The busy week of Senate debates moves to the Midwest after Tuesday's first matchup in Maine.

In Iowa, Republican Ashley Hinson of Marion and Democrat Josh Turek of Council Bluffs meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. The debate is at Iowa PBS studios in Johnston, with no live audience. Iowa Press moderator Kay Henderson will lead it, with questions from Iowa political reporters. It airs live on Iowa PBS statewide and streams on iowapbs.org and YouTube.

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers share a debate stage for the first time Thursday. The hour-long debate starts at 7 p.m. at WOOD TV8's studio in Grand Rapids. News 8 political reporter Rick Albin will moderate, and anchor Amber Krycka will ask questions sent in by viewers. It airs on WOOD TV8, WOOD TV+ and woodtv.com, and on partner stations around the state, including WLNS in Lansing. El-Sayed is a former public health official. Rogers is a former U.S. House member.

Michigan is one of the closest races in the country. A YouGov poll released Tuesday showed El-Sayed ahead of Rogers by 1 point, well within the margin of error. The Cook Political Report says Republicans still hope to pick up the Michigan seat, which could help them hold the chamber.

The stakes are high in both states. Republicans hold the Senate 53-47, so Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control. Cook now expects Democrats to gain two to six seats. Each state the GOP keeps narrows that path.

The debates come as early voting widens. Arizona began early voting Wednesday, and Ohio and New Mexico opened in-person early voting Tuesday. Election Day is Nov. 3.

What we know: Iowa debates Wednesday night and Michigan on Thursday night.
What we don't: Whether either debate moves voters in races this close.