An embattled Democrat whose loss could flip the chamber’s party control, a House member looking to replace an indicted incumbent and a challenger with a familiar family name highlight Senate primaries set for Tuesday in Montana, New Jersey and New Mexico.
Democrats now control the Senate by a narrow 51-49 margin. But the decision by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III — who announced Friday he would switch his registration from Democrat to independent but still caucus with the majority — not to run for another term makes it likely that state will go to the GOP in November.
As a result, flipping one more seat would give the Republicans a majority. They could also control the chamber if it is split 50-50 and Donald Trump is returned to the White House, since the vice president would break ties.
