2010 United States Senate elections

United States Senate elections, 2010

November 2, 2010
Class III (34 of the 100) seats to the United States Senate and two mid-term vacancies from Class I and Class II
Leader Harry Reid Mitch McConnell Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat Nevada Kentucky Last election 58 seats (including 2 independents) Election contest in Minnesota is ongoing 41 seats
Senate Seats up for Election:   Republican incumbent   Retiring Republican   Two Democratic incumbents   Democratic incumbent   Retiring Democrat   No election
Incumbent Majority Leader Harry Reid Democratic

Elections to the United States Senate will be held on November 2, 2010, with at least 36 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate being contested. Thirty-four of these are to six-year terms, from January 3, 2011 to January 3, 2017. They will join Senate Class III, which traces its roots back to the senators who served full six-year terms from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1795. Elections to the United States House of Representatives as well as some state and local elections will occur on the same date.

In addition to the 34 senators in Class III, there will be two special elections in 2010 to fill unexpired terms. One of these elections will be in Delaware to fill the last four years of the Class II seat previously held by Vice President Joe Biden. In 2008, Biden was simultaneously reelected to his seat in the U.S. Senate, a seat he had held since 1972. His resignation from the Senate seat resulted in Democratic then- Governor Ruth Ann Minner appointing Democrat Ted Kaufman to the seat until November 2010. Kaufman has since stated that he will not run for the unexpired term in 2010. This seat will again be up for election in 2014 for a full six-year term. The other special election will be held for New York's Class I seat previously held by by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton was reelected to her second term in 2006 but was confirmed as Secretary of State in January 2009, which resulted in Democratic Governor David Paterson appointing Democratic U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to the seat until November 2010. Gillibrand has stated that she will run for the unexpired term in 2010. This seat will again be up for election in 2012 for a full six-year term.

The current composition of the U.S. Senate going into the 2010 elections is a result of the 2008 elections, in which Democrats gained eight seats. The U.S. Senate is currently composed of 56 Democrats, 41 Republicans, and two Independents—Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, both of whom caucus with the Democrats—and one outstanding seat in Minnesota. Of the seats expected to be up for election in 2010, 19 are held by Republicans and 17 by Democrats.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey has stated he does not expect any other Democratic retirements besides Ted Kaufman.

Predictions

The following seats are considered safe in most current predictions:

Democratic: Arkansas, Delaware*, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Vermont.

Republican: Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.

Source	Safe Democratic	Likely Democratic	Leans Democratic	Tossup	Leans Republican	Likely Republican	Safe Republican
The Cook Political Report (updates) as of March 26, 2009	Hawaii New York*	California Nevada North Dakota Washington Wisconsin	Colorado	Connecticut Florida Illinois Kentucky Missouri New Hampshire Ohio	Louisiana Pennsylvania	North Carolina Oklahoma	Kansas Iowa Texas[a]
CQ Politics
The Rothenberg Political Report (updates) as of March 11, 2009	California Hawaii Illinois Washington	Connecticut North Dakota New York* Wisconsin	Colorado Nevada	Florida Kentucky Missouri New Hampshire Ohio	Louisiana North Carolina Pennsylvania	Iowa	Kansas Oklahoma
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball (updates) as of February 19, 2009	California Hawaii North Dakota Washington Wisconsin	Connecticut	Nevada New York*	Colorado Florida Illinois Kentucky Louisiana Missouri New Hampshire Ohio	Pennsylvania North Carolina		Arizona Oklahoma
The Swing State Project (ratings) as of February 28, 2009	New York*	Illinois Nevada Connecticut Wisconsin	Colorado	Florida Kentucky Missouri New Hampshire Ohio	North Carolina Pennsylvania	Lousiana Texas	Arizona Oklahoma
Campaign Diaries (rankings) as of February 2009		California Connecticut Hawaii New York* North Dakota Washington Wisconsin	Colorado Illinois Nevada	Florida Kentucky Missouri New Hampshire Ohio Pennsylvania	Kansas Louisiana North Carolina	Arizona Iowa	Oklahoma

a. ^{^} Assumption made for resignation of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) to run for Governor of Texas.

Overview of races

Retiring Democratic Senators

Ted Kaufman of Delaware

Main article: United States Senate special election in Delaware, 2010

Democratic Senator Joe Biden was simultaneously reelected to the U.S. Senate and elected Vice President of the United States on November 4, 2008. Although Biden was sworn in for his seventh term on January 6, 2009, he tendered his resignation effective January 15 in preparation for taking office as Vice President on January 20, 2009.

On November 24, 2008, former Democratic Governor Ruth Ann Minner announced Biden would be replaced by Democrat Ted Kaufman, his former chief of staff, sometime in January 2009. He was subsequently sworn in on January 16. A special election for the remainder of the term, which expires on January 3, 2015, will be held in 2010. Kaufman announced that he will not be a candidate in the special election.

Christine O'Donnell, the Republican nominee who ran against and lost to Joe Biden in 2008, has announced that she will run again. Former Republican Governor and U.S. Representative Mike Castle, who represents the state at large in the U.S. House, is also considering a run.

On the Democratic side, Vice President Biden's son Beau, the current Attorney General of Delaware who is serving in active duty in Iraq, is considering a run and would be an early favorite to win the nomination for his father's seat.

Democrat Barack Obama won 62% of the vote in Delaware in the 2008 presidential election.

The seat will be up for election again in 2014 for a full six-year term.

Retiring Republican Senators

Kit Bond of Missouri

Main article: United States Senate election in Missouri, 2010

Four-term incumbent Republican Senator Kit Bond was reelected with 56 percent of the vote in 2004. He will be 71 years old in 2010. He has announced that he will not seek reelection, creating a vacancy.

Republican U.S. Representative Roy Blunt, who represents Missouri's 7th congressional district (Southwest Missouri) in the U.S. House, has announced his candidacy. Former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who sought but narrowly lost the Republican gubernatorial nomination in August 2008 to Kenny Hulshof, is also considering a run for the Republican nomination.. Former U.S. Senator Jim Talent, who unseated in 2006 by Democrat Claire McCaskill, has announced that he will not run.

On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (daughter of former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan and former Governor Mel Carnahan) entered the race on February 3, 2009, and is widely considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. She also enters the race as the early favorite. In 2008, Carnahan won her second term as Secretary of State with near 1.7 million votes, the most votes ever cast for a single candidate in Missouri state history.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain defeated Barack Obama 49.43% to 49.29% in 2008.

Sam Brownback of Kansas

Main article: United States Senate election in Kansas, 2010

Former 2008 Republican presidential candidate and two-term incumbent Sen. Sam Brownback has stated that he will not run for reelection in 2010 because of self-imposed term limits.

On the Republican side, U.S. Representative Jerry Moran of Kansas's 1st congressional district has filed papers with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to run for the U.S. Senate seat. Another Republican U.S. Representative, Todd Tiahrt of Kansas's 4th congressional district, has also announced his candidacy for the seat, setting up what is expected to be a bruising GOP primary.

Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who was quite popular in Kansas, was seen as a potential candidate because of term limits preventing her from seeking another term as Governor. Instead, Sebelius accepted the nomination by President Barack Obama to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, laying the possibility that she will run for the U.S. Senate to rest.

John McCain carried Kansas with 56.50% of the vote in 2008.

Judd Gregg of New Hampshire

Main article: United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2010

Three-term Republican incumbent U.S. Senator Judd Gregg was reelected in 2004 with 66 percent of the vote. Gregg had originally announced his intention to run for a fourth term, but was nominated to the position of United States Secretary of Commerce by President Barack Obama in early February 2009. However, Gregg withdrew his nomination on February 12, 2009 citing "irresolvable conflicts" over policy related to the Commerce Department. Gregg has stated he will not run again.

Democratic U.S. Representative Paul Hodes is running for this seat. The state's other U.S. Representative, Carol Shea-Porter, also a Democrat, announced on Monday March 16, 2009, that she would not run for the seat. Her decision averted a primary battle against and has thus cleared the way for Hodes.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Senator John Sununu, who was ousted in 2008 by former Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen, is a potential candidate.

New Hampshire gave 54% of its vote to Barack Obama in 2008.

Mel Martinez of Florida

Main article: United States Senate election in Florida, 2010

Freshman Republican Senator Mel Martinez was elected in a very close race against Democrat Betty Castor in 2004 with just 49 percent of the vote. Martinez is a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the George W. Bush Administration. Martinez announced on December 2, 2008, that he would not seek a second term in the U.S. Senate.

On the Republican side, the only announced candidate is former New Hampshire U.S. Senator Bob Smith. Incumbent Governor Charlie Crist is seriously considering running for the seat, but will not announce his intentions on whether or not to run until May. Crist currently has high approval ratings in the state among Republicans and Democrats and would be considered a formidable candidate. Former Republican Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Marco Rubio is preparing for a run at the seat, though hasn't yet made a formal announcement. It was rumored that Rubio would run for Governor should Crist run for the U.S. Senate seat, but in early March, Rubio filed the paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate and has been meeting with fundraisers and supporters throughout the state. U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan, who represents Florida's 13th congressional district,, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Allan Bense,, and State House Majority Leader Adam Hasner,, are also potential Republican candidates.

Some other minor candidates who are running are Bob Coggins,, a former Shores city councilman, attorney Linda Vasquez Littlefield, evangelist and consultant Gwendolyn McClellan, and physician and 2008 congressional candidate Marion Thorpe.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek,, who represents Florida's 17th congressional district, State Senator Dan Gelber, North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns Marine Corps veteran George Lovenguth, and pastor Tyrone Brown have all announced their candidacies for the seat. Mayor Pam Iorio of Tampa and U.S. Representative Ron Klein of Florida's 22nd congressional district are also considering running.

Florida gave Barack Obama 51% of the vote in 2008.

George Voinovich of Ohio

Main article: United States Senate election in Ohio, 2010

Two-term Republican incumbent George Voinovich was reelected with 64 percent of the vote in 2004. Voinovich, a former Mayor of Cleveland, Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Ohio, announced that he was going to retire rather than seek reelection to a third term in 2010, when he will be 74 years old.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Representative, U.S. Trade Representative and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Rob Portman announced his candidacy and appears to be the consensus choice among Republicans.

On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher and State Representative Tyrone Yates have announced their candidacies. U.S. Representatives Zack Space of Ohio's 18th congressional district and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio's 9th congressional district are also possible candidates.

Barack Obama won 51.5% of Ohio's vote in 2008.

Democratic incumbents

Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas

Main article: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2010

Two term Democratic incumbent Blanche Lincoln was reelected with 56 percent of the vote in 2004. Lincoln will seek reelection and has already held a major fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden.

Former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin is considering running against Lincoln as a Republican. Other potential Republican candidates include former U.S. Treasury Official French Hill, investment banker Patrick Calhoun, and former Army officer Tom Cotton.

John McCain won 59% of Arkansas's vote in 2008.

Barbara Boxer of California

Main article: United States Senate election in California, 2010

Three-term Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer was reelected with 58 percent of the vote in 2004. In February 2007, she announced that she would seek a fourth term in 2010, when she will be 70 years old.

On the Republican side, state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore of California's 70th State Assembly district has announced his candidacy. Telecommunications sales executive Al Ramirez is also forming an exploratory committee to challenge Boxer. Former Hewlitt-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is another possible candidate.

Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ruled out a run for U.S. Senate when his term as Governor expires.

Barack Obama won 61% of California's vote in 2008.

Michael Bennet of Colorado

Main article: United States Senate election in Colorado, 2010

Following the resignation of first term Democratic Senator Ken Salazar to become President Barack Obama's Secretary of the Interior, Democratic Governor Bill Ritter selected Michael Bennet, the former Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, to fill Salazar's seat for the remainder of his term. Bennet has stated that he will run for a full term in 2010.

Former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Andrew Romanoff may challenge Bennet in the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Representative and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Tom Tancredo, as well as former Congressman and 2006 gubernatorial nominee Bob Beauprez, Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, radio talk-show host Dan Caplis, and Denver businessman Cleve Tidwell are potential candidates.

Barack Obama won 54% of Colorado's vote in 2008.

Christopher Dodd of Connecticut

Main article: United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010

Five-term incumbent Christopher Dodd was reelected with 66% of the vote in 2004. On January 17, 2007, he submitted a letter to the Federal Election Commission declaring that he was no longer a candidate for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2010, a action which enabled him to transfer contributions to his presidential campaign. A Dodd spokesman said, "It's a legality that isn't an indication of future plans."

In early 2009, Dodd announced that he was running for reelection. However, there seems to remain some speculation that Dodd may retire due to his involvement in the AIG bonus payments controversy, his receiving a "sweetheart" loan from Countrywide Financial, and his involvement with fundraiser and investor Allen Stanford, who has been accused of running a Ponzi scheme.

Because of these allegations, the Republicans are undoubtedly going to heavily target Dodd in 2010. Former U.S. Representative Rob Simmons (R) and State Senator Sam Caligiuri have both announced their candidacies and have agreed to focus their attention on Dodd, rather than attack each other in the GOP primary. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley is also considering a run.

A March 2009 poll by Quinnipiac University showed Simmons narrowly ahead of Dodd by a margin of 43 percent to 42 percent. The same poll showed Dodd ahead of Caligiuri by a margin of 47 percent to 34 percent. An April Quinnipiac poll showed Dodd losing to Simmons by 16 points and also losing to Caligiuri

Daniel Inouye of Hawaii

Main article: United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2010

Eight-term incumbent Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) was reelected with 76 percent of the vote in 2004 and has announced that he would seek another term. He will be 86 years old in 2010.

One potential challenger is incumbent Governor Linda Lingle (R), a moderate who enjoys positive approval ratings in this heavily blue state .

Roland Burris of Illinois

Main article: United States Senate elections in Illinois, 2010

Former Attorney General of Illinois Roland Burris (D) was appointed by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) on December 31, 2008, to fill the U.S. Senate seat of Barack Obama who had resigned to become President. At the time, Blagojevich was facing corruption charges and members of the U.S. Senate declared that they wouldn't seat anyone the former Governor picked. It was argued that they had no legal authority to do so, and on January 12, 2009, the Democratic Senatorial Caucus announced that they would seat Burris. On February 17, 2009, the Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office in Illinois began investigating Burris for perjury.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) has signaled that he will seek the Democratic nomination. Also rumored to be considering a run is former U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley, the brother of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (D).

The only declared Republican candidate so far is controversial journalist and perennial candidate Andy Martin. U.S. Representatives Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam are also considering running for the seat.

Evan Bayh of Indiana

Main article: United States Senate election in Indiana, 2010

Two-term incumbent and former two-term Governor Evan Bayh (D) was reelected with 62 percent of the vote in 2004. Although Indiana is a red state, it narrowly voted for Barack Obama over John McCain in 2008 and Bayh has established himself as a moderate/centrist Democrat that bodes well for his typically conservative constituencies in the Hoosier State.

NRSCC chairman John Cornyn said he does not expect the Republicans to fundraise and compete against Bayh in 2010.

The only declared Republican candidate so far is Don Bates, Jr., a branch manager for Wachovia Securities. Republicans shake up leadership</ref>. Tax attorney Dan Dumezich is considering a run.

Barbara Mikulski of Maryland

Main article: United States Senate election in Maryland, 2010

Four-term incumbent Barbara Mikulski was reelected with 65 percent of the vote in 2004. No challenger has emerged in what would likely be a futile endeavor against a popular Democratic U.S. Senator in a heavily blue state.

Harry Reid of Nevada

Main article: United States Senate election in Nevada, 2010

Four-term Democratic incumbent and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was reelected with 61 percent of the vote in 2004. He will seek a fifth term in 2010, when he will be 71 years old.

Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki is considering a possible run and is trying to lay the groundwork to mount a serious campaign against Reid., but his status as a candidate has been uncertain since his inditement for felony charges. Former Republican U.S. Representative Jon Porter, who was defeated by Democrat Dina Titus in Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2008, may also run. Republican former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle is also considering challenging Reid.

Obama won Nevada with 55% of the vote in 2008.

Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

Main article: United States Senate special election in New York, 2010

Incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand (D) was appointed by Governor David Paterson (D-New York) to fill this seat on January 23, 2009, after former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton resigned to take up her appointment as U.S. Secretary of State. Gillibrand will serve until the seat is filled in a 2010 special election. The winner of the 2010 election may then decide whether or not to run for a full term in 2012. Gillibrand has filed paperwork to seek a full term.

U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D) is considering challenging Gillibrand in the 2010 Democratic primary because of Gillibrand's support for gun rights.

On the Republican side, U.S. Representative Peter T. King (R) is strongly considering a run. Former Governor George Pataki (R) has met with GOP officials about a possible run, but officials say it is unlikely he will jump in.

Chuck Schumer of New York

Main article: United States Senate election in New York, 2010

Two-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Schumer (D), the former chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) was reelected with 71 percent of the vote in 2004. He is expected to easily coast to a third term.

Byron Dorgan of North Dakota

Main article: United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2010

Three-term incumbent Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) was reelected with 68 percent of the vote in 2004. He will be 68 years old in 2010.

Republicans are trying to get popular Governor John Hoeven (R) to run.

Ron Wyden of Oregon

Main article: United States Senate election in Oregon, 2010

Two-term incumbent Sen. Ron Wyden (D) was reelected with 64 percent of the vote in 2004. A fairly liberal senior senator in a trending-blue state, Wyden is not expected to face much competition.

Patrick Leahy of Vermont

Main article: United States Senate election in Vermont, 2010

Six-term incumbent Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) was reelected with 71 percent of the vote in 2004. Although he will be 70 years old in 2010, Leahy exercises immense clout in the U.S. Senate as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and represents an extremely blue state. So far, no major opposition has emerged.

Cannabis legal reform activist and perennial candidate Cris Ericson has announced her candidacy as an independent.

Patty Murray of Washington

Main article: United States Senate election in Washington, 2010

Three-term incumbent Sen. Patty Murray (D) was reelected with 55 percent of the vote in 2004 over former U.S. Representative George Nethercutt (R) in 2004.

So far, the only declared Republican candidates are truck driver and U.S. Army veteran Wayne Glover and Sean Salazar, a chiropractor, U.S. Navy veteran and 2001 U.S. House candidate. U.S. Representative Dave Reichert (R) is also mentioned as a possible candidate.

Russ Feingold of Wisconsin

Main article: United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2010

Three-term incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold (D) was reelected with 55 percent of the vote in 2004. He will be 57 years old in 2010.

Feingold has announced his campaign staff for reelection and is expected to announce his formal election intentions soon. He will more than likely win should he run for a fourth term in blue-leaning Wisconsin.

Republican incumbents

Richard Shelby of Alabama

Main article: United States Senate election in Alabama, 2010

Four-term incumbent Sen. Richard Shelby (R), a conservative former Democrat who switched parties in 1994 when Republicans took control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, was reelected with 68 percent of the vote in 2004. Shelby's 2010 campaign committee had over $13 million on hand as of September 30, 2008, and will stand for reelection in 2010. He will likely coast to victory in deeply red Alabama.

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Main article: United States Senate election in Alaska, 2010

One-term incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) narrowly defeated former Governor Tony Knowles (D-Alaska) in 2004 with just 49 percent of the vote.

Murkowski will seek reelection and will have fundraising aid from Sarah Palin.

John McCain of Arizona

Main article: United States Senate election in Arizona, 2010

2008 Republican presidential nominee and four-term incumbent Sen. John McCain (R) was reelected with 77 percent of the vote in 2004. McCain has signaled his intention to run for a fifth term in 2010, when he will be 74 years old.

U.S. Navy veteran and businessman Jim Deakin is challenging McCain in the Republican primary. Former U.S. Representative J.D. Hayworth may challenge McCain in the primary as well.

On the Democratic side, the only declared candidate so far is former Mayor Rudy Garcia (D-Bell Gardens, California). Former Governor Janet Napolitano (D) was seen as a likely and formidable candidate to challenge McCain in 2010 when she would be ineligible to run for a third term as Governor due to term limits. Instead, she opted to fill the appointment by President Barack Obama to be Secretary of Homeland Security.

Johnny Isakson of Georgia

Main article: United States Senate election in Georgia, 2010

First-term incumbent Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) was elected with 58 percent of the vote in 2004. On May 8, 2008, Isakson announced that he would not run for Governor of Georgia and would instead run for reelection to the U.S. Senate. U.S. Representative Paul Broun (R) has expressed interest in running for the U.S. Senate in 2010, which could potentially lead to a bruising primary.

On the Democratic side, lawyer and party activist Jim Butler and U.S. Representative Jim Marshall have been talked about as possible challengers as well in 2010.

Mike Crapo of Idaho

Main article: United States Senate election in Idaho, 2010

Two-term incumbent Sen. Mike Crapo (R) was reelected against only token write-in opposition with 99 percent of the vote in 2004 after Idaho Democrats failed to produce a candidate before the filing deadline. Crapo may likely run unopposed again in 2010 as the Democratic bench is thin in reliably red Idaho.

Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Main article: United States Senate election in Iowa, 2010

Five-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Grassley (R), former Chair and Ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, was reelected with 70 percent of the vote in 2004.

Democratic challenger Bob Krause is a former state legislator, Army veteran and transportation official. Krause has said that Grassley's more than half-century in public office is too long. "As a good farmer, Sen. Grassley must recognize that 51 years, or 58 years at the end of his term, is a long time to go without rotating crops," Krause told about 50 supporters in Des Moines. Krause cited Grassley's support in 1999 for legislation that allowed banks and insurance companies to begin offering other investment products. "Please remember that Farmer Grassley was one that opened the barn door and let the cow out at AIG," Krause said.

Jim Bunning of Kentucky

Main article: United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2010

Baseball Hall of Famer and two-term Republican incumbent Sen. Jim Bunning was narrowly reelected with 51% of the vote in 2004 against his Democratic opponent, then-state Senator Daniel Mongiardo, after several of Bunning's controversial actions made the race close. Bunning intends to run for reelection, but some Republicans are trying to talk Bunning out of running again. Bunning has continued to make controversial comments in 2009, such as predicting that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be dead in nine months. The Republican State Senate President David L. Williams is considering challenging Bunning in the primary and Secretary of State Trey Grayson and eye surgeon Rand Paul, son of U.S. Representative and 2008 presidential candidate Ron Paul, have said they would be interested in running if Bunning decided to retire.

On the Democratic side two statewide elected Democrats have announced their candidacies: now- Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo, a practicing surgeon, announced that he will challenge Bunning again in 2010 and has received the endorsement of Democratic Governor Steve Beshear, and Attorney General Jack Conway. Former U.S. Customs Agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price has also announced her candidacy. Other Democrats considering a run are State Auditor Crit Luallen and Congressman Ben Chandler; however, with Conway in the race, they are likely to back him. McCain won Kentucky with 57% of the vote in 2008.

David Vitter of Louisiana

Main article: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010

One-term incumbent Sen. David Vitter (R) was elected over former U.S. Representative Chris John (D) with 51 percent of the vote in 2004. While his election marked the first time that the state elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction, Vitter's reelection bid may become complicated by a prostitution scandal that was revealed in 2007. However, Vitter has announced that he will seek reelection. He may be challenged in the Republican primary by Secretary of State Jay Dardenne [6].

Richard Burr of North Carolina

Main article: United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2010

First-term incumbent Sen. Richard Burr (R) was elected over former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles (D) with just 52 percent of the vote in 2004. While North Carolina is a fairly conservative state, the state was narrowly won by Barack Obama in 2008. During the same election, now-incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan ousted Elizabeth Dole by nine points, and Democrats picked up a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina's 8th congressional district. Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue (D) was also elected to Governor at the same time.

The only declared Democratic candidate so far is Army veteran, graphic artist and 2006 and 2008 congressional candidate John Hendrix. It is widely speculated, however, that Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) will enter the race to challenge Burr. Recent polls show Cooper narrowly defeating Burr in hypothetical matchups.

Tom Coburn of Oklahoma

Main article: United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2010

One-term incumbent Sen. Tom Coburn (R) was elected with 53 percent of the vote in 2004. Coburn raised less than $20,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and reports less than $55,000 "cash on hand." This has caused some observers to speculate that he is not preparing to run for reelection in 2010. Instead, some believe he may retire and run for Governor of Oklahoma.

There has also been speculation that Governor Brad Henry (D) may challenge Coburn since he will be term-limited to run for Governor in 2010, although he has expressed no interest at the time.

Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania

Main article: United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2010

Five-term incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter (R) was reelected with 53 percent of the vote in 2004. He will seek a sixth term in 2010, when he will be 80 years old. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and again in 2008.

Specter has become increasingly unpopular among conservatives in the state and nationally for his vote in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the economic stimulus bill) which could set up a tough reelection campaign for him in both the primary and general elections. Former U.S. Representative and President of the Club for Growth Pat Toomey (R), who came within 1.7 percent of defeating Specter in the 2004 GOP primary, is considering challenging Specter again in the primary. Businessman Larry Murphy, who challenged Specter in the 1998 primary, and 1994 and 1998 Constitution Party gubernatorial candidate Peg Luksik have both announced that they will also challenge Specter in the primary.

On the Democratic side, Pennsylvania State School Board Chairman, former president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and former Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia Joe Torsella (D) has announced that he will run. U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz is also mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate.

Jim DeMint of South Carolina

Main article: United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2010

First-term incumbent Sen. Jim DeMint (R) was elected over Inez Tenenbaum (D) with 54 percent of the vote in 2004. DeMint, who was ranked as the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate, will likely coast to a second term as the Democratic bench is relatively weak in this GOP bastion.

John Thune of South Dakota

Main article: United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2010

One-term incumbent Sen. John Thune (R) was narrowly elected over Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D) with 51 percent of the vote in 2004. Thune will likely run for a second term in 2010.

Some speculate that U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D), who represents the state at large in the U.S. House of Representatives, would be a strong challenger against Thune since she has experience winning statewide election by large margins in a relatively red state.

Bob Bennett of Utah

Main article: United States Senate election in Utah, 2010

Three-term incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett (R) was reelected with 69 percent of the vote in 2004. He will be 77 years old in 2010 and intends to run for reelection.

It is very possible that Bennett, who was rated one of the ten most liberal Republicans in the Senate, will face a tougher primary election then he will a general election in safely Republican Utah. State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (R) , as are former Juab County prosecutor David Leavitt(R) and former Gubenatorial counsel Mike Lee.

Senate contests in 2010

State	Incumbent	Party	Status	Other candidates	Last Election Results
AL	Richard Shelby	Republican	Running for reelection		Richard Shelby (R) 67.55% Wayne Sowell (D) 32.35%
AK	Lisa Murkowski	Republican	Running for reelection		Lisa Murkowski (R) 48.58% Tony Knowles (D) 45.55% Marc Millican (I) 2.88% Jerry Sanders (AKI) 1.23% Jim Sykes (G) 0.99%
AZ	John McCain	Republican	Running for reelection	Jim Deakin Rudy Garcia	John McCain (R) 76.74% Stuart Starky (D) 20.62% Ernest Hancock (L) 2.64%
AR	Blanche Lincoln	Democratic	Running for reelection		Blanche Lincoln (D) 55.90% Jim Holt (R) 44.07%
CA	Barbara Boxer	Democratic	Running for reelection	Chuck DeVore Al Ramirez	Barbara Boxer (D) 57.71% Bill Jones (R) 37.80% Marsha J. Feinland (P&F) 2.02% James P. Gray (L) 1.80%
CO	Michael Bennet	Democratic	Running for election		Ken Salazar (D) 51.30% Pete Coors (R) 46.53%
CT	Chris Dodd	Democratic	Running for reelection	Sam Caligiuri Rob Simmons	Chris Dodd (D) 66.35% Jack Orchulli (R) 32.13%
DE1	Ted Kaufman	Democratic	Retiring	Christine O'Donnell	Joe Biden (D) 64.69% Christine O'Donnell (R) 35.31%
FL	Mel Martinez	Republican	Retiring	Tyrone Brown Kevin Burns Bob Coggins Dan Gelber Linda Vasquez Littlefield George Lovenguth Gwendolyn McClellan Kendrick Meek Marco Rubio Marion Thorpe	Mel Martinez (R) 49.43% Betty Castor (D) 48.32% Dennis F. Bradley (V) 2.24%
GA	Johnny Isakson	Republican	Running for reelection		Johnny Isakson (R) 57.88% Denise Majette (D) 39.98% Allen Buckley (L) 2.14%
HI	Daniel Inouye	Democratic	Running for reelection		Daniel Inouye (D) 75.51% Campbell Cavasso (R) 20.99% Jim Brewer (I) 2.23% Lloyd Jeffrey Mallan (L) 1.27%
ID	Mike Crapo	Republican			Mike Crapo (R) 99.18% Write-ins 0.82%
IL	Roland Burris	Democratic		Alexi Giannoulias Andy Martin	Barack Obama (D) 69.97% Alan Keyes (R) 27.05% Albert Franzen (I) 1.58% Jerry Kohn (L) 1.35%
IN	Evan Bayh	Democratic		Don Bates, Jr.	Evan Bayh (D) 61.65% Marvin Scott (R) 37.23% Albert Barger (L) 1.13%
IA	Chuck Grassley	Republican			Chuck Grassley (R) 70.18% Arthur Small (D) 27.88% Christy Ann Welty (L) 1.03%
KS	Sam Brownback	Republican	Retiring	Jerry Moran Todd Tiahrt	Sam Brownback (R) 69.16% Lee Jones (D) 27.49% Steven Rosile (L) 1.93% George Cook (Ref) 1.42%
KY	Jim Bunning	Republican	Running for reelection	Darlene Fitzgerald Price Daniel Mongiardo	Jim Bunning (R) 50.66% Daniel Mongiardo (D) 49.34%
LA	David Vitter	Republican	Running for reelection		David Vitter (R) 51.03% Chris John (D) 29.34% John Kennedy (D) 14.92% Arthur Morrell (D) 2.56%
MD	Barbara Mikulski	Democratic			Barbara Mikulski (D) 64.77% E. J. Pipkin (R) 33.71% Maria Allwine (G) 1.07%
MO	Kit Bond	Republican	Retiring	Roy Blunt Robin Carnahan	Kit Bond (R) 56.09% Nancy Farmer (D) 42.80% Other 1%
NV	Harry Reid	Democratic	Running for reelection		Harry Reid (D) 61.08% Richard Ziser (R) 35.14% None 1.60% Thomas L. Hurst (L) 1.18%
NH	Judd Gregg	Republican	Likely retiring	Paul Hodes	Judd Gregg (R) 66.18% Doris Haddock (D) 33.72%
NY	Chuck Schumer	Democratic			Chuck Schumer (D) 71.16% Howard Mills (R) 24.24% Marilyn F. O'Grady (C) 3.30%
NY2	Kirsten Gillibrand	Democratic	Running for election		Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) 67.00% John Spencer (R) 31.01% Howie Hawkins (G) 1.24%
NC	Richard Burr	Republican		John Hendrix	Richard Burr (R) 51.60% Erskine Bowles (D) 47.02% Tom Bailey (L) 1.38%
ND	Byron Dorgan	Democratic			Byron Dorgan (D) 68.28% Mike Liffrig (R) 31.72%
OH	George Voinovich	Republican	Retiring	Jennifer Brunner Lee Fisher Rob Portman Tyrone Yates	George Voinovich (R) 63.85% Eric Fingerhut (D) 36.14%
OK	Tom Coburn	Republican			Tom Coburn (R) 52.77% Brad Carson (D) 41.24% Sheila Bilyeu (I) 5.99%
OR	Ron Wyden	Democratic			Ron Wyden (D) 63.39% Al King (R) 31.75% Teresa Kean (G) 2.42% Dan Fitzgerald (L) 1.66%
PA	Arlen Specter	Republican	Running for reelection	Peg Luksik Larry Murphy Joe Torsella	Arlen Specter (R) 52.62% Joe Hoeffel (D) 41.99% James N. Clymer (C) 3.96% Betsy Summers (L) 1.43%
SC	Jim DeMint	Republican			Jim DeMint (R) 53.67% Inez Tenenbaum (D) 44.10%
SD	John Thune	Republican	Running for reelection		John Thune (R) 50.58% Tom Daschle (D) 49.42%
UT	Bob Bennett	Republican	Running for reelection		Bob Bennett (R) 68.73% Paul Van Dam (D) 28.40% Gary R. Van Horn (C) 1.90%
VT	Patrick Leahy	Democratic		Cris Ericson	Patrick Leahy (D) 70.63% Jack McMullen (R) 24.54% Cris Ericson (M) 2.11% Craig Hill (G) 1.30% Keith Stern (I) 1.07%
WA	Patty Murray	Democratic		Wayne Glover Sean Salazar	Patty Murray (D) 54.98% George Nethercutt (R) 42.74% J. Mills (L) 1.21% Mark B. Wilson (G) 1.08%
WI	Russ Feingold	Democratic	Running for reelection		Russ Feingold (D) 55.35% Tim Michels (R) 44.11%

1. Special election due to the resignation of Vice President Joe Biden
2. Special election due to the resignation of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

See also

United States House of Representatives elections, 2010