Dems turning more GOP Senate strongholds into midterm battlegrounds

Ten weeks from Election Day, the Senate battlefield is sprawling, scattered — and stretching deep into Trump country .

Why it matters: In a normal year, Republicans wouldn't think twice about Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska or Texas.

This isn't a normal year.

Republicans expect all six states to revert to their MAGA mean.

But they're not betting on it.

The fact that they're still in play has turned the midterms into a game of chess, giving Democrats more openings to attack — and leaving Republicans with more pieces to defend.

What we're hearing: While you've been at the beach, we've been at the bar talking to operatives in both parties.

Here's what we're hearing: Democrats are within striking distance in Iowa , Alaska and Texas .

They're longer shots in Mississippi and Kansas, while an independent candidate in Nebraska refuses to go away.

Democrats' clearest path to 51 starts with holding Michigan and picking up North Carolina and Ohio.

Maine is probably next on their list.

Then they need just one more.

Driving the news: As of Thursday afternoon, the Texas and Iowa Senate races are rated as "toss-ups" by Cook Political Report.

They were "lean Republican" previously.