Final polls show Democrats leading in key Senate races

Final pre-election surveys showed Democratic Senate candidates leading in five states and holding narrower advantages in Alaska, while Iowa was effectively tied, giving Democrats a polling edge ahead of the November 3 midterms. The results are not election outcomes, and analysts cautioned that polling error and turnout could alter the picture. The surveys, conducted October 23 through November 1 among voters in seven battleground states, showed Democrats ahead in Michigan, Texas, Maine, Ohio and Kansas. They found a narrower Democratic lead in Alaska and an essentially even race in Iowa. The Senate contests are among the races that will help determine control of Congress. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico was seven points ahead of Republican Ken Paxton, compared with an even race in June, according to the final surveys. A separate national survey of 3,566 adults, conducted October 28 through November 1, put Democrats ahead 55.5% to 41.4% on the generic congressional ballot. That measure asks voters which party they favor for Congress, rather than predicting specific race results. Statistician Nate Silver described the Senate polling as strong for Democrats but warned that the...