Senate Democrats’ already difficult 2026 map just got even worse. After losing the majority last November, the party faced a very narrow path out of the wilderness. Then Sen. Jeanne Shaheen piled on.

Republicans clinched control of the Senate on Tuesday, setting up a challenging situation for Democrats to overcome in 2026.

The Illinois Senate has 59 members, but not all seats are up for election at the same time. Instead, state senators serve two four-year terms and one two-year term each decade, though the pattern ...