The candidates who will decide the US midterm elections

Key Points:

• Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat and former public health official, won Michigan's US Senate nomination, facing Republican Mike Rogers in a key swing state race marked by heavy outside spending and Islamophobic attacks from the right.
• Susan Collins, a moderate Republican senator from Maine since 1997, seeks a sixth term in a battleground state, now challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson after the original nominee dropped out amid allegations.
• Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, is the Democratic nominee for Kansas Senate, making the race competitive in a traditionally Republican state due to voter dissatisfaction with incumbent Roger Marshall’s alignment with Trump and controversial lawsuits against patients.
• Jon Ossoff, the youngest US senator, is positioned for likely re-election in Georgia amid strong polling and presidential speculation, while accusing his Republican opponent of extremist ties, which the opponent denies.
• James Talarico, a young Democratic state lawmaker in Texas, is challenging scandal-plagued Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a high-profile race where Democrats hope to flip the traditionally red state.