2008 United States Senate elections

United States Senate elections, 2008
Class II (33 of the 100) seats to the United States Senate and two mid-term vacancies from Class I
	Results:; Democratic hold Democratic pickup Republican hold Too close to call as of November 5, 2008 No election
Incumbent Majority Leader; Harry Reid; Democratic	; ;

Elections for the United States Senate were held on November 4, 2008, with 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested. Thirty-three seats were regular elections; the winners will be eligible to serve six-year terms from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2015 as members of Senate Class II. There were also two special elections: one in Wyoming and another in Mississippi; the winners will serve the remainder of terms that expire on January 3, 2013, as members of Senate Class I.

The 2008 presidential election, many gubernatorial elections, and elections for all House of Representatives seats occurred on the same date, as well as many state and local elections.

The current composition of the Senate, going into the 2008 election, consists of 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and two independents (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who both caucus with Democrats). Of the seats up for election in 2008, 23 are held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. The Democratic strategy clearly envisions reaching a filibuster-proof majority of 60 in the Senate.

Hill committees’ role

Each major party has Hill committees that work to support its candidates for the House and Senate, chiefly by providing funds. On the Senate side, the committees are the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

In this cycle the DSCC has been more successful at fundraising. As of June 30, 2008, data from the Federal Election Commission showed the NRSC with $24.6 million on hand, as compared with the DSCC's $43 million.^[1] The NRSC chair, Senator John Ensign, took the unusual step of chastising the Republican Senators who, like him, are not facing re-election, and who he thought should have done more to help raise money for their colleagues.^[1]

Results

Grand total

United States Senate elections, 2008^[2]^[3]
Party		Popular vote		Seats
Party		Votes	Percentage	2008	+/–	2006	Up	Won	Not up
	Democratic	33,308,925	51.19%	55	+6	49	12	17	37
	Republican	29,604,110	45.49%	40	–9	49	23	14	26
	Independent	238,816	0.37%	2	0	2	0	0	2
	Libertarian	788,295	1.21%	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Green	417,325	0.64%	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Reform	15,983	0.02%	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Others	700,246	1.08%	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Undecided	—	—	3	—	—	—	3	—
Invalid or blank votes
Totals		65,073,700	100.00%	100	—	100	35	35	65
Voter turnout

By state

State	Incumbent Senator	2008 Election Status	Democratic Candidate	Republican Candidate	Other Candidates	Previous Election Results^[4]
AL	Jeff Sessions	Running for Re-election	Vivian Davis Figures	Jeff Sessions		Jeff Sessions (R) 59% Susan Parker (D) 40% Other 1%
AK	Ted Stevens	Running for Re-election	Mark Begich	Ted Stevens	Bob Bird (AIP) Ted Gianoutsos (Vet) David Haase (L)	Ted Stevens (R) 78% Frank Vondersaar (D) 11% Jim Sykes (G) 8% Other 3%
AR	Mark Pryor	Running for Re-election	Mark Pryor	None	Rebekah Kennedy (G)	Tim Hutchinson (R) 46% Mark Pryor (D) 54%
CO	Wayne Allard	Retiring	Mark Udall	Bob Schaffer	Doug Campbell (C) Bob Kinsey (G)	Wayne Allard (R) 51% Tom Strickland (D) 46% Other 3%
DE	Joe Biden	Running for Re-election	Joe Biden	Christine O'Donnell		Joe Biden (D) 58% Raymond Clatworthy (R) 41% Other 1%
GA	Saxby Chambliss	Running for Re-election	Jim Martin	Saxby Chambliss	Allen Buckley (L)	Max Cleland (D) 46% Saxby Chambliss (R) 53% Other 1%
ID	Larry Craig	Retiring	Larry LaRocco	Jim Risch	Kent Marmon (L) "Pro-Life" (I) Rex Rammell (I)	Larry Craig (R) 65% Alan Blinken (D) 33% Other 2%
IL	Dick Durbin	Running for Re-election	Dick Durbin	Steve Sauerberg	Kathy Cummings (G) Chad Koppie (C) Larry Stafford (L)	Dick Durbin (D) 60% Jim Durkin (R) 38% Other 2%
IA	Tom Harkin	Running for Re-election	Tom Harkin	Christopher Reed		Tom Harkin (D) 54% Greg Ganske (R) 44% Other 2%
KS	Pat Roberts	Running for Re-election	Jim Slattery	Pat Roberts	Randall Hodgkinson (L) Joseph Martin (Ref)	Pat Roberts (R) 83% Steven Rosile (L) 9% George Cook (Reform) 8%
KY	Mitch McConnell	Running for Re-election	Bruce Lunsford	Mitch McConnell		Mitch McConnell (R) 65% Lois Combs Weinberg (D) 35%
LA	Mary Landrieu	Running for Re-election	Mary Landrieu	John Kennedy	Richard Fontanesi (L) Jay Patel (I) Robert Stewart (I)	Mary Landrieu (D) 52% Suzanne Haik Terrell (R) 48%
ME	Susan Collins	Running for Re-election	Tom Allen	Susan Collins		Susan Collins (R) 58% Chellie Pingree (D) 42%
MA	John Kerry	Running for Re-election	John Kerry	Jeff Beatty	Mary Jean Charbonneau (I) William Estrada (SW) Robert Underwood (L)	John Kerry (D) 80% Michael Cloud (L) 18% Other 2%
MI	Carl Levin	Running for Re-election	Carl Levin	Jack Hoogendyk	Scott Boman (L) Doug Dern (Nat Law) Harley Mikkelson (G) Michael Nikitin (C)	Carl Levin (D) 60% Andrew Raczkowski (R) 38% Other 2%
MN	Norm Coleman	Running for Re-election	Al Franken	Norm Coleman	Charles Aldrich (L) Dean Barkley (MIP) James Niemackl (C)	Walter Mondale (D) 47% Norm Coleman (R) 50% Other 3%
MS	Thad Cochran	Running for Re-election	Erik Fleming	Thad Cochran		Thad Cochran (R) 85% Shawn O'Hara (Reform) 15%
MS*	Roger Wicker	Running for Election	Ronnie Musgrove	Roger Wicker		Trent Lott (R) 64% Erik Fleming (D) 35%
MT	Max Baucus	Running for Re-election	Max Baucus	Bob Kelleher		Max Baucus (D) 63% Mike Taylor (R) 32% Other 5%
NE	Chuck Hagel	Retiring	Scott Kleeb	Mike Johanns	Steve Larrick (G) Kelly Rosberg (Neb)	Chuck Hagel (R) 83% Charlie Matulka (D) 15% Other 2%
NH	John Sununu	Running for Re-election	Jeanne Shaheen	John Sununu	Ken Blevens (L)	John Sununu (R) 51% Jeanne Shaheen (D) 46% Other 3%
NJ	Frank Lautenberg	Running for Re-election	Frank Lautenberg	Dick Zimmer	Jeffrey Boss (I) Daryl Mikell Brooks (I) J. M. Carter (I) Sara Lobman (SW) Jason Scheurer (L)	Frank Lautenberg (D) 54% Doug Forrester (R) 44% Other 2%
NM	Pete Domenici	Retiring	Tom Udall	Steve Pearce		Pete Domenici (R) 65% Gloria Tristani (D) 35%
NC	Elizabeth Dole	Running for Re-election	Kay Hagan	Elizabeth Dole	Chris Cole (L)	Elizabeth Dole (R) 54% Erskine Bowles (D) 45% Other 1%
OK	Jim Inhofe	Running for Re-election	Andrew Rice	Jim Inhofe	Stephen Wallace (I)	Jim Inhofe (R) 57% David Walters (D) 36% James Germalic (I) 6% Other 1%
OR	Gordon Smith	Running for Re-election	Jeff Merkley	Gordon Smith	Dave Brownlow (C)	Gordon Smith (R) 56% Bill Bradbury (D) 40% Other 4%
RI	Jack Reed	Running for Re-election	Jack Reed	Robert Tingle		Jack Reed (D) 78% Robert Tingle (R) 22%
SC	Lindsey Graham	Running for Re-election	Bob Conley	Lindsey Graham		Lindsey Graham (R) 54% Alex Sanders (D) 44% Other 2%
SD	Tim Johnson	Running for Re-election	Tim Johnson	Joel Dykstra		Tim Johnson (D) 50% John Thune (R) 49% Other 1%
TN	Lamar Alexander	Running for Re-election	Bob Tuke	Lamar Alexander	Edward Buck (I) Christopher Fenner (I) David Gatchell (I) Ed Lawhorn (I) Daniel Lewis (I) Chris Lugo (G)	Lamar Alexander (R) 54% Bob Clement (D) 44% Other 2%
TX	John Cornyn	Running for Re-election	Rick Noriega	John Cornyn	Yvonne Adams Schick (L)	John Cornyn (R) 55% Ron Kirk (D) 43% Other 2%
VA	John Warner	Retiring	Mark Warner	Jim Gilmore	Gail Parker (IG) Bill Redpath (L)	John Warner (R) 83% Nancy Spannaus (I) 10% Jacob G. Hornberger (I) 7%
WV	Jay Rockefeller	Running for Re-election	Jay Rockefeller	Jay Wolfe	Rick Bartlett (W)	Jay Rockefeller (D) 63% Jay Wolfe (R) 37%
WY	Mike Enzi	Running for Re-election	Chris Rothfuss	Mike Enzi		Mike Enzi (R) 73% Joyce Jansa Corcoran (D) 27%
WY*	John Barrasso	Running for Election	Nick Carter	John Barrasso		Craig Thomas (R) 70% Dale Groutage (D) 30%

Races

Retirements

Five senators, all Republicans, announced their retirements: Wayne Allard (CO), John Warner (VA), Chuck Hagel (NE), Larry Craig (ID), and Pete Domenici (NM).

Wayne Allard (R) of Colorado

On January 15, 2007, incumbent Senator Wayne Allard (R) announced he would not seek re-election, honoring his pledge to serve no more than two terms.^[5]

Former Representative Bob Schaffer of Fort Collins was the Republican nominee. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was rumored to be considering a run, but declined to do so.^[6] Other possible Republican candidates included former Congressman Scott McInnis and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.

The Democratic nominee was 2nd district Congressman Mark Udall of Boulder who announced on January 15, 2007, that he will seek the seat and did not draw significant primary opposition.^[7]

Other candidates included Bob Kinsey of Denver as the Green Party nominee,^[8] Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell as the American Constitution Party's nominee ,^[9], and Independent candidate Buddy Moore, unaffiliated any party.^[10]

On Election Day, Udall defeated Schaffer 52%-43%

Larry Craig (R) of Idaho

On September 1, 2007, Senator Larry Craig announced his intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30, 2007.^[11] The announcement followed by just six days the disclosure that he had pleaded guilty on August 1, 2007 to a reduced misdemeanor charge arising out of his arrest on June 11 at the Minneapolis airport for soliciting sex with a man in the restroom. Craig found almost no support among Republicans in his home state or Washington. On October 4, 2007, Senator Craig announced he will not seek re-election, but would remain in office until the end of his term.^[12]

Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch was the Republican candidate; U.S. Army veteran and former congressman Larry LaRocco was the Democratic candidate.^[13] Risch and LaRocco ran against each other in the 2006 Lieutenant Governor race, which Risch won by a wide margin. The latest poll by Rasmussen Reports shows Risch leading LaRocco by a 58% to 30% margin [3]. Libertarian Kent Marmon is also running.^[14] The last Democratic Senator from Idaho was Frank Church, who was defeated in the Republican landslide of 1980 after serving four terms.

Risch won the election with approximately 58 percent of the vote.^[15]

Chuck Hagel (R) of Nebraska

In Nebraska, incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Hagel chose to retire rather than run for a third term.

Former Governor Mike Johanns, who recently resigned as Agriculture Secretary, was the Republican nominee, having defeated opponent Pat Flynn 87-13 in the primary. Scott Kleeb, 2006 candidate for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, defeated businessman Tony Raimondo, a former Republican, by a wide margin in the Democratic primary.

Nebraska state Green Party Co-Chairman Steve Larrick was also a candidate,^[16] as was Kelly Rosberg of the Nebraska Party.

Mike Johanns won, taking 58% of the vote, with Kleeb taking 40%

Pete Domenici (R) of New Mexico

While Senator Pete Domenici had declared that he would seek re-election in New Mexico, he changed his mind and announced on October 4, 2007 that he was retiring at the end of his current term due to a degenerative brain disorder.^[17] Domenici normally would have been expected to win re-election easily, having won his current term with the support of two out of three New Mexico voters; however, he is to be investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee for his role in firing U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. Domenici's role in the developing scandal had reduced the probability he would have been re-elected, and a SurveyUSA poll showed his approval ratings at 41%, with 54% disapproving.^[18] The potential scandal may have also contributed to his decision to leave the Senate.

Rep. Tom Udall was the Democratic nominee. The Republican nominee was Rep. Steve Pearce, who represented the more conservative southern part of the state.

When asked whether the Republicans were abandoning their hopes of holding onto Domenici's seat, Senator John Ensign, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, responded that "You don’t waste money on races that don’t need it or you can’t win.”^[19]

Udall won the election with 61% of the vote, with Pearce taking 39%.

John Warner (R) of Virginia

John Warner announced on August 31, 2007 that he would not seek re-election for another term.^[20] Former Governor Jim Gilmore, who dropped out of the 2008 presidential election, was the Republican nominee for the seat.^[21] Popular Democratic former Governor Mark Warner (no relation) was the Democratic nominee for the race.^[22] Polling showed him as a strong favorite to win the seat.^[23]

When asked whether the Republicans were abandoning their hopes of holding onto Warner's seat, Senator John Ensign, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, responded that "You don’t waste money on races that don’t need it or you can’t win.”^[19]

In one of the first senate races called on election day, Warner won, taking 64% of the vote, and with Gilmore winning 34%.

Democratic incumbent races

Mark Pryor of Arkansas

Despite being a first-term senator in a state George W. Bush won twice, Democrat Mark Pryor faced no opposition from Republicans in his re-election bid. Although Bush carried the state twice, Arkansas Democrats swept the seven state races held in the 2006 general election. Pryor is the son of longtime U.S. Senator and former Arkansas Governor David Pryor. It was rumored that Lt. Governor Bill Halter would challenge Pryor in the primary, but Halter declined to file as a candidate.^[24] Rebekah Kennedy of the Green Party was Pryor's only opposition.

Pryor won on election day, with 78% of the vote. Kennedy took 22%.

Joe Biden of Delaware

On August 23, 2008, the Democratic nominee for President, Barack Obama, announced that Biden would be joining him on the ticket as the Vice Presidential nominee.^[25] Delaware law allows Biden to run for Vice President and Senator at the same time, so he would keep the seat should the ticket lose. On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama won the general presidential election election, making Biden the next Vice President. The Governor of Delaware will appoint a replacement until a special election can take place. Depending on the date of Biden's resignation from the Senate, his successor will be appointed by either the current governor (Democrat Ruth Ann Minner) or her successor, Democrat Jack Markell. Biden's Republican opponent in the Senate race, conservative political commentator Christine O'Donnell, tried to make an issue of Biden's dual campaigns, claiming that serving his constituents is not important to him. Biden was reelected with 65% of the vote, or 257,484 votes. O'Donnell recieved 140,584 votes, or 35% of the vote.

Dick Durbin of Illinois

Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin remained favored in Illinois. He sought to be re-elected in a state that has steadily become more Democratic since 1992. CQpolitics.com rates the contest as "safe Democrat."

Physician Steve Sauerberg of La Grange won the February 5 Republican primary.^[26] Kathy Cummings, a retired special education teacher was nominated via convention by the Green Party.^[27] Chad Koppie, a retired airline pilot and vice-chairman of the Illinois Center Right Coalition, was the nominee of the Constitution Party.

Durbin won with 63% of the vote. Sauerburg had 33%.

Tom Harkin of Iowa

In a state that has been trending to the Democrats recently, Senator Tom Harkin faced the Republican nominee, small buisness owner Christopher Reed, who he defeated with 63% of the vote to Reed's 37%.

Mary Landrieu of Louisiana

Incumbent Mary Landrieu was elected in 1996 following a recount and was narrowly re-elected in 2002 in a runoff election. Since those elections, Democrats have had to endure the loss of some reliable voters because Hurricane Katrina dispersed many African-Americans from New Orleans, although the vast majority still live within Louisiana. The state has become more Republican over the past 12 years. Louisiana elected David Vitter in 2004, the state's first Republican senator since Reconstruction. And Louisianans elected Republican Bobby Jindal as the first Indian-American Governor in the country's history in 2007. Louisiana's electoral votes easily went to George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.

On August 27, 2007, state Treasurer John N. Kennedy announced he was switching parties from Democrat to Republican. On November 29, after being personally recruited by Vitter and former Bush administration official Karl Rove, Kennedy announced plans to challenge Landrieu in 2008.^[28]^[29] An August 19 poll by Rasmussen Reports shows Landrieu leading Kennedy by a 53% to 37% margin.^[30]

In the end, Landrieu was narrowly re-elected with 52% of the vote, Kennedy having 48%

John Kerry of Massachusetts

Incumbent John Kerry sought another Senate term in Massachusetts.^[31] A December 23, 2007, poll has his approval rating at 52%, with 43% disapproving.^[32]

Republican author and conservative activist Jerome Corsi, known for his public criticism of Kerry, had stated that he would run for the seat in 2008 but later changed his mind. Jim Ogonowski, a retired Air Force pilot who was closely defeated by now-Representative Niki Tsongas in a 2007 special election, was running against Kerry.^[33] but failed to obtain the required candidacy signatures. The Republican challenger turned out to be Jeff Beatty, an ex-Army Delta Force officer who garnered 30% of the vote in a challenge to Democratic Congressman Bill Delahunt in 2006.

Kerry was challenged by defense attorney Edward O'Reilly for the Democratic nomination, winning 69 percent of the vote to O'Reilly's 31 percent.

As expected, Kerry easily defeated Beatty with 66% of the vote.

Carl Levin of Michigan

With the Democratic Party takeover of Capitol Hill in the 2006 midterm elections, Senator Carl Levin has become one of the most powerful people in Washington as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was expected to easily win re-election.

Challenging Levin were Republican State Representative Jack Hoogendyk, Green candidate Harley G. Mikkelson, US Taxpayers' candidate Mike Nikitin, Libertarian professor Scotty Boman, and Natural Law's candidate Doug Dern. ^[34]

Levin won re-election with 63% of the vote, to Hoogendyk's 34%.

Max Baucus of Montana

Senator Max Baucus is a popular Democrat in Montana, representing a state that has long been fairly Republican but also is receptive to Democrats in state and local elections. President Bush won Montana by more than 20 points in both 2000 and 2004, but Montana also has a popular Democratic governor, Brian Schweitzer, and a newly elected Democratic junior senator, Jon Tester. Baucus was not expected to face a significant challenge from the 85 year old Republican nominee, Bob Kelleher, who surprised observers by winning the June 3 Republican primary despite supporting a number of positions that put him to the political left of Baucus, such as nationalization of the American oil and gas industry.^[35]

Baucus easily won re-election, taking 73% of the vote, and with Kheller taking 27%.

Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey

Senator Frank Lautenberg sought re-election in 2008, though he was 84. In the Primary, Lautenberg soundly defeated Representative Rob Andrews (NJ-1) by a margin of 62% to 32%. In November 2006, the senator had the lowest approval rating of any Democrat running for re-election in 2008 (with 39% approving and 45% disapproving),^[36] with his approval standing only at 42% as of September 2007 with voters saying he does not deserve re-election 46%-36%.^[37] The Republican nominee was former Congressman and 1996 senatorial candidate Dick Zimmer.

Sara Lobman of the Socialist Workers Party and Independent Anthony Fisher were also declared candidates.^[38]^[39] Furthermore, in the wake of the financial crisis, Carl Peter Klapper entered the race as a write-in candidate.^[40]

Lautenburg was re-elected with 56% of the vote. Zimmer got 42%.

Jack Reed of Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, Democratic Senator Jack Reed had an approval rating of 66% in November 2006.^[41] National Journal has declared that "Reed is probably the safest incumbent of the 2008 cycle". Reed's opponent was Robert Tingle, a pit manager at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, whom Reed defeated in his re-election campaign in 2002.^[42] A July 7 Rasmussen poll had Reed leading Tingle 72% to 20%.^[43]

Reed won the election as expected, with 73% of the vote.

Tim Johnson of South Dakota

In South Dakota, Senator Tim Johnson's seat was considered a top GOP target in 2008, considering Johnson's narrow 524-vote victory in 2002 over then-Representative and current U.S. Senator John Thune, as well as his recent health problems. Johnson underwent surgery in December 2006 for a Cerebral arteriovenous malformation and was discharged from the hospital on April 30, 2007. On October 19, 2007, Johnson formally announced that he is seeking re-election.^[44] According to a November 2006 SurveyUSA poll, Johnson has an approval rating of 70%, with just 26% disapproving of his performance,^[45] making him an early favorite despite the state's Republican leaning.

Republicans were unsuccessful in persuading Governor Mike Rounds and former Lieutenant Governor Steve Kirby to run. State Representative Joel Dykstra announced his candidacy on July 5, 2007. Other Republicans included Charles Lyonel Gonyo and Sam Kephart. Dykstra won the Republican primary on June 3.

Johnson was re-elected, with 62% to Dykstra's 38%.

Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia

Senator Jay Rockefeller, great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, sought a fifth term representing West Virginia. Even though West Virginia is a historically Democratic state, in which the party had a 50-32% edge in party affiliation over the Republicans in the 2004 elections, the state party is more conservative than the national party, giving its votes to President George W. Bush in that election and in 2000.^[46] Democrats Sheirl Fletcher and Billy Hendricks challenged Rockefeller in the primary but were defeated. The Republican nominee was Jay Wolfe of Salem, a former State Senator.

Rockefeller won on election day, being re-elected with 64% of the vote.

Republican incumbent races

Jeff Sessions of Alabama

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions sought re-election to a third term. Johnny Swanson announced his candidacy in March 2006 for the Democratic nomination.^[47]

Despite voting heavily for Bush in 2004, Alabama still has a strong Democratic presence; Democrats control majorities of both chambers in the state legislature. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks appeared to be preparing for a run, but on June 12, 2007, Sparks announced that he will not seek the Senate seat, in order to avoid a primary battle with state Senator Vivian Davis Figures.^[48] Figures has won elections in the Republican-leaning Mobile area. In the Democratic primary, Figures won the nomination and will face Sessions in November.

Not on the ballot, but running a write-in campaign, was Darryl W. Perry, the 2004 Libertarian Party nominee for Pennsylvania State Treasurer and 2007 candidate for Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama.^[49]^[50] Perry was endorsed by Alabama Statesmen,^[51] Boston Tea Party,^[52] Christians for Life and Liberty^[53] and PaulCongress.com^[54]

Session defeated Figures, taking 63% of the vote. Figures won 37%

Ted Stevens of Alaska

Dispelling rumors that he would retire due to advanced age (he was 85 years old on election day) and ongoing federal investigations into his conduct, Senator Ted Stevens filed papers for re-election for an eighth term.^[55]

An ex-oil company executive, Bill Allen, paid for part of the renovation costs on Stevens's personal residence. The FBI investigated the remodeling of Stevens home by Veco Corp., which is part of a broader corruption investigation involving Stevens's son, former State Senate President Ben Stevens.^[56] Two former Veco executives have plead guilty to paying the younger Stevens $242,000 in bribes.^[57] On July 30, 2007, the IRS and FBI raided Stevens's home in Alaska. On September 14, 2007, former Veco CEO Bill Allen testified at the trial of former State House Speaker Pete Kott that Veco paid people working to double the size of Stevens's home.^[58]

On July 29, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Stevens on seven felony counts for making false statements^[59], and on October 26, a jury found Stevens guilty on on all charges.^[60]

The Democratic candidate is Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the son of popular former Democratic Representative Nick Begich, who announced his candidacy for the Senate seat on April 22, 2008.^[61]

On October 19, 2007, the AP reported that despite the allegations and FBI probe, several veteran GOP Senators—including Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and Kit Bond (R-MO)—donated enough money to Stevens's re-election campaign to make it one of Stevens's most successful fund raising quarters ever.^[62]

Sen. Stevens' conviction on seven felony counts of corruption puts his reelection bid in serious jeopardy. This comes just over one week until the election. Stevens will appeal the conviction. Nevertheless, Stevens was narrowly ahead in the vote count after election day, and the race will likely be decided by absentee ballots.

Saxby Chambliss of Georgia

In 2002, Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss defeated Democratic incumbent Max Cleland in a campaign that featured television commercials linking Cleland, to Osama bin Laden. Chambliss seeks seeking re-election.

In December 2007, Chambliss had an approval rating of 53% and a disapproval rating of 34% according to Strategic Vision, a Republican polling firm.^[63]

Democratic Georgia Commissioner of Human Resources, former General Assembly member, 2006 candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Vietnam War veteran Jim Martin is the Democratic nominee, having defeated Vernon Jones, CEO of Dekalb County by a 59% to 41% margin in the August 5 runoff.

Libertarian attorney and CPA Allen Buckley has polled up to 8% in surveys conducted after he participated in debates with Martin and Chambliss.^[64]^[65]

Frequent candidate Eleanor Garcia of the Socialist Workers Party was a declared candidate.^[66]

Georgia law states that if no candidate receives 50% of the popular vote, then the election will be decided in a runoff. With Buckley drawing approximately 3% of the vote, a runoff election appears likely.

Pat Roberts of Kansas

Senator Pat Roberts sought re-election to a third term. Although Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, former Democratic Congressman and army veteran Jim Slattery was nominated to run against Roberts. Pat Roberts currently has an approval rating of 56%.^[67]

In the end, Pat Roberts was re-elected with 60%. Slattery lost with 36%.

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

Democrats made Senate Minority Leader, four-term Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky a target due to his leadership of Senate Republicans and his ties to President Bush, as well as his mediocre approval rating in the state, which is below 50%.^[68]

Businessman and U.S. Army veteran Bruce Lunsford, who lost the 2007 Democratic gubernatorial primary to current Governor Steve Beshear, was the Democratic nominee.

Once thought to be secure in his reelection, McConnell's lead had shrunk dramatically thanks to the financial crisis and recent polling has shown the race tightening between him and Lunsford. ^[69] Neverhteless, McConnell was re-elected by a margin of 53% to 47%.

Susan Collins of Maine

In Maine, Susan Collins sought a third term in the Senate. She has mantained a high pproval rating, and also in her favor is the landslide re-election of Maine's senior Senator, Olympia Snowe, who had the largest margin of victory of any GOP Senate candidate - besides the largely unopposed Dick Lugar (R-IN) - in the 2006 election cycle. Collins was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2002 over State Sen. Chellie Pingree. Sen. Joe Lieberman, citing his status as an independent, endorsed Sen. Collins in her 2008 re-election bid.

On May 8, 2007, Rep. Tom Allen (ME-1) announced his candidacy on his website. He had already expressed interest in running and had been building the apparatus necessary to wage a Senate campaign.^[70]

Collins won on election day with 61% of the vote, compared to 39% for Allen.

Norm Coleman of Minnesota

Senator Norm Coleman won a tight contest in 2002 against Walter Mondale (former US vice president) after incumbent Paul Wellstone of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), died in an October plane crash. In 2006, popular Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty barely won re-election, Democrat Amy Klobuchar defeated retiring Republican representative Mark Kennedy in a senate race, and the DFL party took large majorities in the State House, gaining 19 seats, and made further gains in the state senate. Six-term Republican representative Gil Gutknecht was also defeated that year. A December 2007 poll showed Coleman's approval rating among Minnesota voters as 53%.^[71]

Comedian and former radio talk show host Al Franken confirmed on the final broadcast of his radio show on Air America, February 14, 2007, that he will run for the Senate seat in 2008.^[72] He had publicly speculated about running for some time and in 2005, he established the Midwest Values PAC to lay the groundwork for that campaign. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a professor at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota), joined the race in October 2007.^[73]

Attorney Mike Ciresi, who lost to Mark Dayton in the 2000 Democratic senate primary, was considered (along with Franken) most likely to become the Democratic nominee. However, Ciresi withdrew from the race on March 10, 2008.^[74]

The 2008 Republican National Convention was held in the capital city of Saint Paul, where Coleman was once Mayor (elected in 1993 as a moderate-to-conservative DFLer and re-elected in 1997 as a Republican).

On June 12, 2007, Joe Repya announced that he was considering challenging Coleman in the Republican primary. The previous week Repya ran for election of the chair of the Minnesota GOP. He lost that election. Repya, a retired lieutenant colonel, is a pro-Iraq War activist and formerly advised Coleman on military and veterans issues in his 2002 campaign.^[75] Ultimately, Repya did not file to run. Michael Cavlan the 2006 Green Party candidate for the United States Senate is running again in 2008. ^{[citation needed]} Former Governor Jesse Ventura has also speculated he would run as an Independent in 2008, but the day before filing, Ventura decided not to run.^[76] Former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley had announced he would run as an Independence Party candidate.^[77]^[78] Ultimately, Repya, Cavlan and Ventura did not file to run for the office. Ventura announced his decision not to run soon before the deadline, and several other Independence Party candidates filed to run quickly after his announcement, including former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley and former state party chair Jack Uldrich.

Early polling showed Coleman with a large lead over prospective Democratic opponents.^[79]^[80]^[81]^[82]^[79]^[80] However, the senate race in Minnesota became one of the more hotly contested this year. A January 29 Minnesota Public Radio poll showed the first lead for Franken over Coleman.^[83] By mid-July, an average of polls showed Coleman with a seven-point lead over Franken.^[84] However, a Star-Tribune poll on October 4th showed Franken with a nine-point lead^[85] By late October, the race was a dead heat.

The deadline to file to run for the office was July 15. By the deadline, 18 candidates had filed to run, including seven from the DFL Party, two from the Republican Party, seven from the Independence Party, and one each from the Libertarian Party and Constitution Party.^[86]^[87]

The results of this Senate race were the closest in the country. With 100% of the precincts reporting, the election still was too close to call, with Coleman leading Franken by less than 400 votes, out of nearly 2.5 million cast. Minnesota law dictates a mandatory recount, and the winner may not be known until December, 2008.

Thad Cochran of Mississippi

Incumbent Senator Thad Cochran announced that he would seek re-election for a sixth term.^[88] Cochran, who has not faced serious opposition since he was re-elected in 1984, faced Democrat Erik R. Fleming, who he easily defeated with 62% of the vote.

Roger Wicker of Mississippi

Roger Wicker, formerly the representative of Mississippi's 1st congressional district, was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour on December 31, 2007, to fill the vacancy caused by the December 18 resignation of Trent Lott.^[89]^[90] It has been speculated that Lott wished to resign before a new lobbying reform law, effective the first day of 2008, took effect; having resigned before the end of 2007, Lott may become a lobbyist in 2009 instead of 2010.^[90] Controversy arose when Barbour called for the special election to be held on the same day as the general election. As a result, Mississippi's Attorney General Jim Hood challenged Barbour in court, claiming that the special election needed to be held within 100 days of Lott's resignation, as per state law.^[91] Initially, a Mississippi Circuit Court judge sided with Hood, ruling that the election take place on or before March 19, 2008.^[92] However, Barbour filed an appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which overturned the earlier ruling and set the special election for November 4, 2008.^[93]^[94]

Democratic former governor Ronnie Musgrove challenged Wicker. Another Democrat, former congressman Ronnie Shows, also filed to run, but he withdrew in February 2008 and endorsed Mugsrove.^[95]^[96] Wicker beat Musgrove 55% to 45%.

John Sununu of New Hampshire

Senator John Sununu represents the swing state of New Hampshire. The state traditionally leaned Republican, but John Kerry from neighboring Massachusetts narrowly won here in the 2004 Presidential election. New Hampshire also saw major Democratic gains in the 2006 elections, when Democrats took both of the previously Republican-held House seats, the gubernatorial race with a record vote share of 74%, and majorities in the State House and Senate, giving them concurrent control of both bodies for the first time since 1874. However, New Hampshire had not elected a Democratic United States Senator since 1975.

Sununu's 2002 opponent, former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, decided to run and was generally considered to be a very formidable challenger.^[97] Three consecutive monthly Rasmussen Reports poll showed Shaheen defeating Sununu by 49% to 41%.^[98] Prior to Shaheen's entry, Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand,^[99] Katrina Swett, wife of former Democratic congressman Richard Swett,^[100] and former astronaut Jay Buckey^[101] had announced that they were running for the Democratic nomination. After Shaheen's entry, however, all three withdrew and endorsed the former governor, who defeated Sununu, 52% to 45%.

Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina

In North Carolina, there had been rumors that Senator Elizabeth Dole would retire from the Senate and run for governor, but she said in 2006 that she intended to run for re-election.^[102] There was early speculation that North Carolina Governor Mike Easley might be pressured into running against her but this did not come to pass.^[103] The Democratic nominee was state Senator Kay Hagan,^[104] who defeated Jim Neal and Dustin Lassiter in the Democratic primary. A Rasmussen poll released May 11, 2008 showed Hagan leading Dole by a statistically insignificant margin, 48% - 47%,^[105] suggesting a competitive race. Hagan's poll numbers continued to best Dole's, however, and a Hagan defeated Dole, 53% to 44%.

Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, Senator Jim Inhofe has announced that he will seek a third full term. A September 2007 poll put Inhofe's approval rating at 47%, with 41% disapproving of his performance.^[106] Inhofe's opponent was State Senator Andrew Rice. Inhofe was re-elected, 57% to 39%.

Gordon Smith of Oregon

Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon ran for a third term. He defeated ophthalmologist Gordon Leitch^[107] in the May 20 Republican primary. Smith faced Democratic Oregon House of Representatives Speaker Jeff Merkley in the November general election. Merkley beat longtime Democratic activist Steve Novick and three other candidates in a hotly contested primary.^[108]

In a July 16, 2008 poll, Merkley overtook Smith for the first time 43% to 41%. ^[109] On November 6, 2008, Jeff Merkley was projected the winner of the Oregonian Senate contest and will be replacing Smith with the next contest. Gordon Smith has formally conceded. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Senator Lindsey Graham, as a popular Republican incumbent in strongly conservative South Carolina, is unlikely to be vulnerable to a Democratic challenge. Graham's support for a compromise immigration bill, however, drew an angry response from many South Carolina conservatives, who recruited Buddy Witherspoon, a former South Carolina Republican Party leader, to challenge Graham for the nomination. Graham easily bested Witherspoon in the June 10 primary.^[110]

First-time candidate Bob Conley, an airline pilot, is the Democratic nominee.^[111] Conley, whose victory in the Democratic primary was a surprise, is a former Republican who supported Ron Paul this year and has campaigned as the more conservative candidate on some issues, notably illegal immigration and the bailout of Wall Street.

The South Carolina Working Families Party has nominated Michael Cone, who also ran for the Democratic nomination. This is the first time the party has nominated a candidate for statewide office.^[112]

Lamar Alexander of Tennessee

Former Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander was elected in 2002 to succeed retiring Senator Fred Thompson. He has announced he will seek a second term in 2008.^[113] He is unopposed in the Republican primary.

Former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party Bob Tuke is the Democratic nominee, defeating Businessman Gary Davis 30% to 23%. Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett Received 20% of the vote.

2006 Green Party Senate nominee Chris Lugo originally announced as a Democrat but dropped out of the Democratic race before the filing deadline. He filed as an independent and was subsequently named as the Green Party nominee^[114] Also in the race is Edward Buck.

Daniel Lewis is running as a Libertarian candidate for the United States Senate. He was certified March 3, 2008 by the Tennessee Division of Elections as having achieved ballot access for the November 4, 2008 election as a candidate for United States Senate. The Libertarian Party of Tennessee officially selected Daniel Lewis as their candidate for United States Senate on Saturday March 8, 2008 the at their annual convention held in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Lewis is currently serving as the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. He ran for the Tennessee House in 2004.^[115]

Also reported to be in the race are David "None of the Above" Gatchell a ballot activist & frequent candidate and Emory "Bo" Heyward, a software company employee, conservative activist & 2006 candidate.

John Cornyn of Texas

Texas has not elected a Democrat in a statewide election since 1994, but according to recent Rasmussen polling Senator John Cornyn has an approval rating of 50%.^[116] Texas House of Representatives member and Afganistan War veteran Rick Noriega secured his place as Cornyn's Democratic challenger in the March 4 primary, beating out opponents Gene Kelly, Ray McMurrey, and Rhett Smith. The same Rasmussen poll shows Cornyn leading Noriega by a narrow four percentage points - 47% to 43% - suggesting that this race may prove to be unexpectedly competitive. However, most polls have shown a much wider margin.

Christian activist Larry Kilgore of Mansfield, Texas, was a Republican challenger for the March 2008 primary election, but Cornyn easily won the Republican primary.^[117]

There are three Libertarians, including 2006 LP senate nominee Scott Jameson, running for their party's nomination.^[118] In addition, the Green Party of Texas is seeking ballot access for its candidate David B. Collins.^[119]

Michael Enzi of Wyoming

Senator Mike Enzi is likely to be re-elected without significant opposition for a third term in strongly Republican Wyoming. His Democratic opponent is Chris Rothfuss, a professor at the University of Wyoming and a chemical engineer, nanotechnologist, and diplomat. Recent polling indicates that Enzi leads Rothfuss by 24%.

John Barrasso of Wyoming

John Barrasso was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) on June 22, 2007 to fill the senate seat of Republican Craig L. Thomas, who died on June 4.^[120] Wyoming law requires that the interim senator be affiliated with the same political party as the departed senator. Barrasso is running in the November 8, 2008 special election, which will be held on the day of the 2008 presidential election, to serve out the remainder of Thomas' term, which expires in January 2013.^[121]

On the Democratic side, Casper City Councilman Keith Goodenough announced his candidacy.^[122] In the primary on August 19, Goodenough was defeated by a political newcomer, Gillette defense attorney Nick Carter, who is now Barrasso's opponent in the general election.^[123]

Senate composition before and after elections

110th Congress Senate Composition

111th Congress Senate Composition

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To Be Determined