Two popular state governors put West in play for Senate Democrats

FILE PHOTO: Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, former U.S. Rep. John Delaney and Montana Governor Steve Bullock on the first night of the second 2020 Democratic U.S. presidential debate in Detroit, Michigan, July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A pair of popular two-term state governors have put Democrats within striking range of winning control of the U.S. Senate after Tuesday's election, and with better than a bare 50-seat majority.

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Montana Governor Steve Bullock, who both ran for president before jumping into the Senate campaign, could complete a Western sweep of Republican-held Senate seats, along with fellow Democrat Mark Kelly in Arizona.