The battle for control of the 35-member Maine Senate is in high gear, with both parties spending money in key races in Androscoggin, Kennebec and Cumberland counties.

It’s all part of the lead up to Nov. 5, when voters across Maine will decide who controls the Maine House and Senate, with 186 seats on the ballot.

“I definitely feel good but always nervous,” said Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Allagash). “The Senate is usually the one that flips. It’s been the chamber that will jump.”

Democrats currently control the Senate 22-13. In the House, Democrats hold a 79-67 majority with two independents and three vacancies.

Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Presque Isle) expressed confidence in Republican odds of taking back the chamber that they last controlled in 2018.

“The majority is absolutely gettable,” he said. “This environment to me feels a lot more like 2016. It was a good year to be a Republican.”

That year, Republicans retained control of the Senate with an 18-17 majority.

Both sides are battling for control of the State House at a key time. Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, has just two years left in office. Whether or how her priorities move forward will largely depend on who controls the Legislature.

Below, we highlight five Senate races to watch. When comparing candidates who are both using the state’s clean election system, it’s important to note that Senate candidates who qualify and have a contested election get a starting allowance of $24,925.

After that, those who continue to gather signatures can get up to eight supplemental payments totaling $49,800. That’s why, as you’ll see below, even though both candidates are participating in the program they receive different amounts of money.

Here’s a look at five Senate races to watch:

Senate District 8 (Penobscot County)

Two years ago, Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Orono), won election to this seat with 53% of the vote.

Following his first term in office, he is being challenged by Leo Kenney, a Republican small business owner and local youth sports coach, according to his campaign website.

Tipping, research director at the Maine People’s Alliance, served on the Labor and Housing and Government Oversight committees in his first term.

Both candidates are using Maine Clean Election Act funds for their campaigns, with Tipping receiving $61,550 and Kenney $80,169, according to campaign finance reports.

Committees run by Democrats and Republicans are spending money on the race, with Tipping getting more than $48,000 from Democrats to support his campaign and Republicans spending $26,000 to oppose him.

On the other side of the ledger, Republicans are spending $6,000 to boost Kenney and Democrats are spending $3,550 to oppose him.

Senate District 15 (Kennebec County)

Sen. Matt Pouliot (R-Augusta) is not running for reelection this year, so there’s an open seat and both parties are in the hunt to take it.

Rep. Richard Bradstreet (R-Vassalboro) and Rep. Raegan LaRochelle (D-Augusta) are vying for the seat.

Bradstreet, who is semi-retired, has served eight years in the House, and is on the Labor and Housing and Housing committees.

LaRochelle, a self-employed consultant, is in her second House term and serves on the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee.

Both are using state clean election funds for the race, with LaRochelle receiving $80,225 and Bradstreet getting $36,550.

When it comes to outside spending on the race, Democrats have spent $42,439 to help LaRochelle, while Republicans have spent $27,490 to oppose her.

Republicans have spent $14,000 to help Bradstreet, with Democrats spending nearly $3,200 to oppose him.

Senate District 20 (Androscoggin County)

Sen. Eric Brakey (R-Auburn) is not seeking reelection to the seat, which has opened the door to three candidates.

Former legislators Bruce Bickford, a Republican from Auburn, and Bettyann Sheats, a Democrat from Auburn, are running alongside independent Dustin Ward of New Gloucester.

Jackson described this seat as a bellwether for how the scales are likely to tip for the entire Senate.

Both Bickford and Sheats are using state clean election funds for their campaigns. Bickford has received $61,550 and Sheats has been awarded $80,225. Ward is traditionally financed and reported just over $2,500 in contributions, according to the latest finance reports.

Democrats have spent $45,063 to help Sheats, while Republicans have spent $27,490 to oppose her. Democrats also spent $6,394 to oppose Bickford.

Senate District 24 (Sagadahoc County)

This is an open seat because Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli (D-Arrowsic) cannot run again due to term limits.

It’s another three-way race featuring former representatives Jeffrey Pierce, a Dresden Republican and Denise Tepler, a Topsham Democrat. Suzanne Andresen, an independent from West Bath, is running as well.

Pierce and Tepler are both using state clean election funds. Tepler has $83,975 and Pierce has received $55,274. Andresen, who is traditionally financed, reported $1,255 in total contributions.

Unlike other races, relatively little has been spent by the parties. Finance reports show Republicans spent $13,500 to oppose Tepler, but Democrats have not expended funds to influence the race.

Senate District 26 (Part of Cumberland County)

Republicans are running hard to take this seat away from Democrats, with small business owner Kenny Cianchette, a Windham Republican, challenging incumbent Sen. Tim Nangle (D-Windham).

Nangle is in his first term in the Senate, serving on the State and Local Government and Transportation committees. He won two years ago with just 51% of the vote.

Cianchette is owner of Erik’s Church Bar and Grill in Windham and is a two-time state champion football coach, according to his campaign website.

He is traditionally financed, reporting $52,310 in total contributions. Nangle is using the state’s clean election fund, receiving $72,968.

Both sides have spent money in the race, with Democrats spending $29,657 to support Nangle and $9,542 to oppose Cianchette. Republicans have spent $5,000 to support Cianchette and $26,030 to oppose Nangle.

The new Legislature will be sworn in on Dec. 4.