Nebraska, independent candidate Dan Osborn is gaining ground against GOP Sen. Deb Fischer, with Democrats not putting up a candidate to support Osborn. Both parties are using different tactics in these races, with Republicans portraying Osborn as a Democrat and Democrats highlighting bipartisan support for him. Ad spending in Nebraska remains relatively low compared to other competitive Senate races. Republicans are confident in Fischer’s lead, citing Trump’s endorsement and internal polling showing her ahead.