Texas and Iowa Senate races tighten heading into midterms

Two key Senate races in typically Republican states, Texas and Iowa, are a toss-up heading into the midterms , according to the latest projections from The Cook Political Report.

Why it matters: The fight for control of the U.S.

Senate is extremely tight, and Democrats need to flip at least four seats to become the majority.

Doing that will require wins in states that aren't typical battlegrounds.

The latest: On Thursday, Cook moved both Texas and Iowa's Senate races from lean Republican to toss-up.

The governor's races in both states also shifted: Texas moved from solid Republican to likely Republican, and Iowa from toss-up to lean Democrat.

Zoom in: In Texas, the race for the open Senate seat between state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, and state Rep.

James Talarico, a Democrat, has proven competitive.

Texas hasn't elected a Democrat statewide in more than three decades.

Recent polls have shown Talarico with a slight edge over scandal-plagued Paxton .

Talarico is also a prolific fundraiser, and establishment Republicans have held off on throwing financial support behind Paxton.

In the governor's race, three-term Republican Gov.

Greg Abbott has taken criticism for his prior support for data centers as backlash against them grows in rural areas.

Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa has branded the state the "wild west of data centers." Yes, but: National Democrats aren't yet investing in Texas' Senate race.