The current U.S. Senate has 54 Republicans and 45 Democrats (including one independent).

There are 34 seats up in 2016, of which 24 are held by Republicans.

Democrats need to gain 4 or 5 seats to take control.

There are 9 races in which women are running for the Senate.

Here is an overview of these 9 races.

First, here's an overview of Senate races with women candidates which may be settled but may be not. You decide.

In the State of Washington, Patty Murray, the Democrat, is the incumbent Senator. She seeking a 5th term and is expected to prevail.

California's Senatorial race uniquely pits 2 Democratic women, Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez against each other, each with the hope of replacing incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer. Harris holds a solid lead over Sanchez.

Patty Judge of Iowa and Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona are running against well-know incumbents, Charles Grassley and John McCain. Polls suggest the incumbents will win. But If Hillary wins Iowa and/or Arizona, all bets are off.

Then, let's talk about the 5 races which Democratic #NastyWomen are in close, highly competitive and very winnable races. They can win, with our help.

1. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

You probably know Tammy Duckworth. She has served in the 8th Congressional District from Illinois since 2013.

An Iraq War veteran, Duckworth served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot and suffered severe combat wounds, losing both of her legs and damaging her right arm.

Her opponent is the Republican incumbent, Mark Kirk. KIrk had been trending water since the time, early in the election cycle, he tweeted that Duckworth had "a sad record of not standing up for our veterans. The sick, accusatory and mendacious pun didn't sit well with voters. This is the same man who in 2015 called Lindsey Graham "a bro with no ho." Huh?

More recently, Kirk has been under fire for attacking Duckworth's heritage as a "daughter of the American Revolution." - "I had forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington," he said. Duckworth was born in Thailand to an American father and a mother of Chinese heritage, and is, in fact, a member of the DAR.

The racist nature of his remarks lost Kirk the endorsements of two groups, the Human Rights Campaign and Gabby Gifford's gun reform Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC.

Kirk had a massive stroke in 2012. His health has been an issue in the election.

The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times both endorsed Duckworth.

In an Emerson poll on November 1, Duckworth led Kirk by 18 points, 54% to 36%.

2. Katie McGinty of Pennsylvania.

McGinty who has been a leading backroom PA figure for progressive causes including the environment and a woman's right to choose for more than a decade, faces a Republican incumbent Pat Toomey. Toomey, an extremist on many issues (such as - immigration, bank regulations, choice, Supreme Court appointees, government shut downs), won't endorse or disavow Trump.

McGinty has been endorsed by the three largest Pennsylvania newspapers, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times.

November 1- The latest Franklin & Marshall survey has the Democratic nominee ahead of incumbent Toomey, 47% to 35%.

3. Deborah Ross of North Carolina.

Ross, a lawyer, has been in the North Carolina House of Representatives for 5 terms. Her opponent is Republican incumbent Richard Burr, who has served since 2005 and is the Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Burr is socially very conservative, but as changing demographics seem to require in a unsettled North Carolina , Burr has publicly, if not privately, tried to walk a fine line . For example, on same-sex marriage, Burr's belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman; however, he says that the law should be left to the states. Burr also thinks that people should use the bathroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate. But he has sought to distance himself from HB2, the North Carolina bathroom legislation. Similarly, e has not endorsed or rejected Trump.

But Burr came under fire this past week when "joked" about gun owners putting a "bull's-eye" on Hillary Clinton.

"Nothing made me feel any better then — I walked into a gun shop ... there was a copy of Rifleman on the counter, it's got a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it," Burr said, referring to American Rifleman, the official publication of The NRA. "I was a little bit shocked at that it didn't have a bull's-eye on it."

Ross is endorsed by the Charlotte Observer and the New York Times. The Times said of Ross, that she has "showed the sort of spirit North Carolinians need in the Senate."

While other polls are closer, October 24 Public Policy Polling's newest North Carolina poll (October 24) finds that Ross leads Burr 52% to 34% for Senate, with Libertarian Sean Haugh at 7% among those who say they have already voted.

4. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire.

Hassan, the popular Governor of the Granite State, is running against Republican first time incumbent, Kelly Ayotte. This is a close contest. Trump is an issue in this contest, as are Ayotte's votes to defund Planned Parenthood and refusal to confirm Merrick Garland.

Days before Trump's sexual predator tape became public, Ayotte issued the most damaging of her many testimonials to Trump, suggesting that he could serve as a role model for children. She has since withdrawn that remark.

Maggie Hassan is aligned and committed to Hillary. There is a Democratic registration advantage in New Hampshire but New Hampshire voters pride themselves on independence. The Presidential election may swing this Senatorial election.

The New York Times has endorsed Hassan. "In Ms. Hassan, Granite State voters have the chance to elect a pragmatist who is more attuned to their needs than to party politics."

Polls are all over the place on this one.

5. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

The retirement of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid puts a Nevada Senate seat in play.

His chosen candidate is Catherine Cortez Masto, a former attorney general from a Las Vegas political family who is a very appealing and much admired candidate.

Her opponent, Republican Rep. Joe Heck, a doctor and Army reservist, has controlled a congressional district that voted to elect a Democratic president in the last election.

Democrats maintain a registration edge in Nevada.

If elected, Cortez Masto would be the first Latina Senator. (Loretta Sanchez, another Latina democratic woman is running in California but she is behind in polls to fellow Democrat, Kamala Harris - see above).

Cortez Masto could be helped and Heck stymied by an enthusiastic Latino voting base, especially with Trump at the top of the ticket.

There are presently 20 women in the Senate. The races above can add to that number.

There are now 5 days until the Election ends. What can You Do?

Volunteer.

Campaign volunteers call and even Text Battleground States.

Are you near or in a Battleground State? Can you get there to knock on doors?

If you haven't done volunteered yet, the time is now. You can even call from home.

It is easy. https://www.hillaryclinton.com/calls/

You can affect the Presidential Election and Senatorial elections. You can make a difference.

We can win this. Your Country and Our Future depend on you.

HIllary 2016. Vote Blue.

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November 4,2016