Republicans are almost certain to take back the US Senate – no matter who wins the presidential race

With tight races and retirements clearly tilting in their favor, Republicans are almost certain to wrest control of the U.S. Senate from Democrats next week, regardless of who will win the 2024 presidential race.

Democrats, led by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, control a narrow 51-49 majority that includes a broad coalition of conservative Democrats such as West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and progressives such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

But Manchin, long ago a dinosaur in his crimson state, call it termination this year, leaving an open race that will almost certainly include the state’s popular Republican Gov. Jim Justice.

In the Big Sky Country, Montana Democrat Jon Tester faces a fierce headwind from Republican businessman Tim Sheehy. Tester, the last Democrat in his state, has consistently trailed Sheehy in the polls.

“Republicans are confident that we will regain our majority in the Senate. We are competitive in battlegrounds across the country right now and will be running the tape trying to win as many races as possible,” Mike Berg, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told The Post.

Flipping only West Virginia and Montana would give Republicans a 51-49 majority.

The GOP is fighting closely in four other races currently held by Democrats that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates as a “toss-up” — and they could win a 55-45 majority if they win those contests.

Such a scenario would give the Republican Party a margin of power it hasn’t seen in the Senate since its heyday under George W. Bush a generation ago.

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, also the last major Democrat in his state, is fighting for his political life against Republican Bernie Moreno. While Trump is expected to easily carry the state, Brown is popular and ticket-splitting Buckeye voters are conspiring to make the Senate race a tie.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is fending off a challenge from GOP financier David McCormick. Casey has consistently held a slight lead over McCormick in the final days of the race, but Republicans are hoping Trump’s victory in the state will help him cross the finish line.

In the swing state of Wisconsin, Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin faces a fierce challenge from entrepreneur Eric Hovde. Polls show her with a slight lead, and Republicans are hoping to follow Trump’s lead.

In Michigan, the retirement of four-term Sen. Debbie Stabenow has led to a race for the open seat between Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin and former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers. Polls consistently give Slotkin a small but significant lead in the race.

In terms of popularity, Democrats’ best hope is Colin Allred’s Hail Mary attempt against Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz; while Dan Osborne, an independent, showed momentum against Nebraska GOP Sen. Deb Fischer.