PolitiFact adding fact-check coverage of pivotal U.S. Senate, House races

PolitiFact is adding fact-checking coverage of 18 pivotal U.S. House and Senate races for the final weeks before the Nov. 3 elections.

As part of its 2020 coverage, PolitiFact is working with campaign monitors in 12 key House districts and six Senate races to search the elections for potential misinformation. PolitiFact reporters will then fact-check those claims, and PolitiFact will make those stories available for free to publishers in those districts and states.(If you’re in the media and interested in publishing our fact-checks, contact us at [email protected].)

During August, we’ve published more than a dozen fact-checks in Senate and House contests that are considered competitive.

Here’s a sampling:

South Carolina: Nancy Mace, Republican candidate for a South Carolina House seat, attacking the Democratic vice-presidential nominee: Says Kamala Harris "advocated for restoring voting rights for the Boston bomber." Mostly False.

Alabama: U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., attacking his Republican opponent: Says Tommy Tuberville "is for privatizing Social Security and cutting Medicare." Half True.

Maine: Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, attacking her Democratic opponent: Says Sara Gideon’s husband’s law firm "took up to $2 million" from the same federal program she "falsely" attacked Susan Collins over. Half True.

Montana: Duty & Honor, a nonprofit, attacking the Repubican incumbent: Sen. Steve Daines "voted to give billions in tax breaks to big drug companies even as they raised prices." Half True.

If you see something in a congressional race that you think needs fact-checking, please send it to us at [email protected].

The 12 House districts were selected among the "Lean Democratic," "Toss up," and "Lean Republican" races as evaluated by the Cook Political Report as of June 9. Six seats selected are currently held by the Democratic party; six seats are currently held by the Republican Party.

They are:

• Virginia-7

• Florida-26

• Georgia-6

• Pennsylvania-8

• Maine-2

• Texas-22

• Arizona-6

• California-25

• Pennsylvania-10

• Missouri-2

• New York-2

• South Carolina-1

The six Senate races were selected among the "Lean Democratic," "Toss up," and "Lean Republican" races as evaluated by the Cook Political Report as of June 9. Only two seats currently controlled by Democrats met that criteria. Those two seats were selected, along with four seats currently held by Republicans.

They are:

• Michigan

• Alabama

• Maine

• Arizona

• Georgia (special)

• Montana