Dem
47
GOP
53
Two of the most closely watched Senate races are in Maine and North Carolina. Maine has the oldest electorate in the country, so seniors will have a big voice in determining control of the Senate. And Maine's voters are not only older, they are also whiter and better educated than the voters in many other states. This is a bloc that has moved from being Republican to being largely Democratic. It is also a bloc that tends to turn out in large numbers in midterms.
Another state with a large bloc of retirees is North Carolina. Twenty percent of NC-01, along the coast, is 65 or older. In NC-11, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a quarter of the population is 65 or over. Like Maine, it has a very hot Senate race.
The large numbers of seniors in these states is affecting the races there. Issues like Social Security, health care, and even child care are important. The latter is important for retirees whose children work and want them to take care of their own children, the retirees' grandchildren, especially if there are no other options. For some grandparents, taking care of their grandchildren 1 or 2 days a week is fine, but 5 days a week is too much. They may be very sensitive to plans relating to child care.
In Maine, as well as western North Carolina, the closure of rural hospitals and the deep cuts in Medicaid are very big deals. Democrats are going to hammer on this over and over and Republicans are going to be forced to take ownership of it, especially incumbents who voted for the BBB. (V)