Tim Scott ties 2026 Senate bid to Trump on the ballot as GOP seeks to expand majority

Sen. Tim Scott, the Republican chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Fox News Digital that MAGA voters should understand that Donald Trump is “on the ballot” in 2026 as Republicans work to grow their Senate majority. Scott, a South Carolina Republican and Trump ally, said the former president will be active across the country and that he looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail.

Scott tied Trump’s involvement to a broader political argument: that affordability and economic gains linked to recent GOP architecture of policy will resonate with voters on Election Day 2026. He pointed to a tax cut package included in a domestic policy measure Trump signed into law this past summer, arguing that the economy will look more affordable to consumers with a Republican-led Congress and a Republican president in the White House. “2026 is shaping up to be the year where Donald Trump’s activities, his actions, the legislation we’ve passed, shows up for the American voter,” Scott said.

At a parallel note, former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, who is running for the Senate in North Carolina in 2026 to replace retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, joined Trump at a Friday night rally in Rocky Mount, N.C. Whatley told Fox News Digital that Trump’s presence is essential: “When you think about what happens if we lose the House, if we lose the Senate, if the Democrats take over, and they go right back to investigations and hoaxes and impeachments, that is really, truly the president and his legacy are going to be on the ballot.” The event underscored the Trump-aligned effort to position 2026 as a direct continuation of the 2024 political landscape.

The two campaigns highlight the GOP’s strategic emphasis on expanding the map in 2026, even as inflation remains a persistent concern for voters. Democrats, who recaptured the White House and a Senate majority in 2024 and have since argued that affordability remains a top issue, have framed the 2026 race around cost-of-living pressures and the impact of Republican policies on everyday expenses. The dynamics come as Republicans look to defend 22 of the 35 Senate seats up in 2026, including several in battleground or swing states.

Scott reiterated that open Democrat-held seats in battleground Michigan and swing-state New Hampshire are top NRSC targets, along with Sen. Jon Ossoff in Georgia, whom Republicans view as particularly vulnerable. He also signaled interest in Minnesota, where the party is weighing a bid from former professional football sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, arguing that Minnesota could be winnable with the right candidate. “We see real reasons to be optimistic. President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It’s a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful,” Scott said, leaving room for a potential late-entry announcement.

He cautioned that the GOP will be defending tougher battles in other states as well, including Texas, where a three-way Senate primary is unfolding, and North Carolina, Maine and Ohio in upcoming contests. Asked to forecast the chamber’s composition, Scott said, “54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side.”

The Democratic response, from DSCC communications director Lauren French, framed the 2026 election as a continuation of affordability-focused campaigning. French told Fox News Digital that affordability will be a central theme in 2026, arguing that everyday costs remain high for many families and that Democrats are offering real plans to address the cost-of-living crisis. “2026 will be no different as Democrats continue to put forward real plans to address the cost-of-living crisis,” she said, countering the GOP narrative about economic vitality.

The political landscape remains fluid. There are 35 Senate seats up for grabs next year, with special elections in Florida and Ohio adding to the pace. Republicans are defending 22 seats, but the map of truly competitive races is narrower than in some past cycles. Minnesota and Michigan, in particular, are seen as blue-leaning states where the NRSC and allied groups will pursue credible candidates, while Democrats point to a broader map expansion that could complicate GOP efforts to lock in a durable Senate majority.

As the campaigns unfold, the influence of Trump’s national presence on 2026 races remains a central question. Republicans argue that his active involvement will mobilize core voters and keep the party’s base energized in key states, while Democrats contend that affordability and practical policy outcomes will shape voter choices in battlegrounds nationwide. The coming months will test how muchDonald Trump’s shadow — and the broader argument about cost and inflation — will determine the political arithmetic of the 2026 Senate map.