Races to watch

Indiana (open)

Senate: Evan Bayh (D) vs. Todd Young (R)

If Democrats gain control of the Senate, Bayh’s late entrance will likely be a big reason why. Bayh jumped to a huge polling lead, but it shrank amid controversies over his residency and links to Wall Street. For more coverage, see “Bayh hopes to tip Senate scales.”

Polling edge: Bayh

Pennsylvania-9

House: Art Halvorson (D) vs. Rep. Bill Shuster (R)

Shuster stoked controversy after he divorced his wife and began dating a woman who lobbied a committee he chairs. He defeated Halvorson by only 1.2 percent in the GOP primary, but Halvorson won the Democratic primary with unsolicited write-in votes. For more coverage, see “Meet the Republican running as a Democrat.”

Pennsylvania

Senate: Katie McGinty (D) vs. Sen. Pat Toomey (R)

McGinty, a former Al Gore environmental adviser, is running a hard-left campaign that will hinge on Democratic turnout in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Toomey is going after suburban Clinton voters prone to split their tickets. For more coverage, see “Up in the air,” in this issue.

Polling edge: Even

New Hampshire

Senate: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Maggie Hassan (D)

Hassan, the state’s relatively popular governor, is one of the best Democratic recruits of the cycle. Ayotte, a pro-life mom, touts her independence, but Trump-related controversies have dogged her campaign. In early October Ayotte fully renounced Trump. For more coverage see “Trump effect threatens to tip Senate balance in key race.”

Polling edge: Ayotte

Missouri

Ballot initiative: Amendment 6, Voter ID

Allows state government to require the presentation of voter IDs at public elections in order to prove national and state citizenship.

North Carolina

Senate: Sen. Richard Burr (R) vs. Deborah Ross (D)

Two-term Sen. Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is locked in a surprisingly difficult reelection battle with Deborah Ross, a former ACLU attorney and state legislator who has proved a prolific fundraiser. For more coverage, see “Swing low,” in this issue.

Polling edge: Even

Florida

Senate: Patrick Murphy (D) vs. Sen. Marco Rubio (R)

Rubio reversed course and decided to run for reelection after his failed presidential bid. Murphy, 33, is a rising Democratic star, but accusations of resumé inflation have highlighted his limited political experience.

Polling edge: Rubio

Florida-7

House: Rep. John Mica (R) vs. Stephanie Murphy (D)

Murphy, 38, a college professor with a compelling personal story, is running on a platform of change against 73-year-old Mica. If Murphy knocks off the 12-term incumbent, look for Democrats to make double-digit gains in the House.

Missouri

Senate: Sen. Roy Blunt (R) vs. Jason Kander (D)

Many assumed Blunt would have a smooth path to a second term, but Kander, Missouri’s 35-year-old secretary of state, has run an effective campaign touting the need for fresh faces in Washington, D.C.

Polling edge: Blunt

Texas-23

House: Pete Gallego (D) vs. Rep. Will Hurd (R)

Hurd, a former covert CIA officer, ousted Gallego two years ago to represent a sprawling border district running from El Paso to San Antonio. Veterans issues have played a central role in the heated rematch—a true toss-up. For more coverage, see “Dumping Trump could save key GOP seat.”

Colorado

Ballot initiative: Proposition 106, Prescription Assisted Suicide

Would allow terminally ill people with six months or less left to live to obtain prescriptions for self-administered drugs to end their lives.

Colorado

Ballot initiative: Amendment 69, Universal Healthcare

Would replace most private health insurance with a state-run, single-payer system called ColoradoCare, paid for through new income and payroll taxes. Would create the nation’s first single-payer healthcare system.

California

Ballot initiative: Proposition 64, Recreational Marijuana

Would make marijuana legal for recreational use and establish certain sales and cultivation taxes. Several other states also have marijuana initiatives on the ballot. (Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada are considering recreational marijuana; Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota are considering medical marijuana.)

Oklahoma

Ballot initiative: State Question 790, State Money for Religion

Would allow the state to use public funds for a religious purpose. Approval would allow the Ten Commandments monument to return to the State Capitol.

Utah-4

House: Rep. Mia Love (R) vs. Doug Owens (D)

Love made history two years ago when she became the first African-American woman to serve as a House Republican. Polling is uneven, but she appears in strong position to retain her seat. For more coverage, see “No love for Trump in Utah House race.”

Colorado-6

House: Rep. Mike Coffman (R) vs. Morgan Carroll (D)

Shifting demographics have made Coffman a perennial target of Democrats. Carroll has sought to tie Coffman to Trump, but Coffman has vowed to stand up to the businessman and in early October called on him to withdraw over his lewd 2005 comments. For more coverage, see “Bloc by block.”

Nevada (open)

Senate: Joe Heck (R) vs. Catherine Cortez Masto (D)

Heck, a physician and U.S. Army brigadier general, has maintained a small but consistent lead against Cortez Masto, who is trying to become the first Hispanic woman in the U.S. Senate. This month Heck joined the chorus of Republicans who said they would not vote for Trump. For more coverage, see “The GOP's plan to snag Harry Reid's Senate seat.”

Polling edge: Heck