Who's Winning the Race for Congress?

It's Oct. 26 -- eight days from the midterms. Here's the state of play.

Eight days before the midterm elections, the jitters have taken root.

Political forecasters and strategists are increasingly confident that Democrats will win control of the House next week. But what is remarkable about the Senate is that, so close to Election Day, the battleground map is still wide and unsettled, making both parties nervous.

The spending reflects the ongoing Senate fight: Republicans are outspending Democrats on advertising in the seven Senate races considered tossups by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. By comparison, Republicans have only a narrow spending edge in House races.

Several scenarios remain possible. Competitive Senate races could tighten in Republicans' favor as they get their most loyal supporters to the polls. Democrats could do well in red states but struggle in some bluer ones. Or the bottom could fall out for Republicans in a potential wave that Democrats are too apprehensive to consider after past disappointments.

The Battle for the Senate

President Trump's busy schedule offers indicators of which Senate races Republicans are most focused on in the waning days of the midterms -- and where the president is and isn't welcome. Mr. Trump has been barnstorming red states where Republican voter enthusiasm has lagged. He has stayed out of Senate battlegrounds such as Maine and New Hampshire, where his deep unpopularity might hurt Republican Senate candidates more than help them.

Last week, Mr. Trump traveled to Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Florida and Georgia. This week, after a rally on Sunday night in Michigan, he has rallies scheduled in Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, and Florida. (Vice President JD Vance will hold separate events in Montana, Michigan and Texas.)