Below is our most up-to-date take on 2018's Senate races.

  • Part I
  • Part II

PENNSYLVANIA: Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey won this seat in 2006, a very good year for his party nationally, with 59 percent of the vote. In 2012, Casey was re-elected to a second term with 54 percent, outperforming President Barack Obama by two points. That year, GOP nominee Tom Smith, a political novice and former coal company executive, spent enough personal money to make the race interesting, but never got close enough to pose a real threat to Casey. Republicans are on a high after carrying the state in the 2016 presidential contest and seeing U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey win a second term, but they will need a first-tier candidate if they are going to give Casey a competitive race. There are two announced challengers: state Rep. Rick Sacone and Berwick Councilman Andrew Shecktor. They are unlikely to have the primary field to themselves, but it is not entirely clear who else is giving serious consideration to the race. The onus is on Republicans

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