2008 United States Senate elections

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates The 2008 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, 2008, with 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested. 33 seats were up for regular elections; the winners were eligible to serve 6-year terms from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2015, as members of Class 2. There were also 2 special elections, the winners of those seats would finish the terms that ended on January 3, 2013. The presidential election, which was won by Democrat Barack Obama, elections for all House of Representatives seats; elections for several gubernatorial elections; and many state and local elections occurred on the same date.

Going into these elections, the Senate consisted of 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 2 Independents who caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democratic caucus the slightest 51–49 majority. Of the seats up for election in 2008, 23 were held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. The Republicans, who openly conceded early on that they would not be able to regain the majority in this election, lost 8 seats. Democratic candidates defeated Republican incumbents in Alaska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and, after a lengthy recount process, Minnesota. Additionally, they won Republican-held open seats in Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia.

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 was 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. The NRSC chair, senator John Ensign, took the unusual step of chastising the Republican Senators who, like him, were not facing re-election, and who he thought should have done more to help raise money for their colleagues.

This election cycle was the second cycle in a row in which no seats switched from Democratic to Republican, and the first since 1990 in which the Democrats retained all their seats. In addition, this was the largest Democratic Senate gain since 1986, where they also won 8 seats. These elections marked the first time since 1964 in which a Democratic presidential candidate who won the White House had a Senate coattail effect. As of 2024, this is the last time Democrats won U.S. Senate seats in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Dakota.

As of 2025, this is the most recent time in which the Democratic Party won a majority of Class 2 Senate seats in a regularly scheduled election.

Along with 2 independents who caucus with them, Democrats held at least 58 seats as a result of the elections. The April 2009 party switch of Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter from Republican to Democrat and the July 2009 resolution of the Minnesota election in favor of Democrat Al Franken increased the Democratic majority to 60–40 (briefly providing the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority, and thus they were able to hypothetically override any filibusters). Republicans gained a seat in a January 2010 special election in Massachusetts, thereby making the balance 59–41 before the start of the next election cycle.

Results summary

↓

style="background:Template:Party color; width:57%" | 57

style="background:Template:Party color; color:black; width:2%" | 2

style="background:Template:Party color; width:41%" | 41

style="width:57%;color:Template:Party color"| Democratic

Independent

style="width:41%;color:Template:Party color"| Republican

Summary of the 2008 United States Senate elections results

Parties		style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Total
		Democratic	Republican	Independent	Libertarian	Independence	Green	Others
Before these elections		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 49	49	2	—	—	—	—	100
Not up	Class 1 (2006→2012)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 22	8	2	—	—	—	—	31
	Class 3 (2004→2010)	15	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 19	—	—	—	—	—	34
	Total	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 37	26	2	—	—	—	—	65
Up	Class 1	—	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 2	—	—	—	—	—	2
	Class 2	12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 21	—	—	—	—	—	33
	Total	12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 23	—	—	—	—	—	35
Incumbent retired	Total before	—	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 5	—	—	—	—	—	5
	Held by same party	—	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 2	—	—	—	—	—	2
	Replaced by other party	colspan=2 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Decrease 3 Republicans replaced by Increase 3 Democrats	—	—	—	—	—	3
	Result after	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 3	2	—	—	—	—	—	5
Incumbent ran	Total before	12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 18	—	—	—	—	—	30
	Won election	12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | 13	—	—	—	—	—	25
	Lost election	colspan=2 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Decrease 5 Republicans replaced by Increase 5 Democrats	—	—	—	—	—	5
	Result after	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 17	13	—	—	—	—	—	30
Net gain/loss		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Increase 8	Decrease 8	—	—	—	—	—	8
Total elected		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 20	15	—	—	—	—	—	35
Nation-wide vote	Votes	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 33,650,061	28,863,067	176,752	798,154	450,702	427,427	496,124	64,862,287
	Share	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 51.88%	44.50%	0.27%	1.23%	0.69%	0.66%	0.76%	100%
Result		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 57	41	2	—	—	—	—	100

Sources:

• Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party, via TheGreenPapers.com

Change in composition

Before the elections

style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D1	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D2	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D3	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D4	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D5	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D6	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D7	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D8	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D9	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D10
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Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D40 Ill. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D39 Del. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D38 Ark. Ran	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D37	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D36	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D35	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D34	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D33	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D32	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D31
Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D41 Iowa Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D42 La. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D43 Mass. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D44 Mich. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D45 Mont. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D46 N.J. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D47 R.I. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D48 S.D. Ran	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D49 W.Va. Ran	Template:Party shading/Independent | I1
Majority (with Independents) ↑									rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Independent | I2
Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R41 Tenn. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R42 Texas Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R43 Wyo. (reg) Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R44 Wyo. (sp) Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R45 Colo. Retired	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R46 Idaho Retired	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R47 Neb. Retired	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R48 N.M. Retired	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R49 Va. Retired
Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R40 S.C. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R39 Ore. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R38 Okla. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R37 N.C. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R36 N.H. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R35 Miss. (sp) Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R34 Miss. (reg) Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R33 Minn. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R32 Me. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R31 Ky. Ran
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R21	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R22	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R23	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R24	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R25	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R26	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R27 Ala. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R28 Alaska Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R29 Ga. Ran	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R30 Kan. Ran
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R20	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R19	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R18	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R17	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R16	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R15	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R14	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R13	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R11
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R1	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R2	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R3	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R4	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R5	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R6	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R7	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R8	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R9	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R10

After the elections

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Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D40 Ill. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D39 Del. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D38 Ark. Re-elected	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D37	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D36	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D35	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D34	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D33	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D32	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D31
Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D41 Iowa Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D42 La. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D43 Mass. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D44 Mich. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D45 Mont. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D46 N.J. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D47 R.I. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D48 S.D. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D49 W.Va. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D50 Alaska Gain
Majority →									rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D51 Colo. Gain
Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R41 Wyo. (sp) ElectedTemplate:Efn	Vacant Minn. Disputed	Template:Party shading/Independent | I2	Template:Party shading/Independent | I1	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D56 Va. Gain	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D55 Ore. Gain	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D54 N.C. Gain	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D53 N.M. Gain	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D52 N.H. Gain
Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R40 Wyo. (reg) Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R39 Texas Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R38 Tenn. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R37 S.C. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R36 Okla. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R35 Neb. Hold	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R34 Miss. (sp) ElectedTemplate:Efn	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R33 Miss. (reg) Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R32 Me. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R31 Ky. Re-elected
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R21	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R22	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R23	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R24	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R25	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R26	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R27 Ala. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R28 Ga. Re-elected	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R29 Idaho Hold	Template:Party shading/Republican/active | R30 Kan. Re-elected
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R20	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R19	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R18	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R17	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R16	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R15	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R14	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R13	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R11
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R1	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R2	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R3	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R4	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R5	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R6	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R7	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R8	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R9	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R10

Beginning of the first session

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style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D40	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D39	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D38	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D37	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D36	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D35	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D34	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D33	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D32	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D31
style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D41	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D42	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D43	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D44	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D45	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D46	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D47	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D48	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D49	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D50
Majority →									rowspan=2 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D51
Template:Party shading/Independent | I2	Template:Party shading/Independent | I1	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D58 Minn. Gain	Template:Party shading/Democratic/active | D57 Penn. Changed	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D56	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D55	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D54	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D53	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D52
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R40	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R39	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R38	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R37	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R36	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R35	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R34	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R33	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R32	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R31
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R21	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R22	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R23	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R24	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R25	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R26	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R27	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R28	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R29	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R30
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R20	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R19	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R18	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R17	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R16	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R15	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R14	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R13	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R12	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R11
style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R1	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R2	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R3	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R4	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R5	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R6	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R7	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R8	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R9	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R10

Key:	align=center width=35px style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | D# Democratic align=center width=35px Template:Party shading/Independent | I# Independent align=center width=35px style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | R# Republican

Race summary

Special elections during the 110th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 2008 or before January 3, 2009, sorted by election date, then state, then class.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Mississippi (Class 1)		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2007 (appointed)	Interim appointee elected.	Template:Plainlist
Wyoming (Class 1)		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2007 (appointed)	Interim appointee elected.	Template:Plainlist

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 2009; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Alabama		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Alaska		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1968 (appointed) 1970 (special) 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
Arkansas		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Colorado		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
Delaware		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Georgia		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002	Incumbent re-elected in runoff.	Template:Plainlist
Idaho		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1990 1996 2002	Template:Party shading/Republican/Hold | Incumbent retired. Republican hold.	Template:Plainlist
Illinois		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Iowa		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Kansas		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Kentucky		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Louisiana		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Maine		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Massachusetts		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Michigan		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Minnesota		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002	Template:Party shading/Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic (DFL) gain. Winner delayed term until July 7, 2009, due to election dispute.	Template:Plainlist
Mississippi		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Montana		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Nebraska		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	Template:Party shading/Republican/Hold | Incumbent retired. Republican hold.	Template:Plainlist
New Hampshire		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
New Jersey		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1982 1982 (appointed) 1988 1994 2000 (retired) 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
New Mexico		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
North Carolina		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
Oklahoma		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1994 (special) 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Oregon		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
Rhode Island		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
South Carolina		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
South Dakota		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Tennessee		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Texas		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	2002 2002 (appointed)	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Virginia		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1978 1984 1990 1996 2002	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	Template:Plainlist
West Virginia		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	1984 1990 1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist
Wyoming		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	1996 2002	Incumbent re-elected.	Template:Plainlist

Special elections during the next Congress

There were no special elections in 2009.

Closest races

In nine races the margin of victory was under 10%. However, Georgia proceeded to a runoff election where the Republican candidate won by over 10%.

District	Winner	Margin
Minnesota	data-sort-value=-1 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic (flip)	0.01%
Alaska	data-sort-value=-1 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic (flip)	1.3%
Oregon	data-sort-value=-1 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic (flip)	3.6%
Georgia general	data-sort-value=0.5 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	3.0%
Kentucky	data-sort-value=0.5 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	5.9%
New Hampshire	data-sort-value=-1 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic (flip)	6.3%
Louisiana	data-sort-value=-0.5 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	6.4%
North Carolina	data-sort-value=-1 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic (flip)	8.5%
Mississippi special	data-sort-value=0.5 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	9.9%

South Dakota was the tipping point state, decided by a margin of 25.0%.

Final pre-election predictions

Several sites and individuals published predictions of competitive seats. These predictions looked at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent was running for re-election) and the other candidates, and the state's partisan lean (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assigned ratings to each seat, indicating the predicted advantage that a party had in winning that seat. Most election predictors used:

• "tossup": no advantage
• "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
• "lean": slight advantage
• "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage
• "safe" or "solid": near-certain chance of victory

Constituency	Incumbent		2008 election ratings
State	Senator	Last electionTemplate:Efn	Cook	CQ Politics	Rothenberg	RCP	Result
Alabama	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Sessions, Jeff" | Jeff Sessions	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="58.6" | 58.6% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="63.4" | Sessions (63.4%)
Alaska	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Stevens, Ted" | Ted Stevens	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="78.2" | 78.2% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-47.8" | Begich (47.8%)(flip)
Arkansas	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Pryor, Mark" | Mark Pryor	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-53.9" | 53.9% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-79.5" | Pryor (79.5%)
Colorado	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Allard, Wayne" | Wayne Allard (retiring)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="50.7" | 50.7% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-52.8" | M. Udall (52.8%) (flip)
Delaware	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Biden, Joe" | Joe Biden	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-58.2" | 58.2% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-64.7" | Biden (64.7%)
Georgia	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Chambliss, Saxby" | Saxby Chambliss	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="52.8" | 52.8% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="57.4" | Chambliss (57.4%)Template:Efn
Idaho	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Craig, Larry" | Larry Craig (retiring)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="65.2" | 65.2% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="57.7" | Risch (57.7%)
Illinois	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Durbin, Dick" | Dick Durbin	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-60.3" | 60.3% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-67.8" | Durbin (67.8%)
Iowa	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Harkin, Tom" | Tom Harkin	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-54.2" | 54.2% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-62.7" | Harkin (62.7%)
Kansas	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Roberts, Pat" | Pat Roberts	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="82.5" | 82.5% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="60.1" | Roberts (60.1%)
Kentucky	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="McConnell, Mitch" | Mitch McConnell	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="64.7" | 64.7% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="53.0" | McConnell (53.0%)
Louisiana	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Landrieu, Mary" | Mary Landrieu	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-51.7" | 51.7% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-52.1" | Landrieu (52.1%)
Maine	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Collins, Susan" | Susan Collins	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="58.4" | 58.4% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="61.3" | Collins (61.3%)
Massachusetts	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Kerry, John" | John Kerry	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-80.0" | 80.0% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-65.9" | Kerry (65.9%)
Michigan	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Levin, Carl" | Carl Levin	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-60.6" | 60.6% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-62.7" | Levin (62.7%)
Minnesota	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Coleman, Norm" | Norm Coleman	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="49.5" | 49.5% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:Party shading/DFL data-sort-value="-42.0" | Franken (42.0%)(flip)
Mississippi (regular)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Cochran, Thad" | Thad Cochran	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="84.6" | 84.6% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="61.4" | Cochran (61.4%)
Mississippi (special)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Wicker, Roger" | Roger Wicker	Template:Party shading/Vacant | Appointed (2007)Template:Efn	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="55.0" | Wicker (55.0%)
Montana	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Baucus, Max" | Max Baucus	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-62.7" | 62.7% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-72.9" | Baucus (72.9%)
Nebraska	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Hagel, Chuck" | Chuck Hagel (retiring)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="82.8" | 82.8% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="57.5" | Johanns (57.5%)
New Hampshire	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Sununu, John" | John Sununu	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="50.8" | 50.8% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-51.6" | Shaheen (51.6%)(flip)
New Jersey	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Lautenberg" | Frank Lautenberg	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-53.9" | 53.9% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-56.0" | Lautenberg (56.0%)
New Mexico	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Domenici, Pete" | Pete Domenici (retiring)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="65.0" | 65.0% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-61.3" | T. Udall (61.3%)(flip)
North Carolina	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Dole, Elizabeth" | Elizabeth Dole	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="53.5" | 53.5% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-52.6" | Hagan (52.6%)(flip)
Oklahoma	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Inhofe, Jim" | Jim Inhofe	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="57.3" | 57.3% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="56.7" | Inhofe (56.7%)
Oregon	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Smith, Gordon" | Gordon Smith	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="56.2" | 56.2% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-48.9" | Merkley (48.9%)(flip)
Rhode Island	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Reed, Jack" | Jack Reed	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-78.4" | 78.4% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-73.4" | Reed (73.4%)
South Carolina	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Graham, Lindsey" | Lindsey Graham	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="54.4" | 54.4% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="57.5" | Graham (57.5%)
South Dakota	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Johnson, Tim" | Tim Johnson	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-49.6" | 49.6% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-62.5" | Johnson (62.5%)
Tennessee	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Alexander, Lamar" | Lamar Alexander	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="54.3" | 54.3% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="65.1" | Alexander (65.1%)
Texas	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Cornyn, John" | John Cornyn	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="55.3" | 55.3% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="54.8" | Cornyn (54.8%)
Virginia	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Warner, John" | John Warner (retiring)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="82.6" | 82.6% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-65.0" | M. Warner (65.0%)(flip)
West Virginia	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Rockefeller, Jay" | Jay Rockefeller	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-63.1" | 63.1% D	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="-63.7" | Rockefeller (63.7%)
Wyoming (regular)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Enzi, Mike" | Mike Enzi	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="73.0" | 73.0% R	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="75.6" | Enzi (75.6%)
Wyoming (special)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="Barrasso, John" | John Barrasso	Template:Party shading/Vacant | Appointed (2007)Template:Efn	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	Template:USRaceRating	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" data-sort-value="73.4" | Barrasso (73.4%)

Gains and losses

File:2008 United States Senate elections retirements map.svg

Map of retirements:

  Republican incumbent

  Democratic incumbent

  Republican incumbent retired

File:USA Senate Election Results by County, 2008.svg

Results of the Senate election by county

Retirements

Five Republicans retired rather than seek re-election.

State	Senator	Replaced by
Colorado	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Idaho	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Nebraska	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |
New Mexico	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Virginia	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |

Defeats

Five Republicans sought re-election but lost in the general election.

State	Senator	Replaced by
Alaska	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Minnesota	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	Template:Party shading/DFL |
New Hampshire	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
North Carolina	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Oregon	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |

Post-election changes

Four Democrats resigned and were replaced by Democrats. One Republican was switched to Democrat on April 28, 2009. Two other Democrats died on August 25, 2009, and June 28, 2010, respectively, while another Republican resigned on September 9, 2009.

State	Senator	Replaced by
Colorado (Class 3)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Delaware (Class 2)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Florida (Class 3)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Illinois (Class 3)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Massachusetts (Class 1)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
New York (Class 1)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
Pennsylvania (Class 3)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |
West Virginia (Class 1)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |

Alabama

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

Despite voting heavily for Bush in 2004, Alabama still had a strong Democratic presence; Democrats controlled 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 would not seek the Senate seat, in order to avoid a primary battle with state senator Vivian Davis Figures. Figures has won elections in the Republican-leaning Mobile area. In the Democratic primary, Figures won the nomination and 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. Perry was endorsed by Alabama Statesmen, Boston Tea Party, and Christians for Life and Liberty.

Sessions defeated Figures, taking 63% of the vote to Figures's 37%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jeff Sessions (incumbent)		92.27%
		Earl Mack Gavin		7.73%
Total votes				100.00%

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Vivian Davis Figures		63.72%
		Johnny Swanson		22.03%
		Mark Townsend		14.25%
Total votes				100.00%

Alabama general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jeff Sessions (Incumbent)		63.36%
		Vivian Davis Figures		36.52%
		Write-ins		0.12%
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes				100.00%
Turnout				N/A
	hold

Alaska

Alaska ADL senatorial primary, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mark Begich		84.12%
		Ray Metcalfe		7.23%
		Bob Bird		5.56%
		Fredrick Haase		1.81%
		Frank Vondersaar		1.27%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Ted Stevens (incumbent)		63.52%
		David Cuddy		26.93%
		Vic Vickers		5.79%
		Michael Corey		1.42%
		Roderic Sikma		1.08%
		Rich Wanda		0.69%
		Gerald Heikes		0.57%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Alaska general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ted Stevens (Incumbent)	147,814	46.52%
		Bob Bird	13,197	4.15%
		Fredrick Haase	2,483	0.78%
	Independent	Ted Gianoutsos	1,385	0.44%
	Write-ins		1,077	0.34%
Majority			3,953	1.24%
Turnout			317,723
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

Dispelling rumors that he would retire due to advanced age (he was 84 years old on election day) and ongoing federal investigations into his conduct, senator Ted Stevens filed papers for re-election for an eighth term.

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. Two former Veco executives have pleaded guilty to paying the younger Stevens $242,000 in bribes. 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.

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

The Democratic candidate was Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the son of popular former Democratic Representative Nick Begich. Begich announced his candidacy for the Senate seat on April 22, 2008.

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.

Stevens's conviction on seven felony counts of corruption damaged his re-election bid, coming just over a week before the election, though Stevens appealed the conviction. Nevertheless, Stevens was narrowly ahead in the vote count after election day, with only about two-thirds of all votes counted. It only became clear Begich had prevailed when early votes, absentee ballots, and questioned ballots were counted.

On November 18, the race was called for Begich, who won with 47.8% to Stevens's 46.5%. Stevens was the most senior U.S. Senator to ever lose re-election, defeating Warren Magnuson's 1980 record. As of 2023, Stevens still holds this record.

On April 1, 2009, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, citing serious prosecutorial misconduct during the trial, decided to drop all charges against Stevens—an action that vacated his conviction.

Arkansas

Arkansas general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mark Pryor (Incumbent)		79.53%
		Rebekah Kennedy		20.47%
Total votes				100.00%
Invalid or blank votes			75,586	n/a
	hold

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. Rebekah Kennedy of the Green Party was Pryor's only opposition. Pryor won on election day, with 79.53% of the vote. Kennedy took 20.47%.

Colorado

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mark Udall		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bob Schaffer		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Colorado general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bob Schaffer	990,755	42.49%
		Douglas Campbell	59,733	2.56%
		Bob Kinsey	50,004	2.14%
	Write-ins		135	0.01%
Majority			240,239	10.30%
Turnout			2,331,621
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

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.

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. 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 would seek the seat and did not draw significant primary opposition.

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

On Election Day, Udall defeated Schaffer 53% to 43%.

Delaware

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Delaware general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Christine O'Donnell	140,595	35.31%
Majority			116,944	29.37%
Turnout			398,134
	hold		Swing

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. Delaware law allowed Biden to run for vice president and senator at the same time, so he would have kept the Senate seat if the presidential ticket had lost. In 1988 and 2000, the Democratic vice presidential nominees Lloyd Bentsen and Joe Lieberman, ran similarly for their seat in Texas and Connecticut, respectively. On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama won the presidential election, making Biden the next VP. Biden vacated his senate seat shortly after the election, allowing for the Governor of Delaware to appoint a successor. There was speculation as to whether the outgoing Governor, Ruth Ann Minner, or the incoming Governor-elect Jack Markell would make the appointment, and if Biden's son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden would receive the appointment. On November 24, 2008, Governor Minner appointed Biden's longtime Chief of Staff Ted Kaufman to fill the seat. Kaufman subsequently announced that he would not seek election to a full term in 2010, effectively making him a caretaker. 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 re-elected with 65% of the vote, or 257,484 votes. O'Donnell received 140,584 votes (35% of the vote).

Georgia

2008 Georgia U.S. Senate Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Saxby Chambliss		100.0%
Turnout			392,928	100.0%

2008 Georgia U.S. Senate Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Vernon Jones		40.4%
		Jim Martin		34.4%
		Dale Cardwell		16.1%
		Rand Knight		5.2%
		Josh Lanier		4.0%
Total votes				100.0%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

2008 Georgia U.S. Senate Democratic primary election runoff

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Vernon Jones	127,993	40.1%
Total votes			319,054	100.0%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party linkTemplate:Election box winning candidate with party link

Georgia general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Allen Buckley	127,923	3.4%
		Eleanor Garcia (write-in)	43	0.0%
	Independent	William Salomone Jr. (write-in)	29	0.0%
Majority			109,704	2.92%
Turnout			3,752,577

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Runoff election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jim Martin	909,923	42.6%
Majority			318,110	14.8%
Turnout			2,137,956
	hold		Swing

In the 2008 election, first-term incumbent Republican senator Saxby Chambliss was opposed primarily by Democrat Jim Martin, as well as third-party candidates, including Libertarian Allen Buckley and Eleanor Garcia of the Socialist Workers Party.

Martin, current Georgia Commissioner of Human Resources, former member of the Georgia General Assembly, Vietnam War veteran, and 2006 candidate for lieutenant governor, secured the Democratic nomination after defeating DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones by a 59% to 41% margin in the August 5 run-off 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. For most of the campaign, Chambliss maintained a comfortable lead in most polls. However, in the weeks leading up to the 2008 general election, polls showed the race tightening, reflecting a general nationwide trend.

On November 4, 2008, Chambliss received 49.8% of the vote, with Martin about 3% behind and Buckley receiving 3% of the vote. However, Georgia law stated that if no candidate receives a simple majority of the popular vote, then the election will be decided in a run-off. On December 2, 2008, Chambliss won the run-off with 57% of vote to Martin's 43%.

Idaho

Democratic Primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Larry LaRocco		72.35%
		David J. Archuleta		27.60%
		Write-ins		0.05%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jim Risch		65.34%
		Scott Syme		13.48%
		Richard Phenneger		5.29%
		Neal Thompson		4.35%
		Fred M. Adams		4.04%
		Bill Hunter		3.46%
		Brian E. Hefner		2.36%
		Hal James Styles Jr.		1.68%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Idaho general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Larry LaRocco	219,903	34.11%
	Independent	Rex Rammell	34,510	5.35%
		Kent Marmon	9,958	1.54%
	Independent	Pro-Life	8,662	1.35%
	Write-ins		3	0.00%
Majority			151,841	23.55%
Turnout			644,780
	hold		Swing

On September 1, 2007, senator Larry Craig announced his intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30, 2007. 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.

Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch was the Republican candidate; U.S. Army veteran and former congressman Larry LaRocco was the Democratic candidate. Risch and LaRocco ran against each other in the 2006 Lieutenant Governor race, which Risch won by a wide margin. Libertarian Kent Marmon also ran. 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% of the vote.

Illinois

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dick Durbin (Incumbent)		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Steve Sauerberg		55.62%
		Andy Martin		33.85%
		Mike Psak		10.53%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Illinois general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Steve Sauerberg	1,520,621	28.53%
		Kathy Cummings	119,135	2.24%
		Larry A. Stafford	50,224	0.94%
		Chad N. Koppie	24,059	0.45%
Majority			2,095,223	39.31%
Turnout			5,329,884
	hold		Swing

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 rated the contest as "safe Democrat".

Physician Steve Sauerberg of La Grange won the February 5 Republican primary. Kathy Cummings, a retired special education teacher was nominated via convention by the Green Party. 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 68% of the vote. Sauerberg had 29%.

Iowa

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tom Harkin (Incumbent)		98.83%
		Write-ins		1.17%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Christopher Reed		35.32%
		George Eichhorn		34.52%
		Steve Rathje		29.80%
		Write-ins		0.36%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Iowa general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Christopher Reed	560,006	37.26%
	Write-ins		1,247	0.08%
Majority			381,659	25.39%
Turnout			1,502,918
	hold		Swing

In a state that had been trending to the Democratic party recently, senator Tom Harkin faced the Republican nominee, small business owner Christopher Reed, whom he defeated with 63% of the vote to Reed's 37%.

Kansas

Republican Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Pat Roberts (Incumbent)		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jim Slattery		68.93%
		Lee Jones		31.07%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Kansas general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jim Slattery	441,399	36.46%
		Randall Hodgkinson	25,727	2.12%
		Joseph L. Martin	16,443	1.36%
Majority			285,722	23.60%
Turnout			1,210,690
	hold		Swing

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%.

Roberts was re-elected with 60% to Slattery's 36%.

Kentucky

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mitch McConnell (incumbent)		86.09%
		Daniel Essek		13.91%
Total votes				100.00%

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bruce Lunsford		51.15%
		Greg Fischer		33.85%
		David L. Williams		5.54%
		Michael Cassaro		2.80%
		Kenneth Stepp		2.17%
		David Wylie		1.21%
		James E. Rice		3.28%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Kentucky general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bruce Lunsford	847,005	47.03%
Turnout			1,800,821	62.00%
	hold		Swing

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 was below 50%.

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

Once thought to be secure in his re-election, McConnell's lead had shrunk dramatically thanks to the financial crisis and polling showed the race tightening between him and Lunsford. Nevertheless, McConnell was re-elected by a margin of 53% to 47%.

Louisiana

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Neely Kennedy	867,177	45.72%
		Richard Fontanesi	18,590	0.98%
	Independent	Jay Patel	13,729	0.72%
	Independent	Robert Stewart	8,780	0.46%
Majority			121,121	6.39%
Turnout			1,896,574	100.0%
	hold		Swing

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, as well as 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 Neely 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.

In the end, Landrieu was re-elected with 52% of the vote, Kennedy having 46%.

Maine

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

2008 Maine U.S. Senate Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Tom Ledue	11,795	14.4%
Turnout			81,727

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General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Tom Allen	279,510	38.58%
		write-ins	620	0.09%
Majority			164,790
Turnout			724,430
	hold		Swing

In Maine, Susan Collins sought a third term in the Senate. She has maintained a high approval 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 Richard Lugar (R-IN) - in the 2006 election cycle. Collins was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2002 over State Sen. Chellie Pingree. Fellow senator Joe Lieberman, citing his status as an independent, endorsed Collins in her 2008 re-election bid.

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

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

Massachusetts

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Democratic primary in Massachusetts

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Edward O'Reilly	151,473	31.08%
Turnout			487,396

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General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jeff Beatty	922,727	30.99%
		Robert J. Underwood	94,727	3.18%
Majority			1,037,116
Turnout			2,977,631
	hold		Swing

Incumbent John Kerry sought another Senate term in Massachusetts. 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. 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% of the vote to O'Reilly's 31%.

Kerry won with 66% of the vote to Beatty's 31%. Libertarian Robert J. Underwood had 3%.

Michigan

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Michigan general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jack Hoogendyk	1,641,070	33.8%
		Scotty Boman	76,347	1.6%
		Harley Mikkelson	43,440	0.9%
	U.S. Taxpayers	Michael Nikitin	30,827	0.6%
		Doug Dern	18,550	0.4%
Majority			1,397,316
Turnout			4,848,620
	hold		Swing

With the Democratic Party takeover of Capitol Hill in the 2006 midterm elections, senator Carl Levin had 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'Template:Category handler candidate Mike Nikitin, Libertarian professor Scotty Boman, and Natural Law's candidate Doug Dern.

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

Minnesota

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Al Franken		65.34%
		Priscilla Lord Faris		29.72%
		Dick Franson		1.56%
		Bob Larson		1.25%
		Rob Fitzgerald		1.23%
		Ole Savior		0.49%
		Alve Erickson		0.40%
Turnout			251,205

Independence primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dean Barkley		58.88%
		Jack Uldrich		12.39%
		Stephen Williams		7.05%
		Kurt Michael Anderson		6.71%
		Doug Williams		5.63%
		Darryl Stanton		5.45%
		Bill Dahn		3.88%
Turnout			11,341

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Norm Coleman (Incumbent)		91.32%
		Jack Shepard		8.68%
Turnout			143,429

2007 year-end reports filed with the Federal Election Commission showed that Al Franken had raised $7.04 million through December 31, 2007, while Norm Coleman had raised $6.24 million. Year-end cash on hand was $6.04 million for Coleman and $3.10 million for Franken.

Opinion polls show Franken narrowing Coleman's lead after the primaries.

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General election (Results certified November 18)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Norm Coleman (Incumbent)		41.988%
		Al Franken		41.981%
		Dean Barkley		15.19%
		Charles Aldrich		0.48%
		James Niemackl		0.31%
Turnout			2,885,555

Note: The ±% column reflects the change in total number of votes won by each party from the previous election. Additionally, votes cast for Paul Wellstone in the 2002 election are not factored into the DFL's total from that year.

File:2008recountMN.JPG

Recounting ballots by hand in Olmsted County.

File:Minnesota Senate Recount.jpg

Hennepin County ballot paper.

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General election (Results certified January 5, 2009)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Al Franken		41.991%
		Norm Coleman (Incumbent)		41.984%
		Dean Barkley		15.15%
		Charles Aldrich		0.48%
		James Niemackl		0.31%
Turnout			2,887,337

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General election (Results certified after election contest)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Al Franken		41.994%
		Norm Coleman (Incumbent)		41.983%
		Dean Barkley		15.151%
		Charles Aldrich		0.48%
		James Niemackl		0.31%
Turnout			2,887,646
	gain from

The 2008 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota featured first-term Republican incumbent senator Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, a comedian and radio personality, and former U.S. senator Dean Barkley, a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota.

A December 2007 poll showed Coleman's approval rating among Minnesota voters at 53%. The seat was heavily targeted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee because of Minnesota's Democratic leanings and recent Democratic gains in national and statewide elections. These factors, coupled with a national political climate favorable to Democrats, made the Minnesota Senate race one of the most competitive and closely watched of the cycle.

Franken announced his candidacy on February 14, 2007, more than 20 months before the election. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a professor at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota), joined the race in October 2007. Attorney Mike Ciresi, an unsuccessful candidate in the 2000 Democratic U.S. Senate primary, was considered a serious candidate, but withdrew from the race on March 10, 2008, clearing the path for Franken to secure the party's nomination.

Barkley, who had briefly been appointed Senator after the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, ran under the banner of the Independence Party, the largest third party in Minnesota. He was included in most of the debates and ultimately received 15% of the vote in the general election, a strong showing for a third-party candidate. It is not clear whether Barkley detracted more votes from Coleman or Franken.

Polls over the course of the campaign indicated that the race was very competitive, with many polls showing Franken and Coleman virtually tied or within the margin of error, as well as several polls showing each candidate with a significant lead at one point or another. The presence of a serious third-party candidate further complicated matters.

On November 4, 2008, Coleman received 1,211,590 votes to Franken's 1,211,375 votes, a margin of 215 votes, far less than 0.1%, thereby triggering an automatic recount. Barkley received 437,404 votes, about 15% of total votes cast.

On January 3, 2009, with the recount apparently completed, Franken had an unofficial lead of 225 votes, but former senator Coleman's attorneys contested the official results in the courts. During the recount process, Minnesota was represented by only one senator, Amy Klobuchar.

On April 13, 2009, a three-judge panel ruled that Al Franken received the most votes in Minnesota's 2008 Senate race and ruled against Coleman's claims on all counts. Coleman appealed this decision. On June 30, 2009, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Al Franken received the most votes, and Norm Coleman conceded defeat after the ruling, allowing Al Franken to be Senator-elect of Minnesota. Franken was sworn in as Minnesota's junior senator on July 7.

Mississippi

Mississippi (regular)

Incumbent Republican Thad Cochran announced that he would seek re-election for a sixth term. Cochran, who has not faced serious opposition since he was re-elected in 1984, faced Democratic state Representative Erik R. Fleming, whom he defeated with 61% of the vote.

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Mississippi general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Erik Fleming	480,915	38.56%
Majority			285,196
Turnout			1,247,026
	hold		Swing

Mississippi (special)

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. It had 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. 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. Initially, a Mississippi Circuit Court judge sided with Hood, ruling that the election take place on or before March 19, 2008. However, Barbour filed an appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which overturned the earlier ruling and set the special election for November 4, 2008.

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 Musgrove. Wicker beat Musgrove 55% to 45%.

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2008 Mississippi U.S. Senate special election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Ronnie Musgrove	560,064	45.04%
Majority			123,345
Turnout			1,243,473
	hold		Swing

Montana

Senator Max Baucus was a popular Democrat in Montana, representing a state that has long been fairly Republican but also 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 had 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.

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

Democratic Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Max Baucus (Incumbent)		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bob Kelleher		36.32%
		Michael Lange		22.98%
		Kirk Bushman		20.91%
		Patty Lovaas		10.29%
		Anton Pearson		5.74%
		Shay Joshua Garnett		3.76%
Total votes				100.00%

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Montana general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bob Kelleher	129,369	27.08%
Majority			218,920	45.84%
Turnout			477,658
	hold		Swing

Nebraska

In Nebraska, incumbent Republican 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, as was Kelly Rosberg of the Nebraska Party.

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

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mike Johanns		78.61%
		Pat Flynn		21.12%
Total votes				100.00%

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Scott Kleeb		68.37%
		Tony Raimondo		25.17%
		James Bryan Wilson		3.36%
		Larry Marvin		2.80%
Total votes				100.00%

Green Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Steve Larrick		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Nebraska Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Barry Richards		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

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General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Scott Kleeb	317,456	40.1%
		Kelly Renee Rosberg	11,438	1.4%
		Steve Larrick	7,763	1.0%
Majority			138,398
Turnout			792,511
	hold		Swing

New Hampshire

Incumbent Republican John E. Sununu represented the swing state of New Hampshire. The state traditionally leaned Republican, but John Kerry from neighboring Massachusetts narrowly won the state 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. Three consecutive monthly Rasmussen Reports poll showed Shaheen defeating Sununu by 49% to 41%. Prior to Shaheen's entry, Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand, Katrina Swett, wife of former Democratic congressman Richard Swett, and former astronaut Jay Buckey had announced that they were running for the Democratic nomination. After Shaheen's entry, however, all three withdrew and endorsed the former governor.

On election day, Shaheen defeated Sununu, 52% to 45%.

File:Jeanne Shaheen 2008 NH.jpg

Shaheen, the Democratic choice, at a rally in the lead-up to the election.

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Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Raymond Stebbins	5,281	10.6%
		write-ins	407	0.8%
Turnout			49,656

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Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Tom Alciere	7,084	10.3%
		write-ins	685	1.0%
Turnout			68,621

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General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Sununu (Incumbent)	314,403	45.3%
		Ken Blevens	21,516	3.1%
Majority			44,035
Turnout			694,357
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

New Jersey

Incumbent Democrat 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), with his approval standing only at 42% as of September 2007 with voters saying he does not deserve re-election 46%-36%. 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. Furthermore, in the wake of the financial crisis, Carl Peter Klapper entered the race as a write-in candidate.

Lautenberg won re-election, winning 56%-42%.

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Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Rob Andrews	121,777	35.3%
		Donald Cresitello	19,743	5.7%
Turnout			344,532

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Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Joseph Pennacchio	74,546	40.3%
		Murray Sabrin	25,576	13.8%
Turnout			184,785

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General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Dick Zimmer	1,461,025	42.0%
	Independent	Daryl Mikell Brooks	20,920	1.0%
		Jason Scheurer	18,810	0.5%
	Independent	J.M. Carter	15,935	0.5%
	Independent	Jeff Boss	10,345	0.3%
		Sara Lobman	9,187	0.3%
Majority			490,193
Turnout			3,482,445
	hold		Swing

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. 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 was 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. The potential scandal may have also contributed to his decision to leave the Senate.

Tom Udall, the popular Representative from New Mexico's 3rd District, 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."

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

Democratic Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Tom Udall		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Steve Pearce		51.29%
		Heather Wilson		48.71%
Total votes				100.00%

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New Mexico general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Steve Pearce	318,522	38.67%
Majority			186,606	22.66%
Turnout			823,650
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

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. There was early speculation that North Carolina Governor Mike Easley might be pressured into running against her but this did not come to pass. The Democratic nominee was state senator Kay Hagan, 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%, suggesting a competitive race. Hagan's poll numbers continued to best Dole's, however, and Hagan defeated Dole by a wider than expected margin of 53% to 44%.

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Democratic Primary election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jim Neal	239,623	18.0%
		Marcus W. Williams	170,970	12.8%
		Duskin Lassiter	62,136	4.6%
		Howard Staley	60,403	4.5%
Turnout			1,335,052

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Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Pete DiLauro	51,406	10.0%
Turnout			512,071

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North Carolina general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Elizabeth Dole (Incumbent)	1,887,510	44.18%
		Chris Cole	133,430	3.17%
	Other	Write-Ins	1,719	0.0%
Majority			361,801
Turnout			4,271,970
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

Oklahoma

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

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Andrew Rice		59.65%
		Jim Rogers		40.35%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jim Inhofe (Incumbent)		84.18%
		Evelyn R. Rogers		7.79%
		Ted Ryals		5.28%
		Dennis Lopez		2.75%
Total votes				100.00%

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Oklahoma general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Andrew Rice	527,736	39.18%
	Independent	Stephen Wallace	55,708	4.14%
Majority			235,639	17.50%
Turnout			1,346,819
	hold		Swing

Oregon

Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon ran for a third term. He defeated ophthalmologist Gordon Leitch 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.

In a July 16, 2008, poll, Merkley overtook Smith for the first time 43% to 41%.

On November 6, 2008, Jeff Merkley was projected the winner of the contest, with 48.9% to Smith's 45.6%. Gordon Smith formally conceded soon afterward.

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jeff Merkley		44.82%
		Steve Novick		41.98%
		Candy Neville		6.98%
		Roger S. Obrist		2.30%
		Pavel Goberman		2.19%
		David Loera		1.11%
		Write-ins		0.62%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Gordon Smith (Incumbent)		85.41%
		Gordon Leitch		14.00%
		Write-ins		0.69%
Total votes				100.00%

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Oregon general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Gordon H. Smith (Incumbent)	805,159	45.55%
		David Brownlow	92,565	5.24%
	Write-ins		5,388	0.30%
Majority			59,233	3.35%
Turnout			1,767,504
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, Democratic senator Jack Reed had an approval rating of 66% in November 2006. 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.

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

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2008 Rhode Island U.S. Senate Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Christopher Young	7,277	13.2%
Turnout			55,315

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2008 Rhode Island U.S. Senate general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bob Tingle	116,174	26.6%
Majority			204,470
Turnout			436,818
	hold		Swing

South Carolina

Senator Lindsey Graham, as a popular Republican incumbent in strongly conservative South Carolina, had been considered 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.

First-time candidate Bob Conley, an airline pilot, was the Democratic nominee. Conley, whose victory in the Democratic primary over Michael Cone was a surprise, is a former Republican who supported Ron Paul in 2008 and campaigned as the more conservative candidate on some issues, notably illegal immigration and the bailout of Wall Street.

The South Carolina Working Families Party had also nominated Michael Cone. South Carolina's election law allows for electoral fusion. This was the first time the party nominated a candidate for statewide office. However, because he lost the Democratic primary, Cone was not listed on the ballot under the state's sore loser law.

Graham easily won re-election with 58% of the vote to Conley's 42%.

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2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Michael Cone	73,127	49.7%
Turnout			147,252

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2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Buddy Witherspoon	93,125	33.2%
Turnout			280,861

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South Carolina general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bob Conley	790,621	42.25%
	Write-ins		4,276	0.23%
Majority			285,913
Turnout			1,871,431
	hold		Swing

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 was seeking re-election. According to a November 2006 SurveyUSA poll, Johnson had an approval rating of 70%, with just 26% disapproving of his performance, making him an early favorite despite the state's Republican lean.

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 62.5% to Dykstra's 37.5%. This seat was the tipping point state in the 2008 senate elections.

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Joel Dykstra		65.74%
		Sam Kephart		24.79%
		Charles Gonyo		9.47%
Total votes				100.00%

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South Dakota general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Joel Dykstra	142,784	37.51%
Majority			95,105	24.98%
Turnout			380,673
	hold		Swing

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. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party Bob Tuke was 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 Edward Buck was also in the race.

Daniel Lewis ran 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, at their annual convention held in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Lewis was serving as the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. He ran for the Tennessee House in 2004.

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.

Alexander won the election with 65% of the vote.

Democratic Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bob Tuke		32.21%
		Gary G. Davis		21.34%
		Mike Padgett		18.26%
		Mark E. Clayton		17.62%
		Kenneth Eaton		8.02%
		Leonard D. Ladner		2.55%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican Party primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Lamar Alexander (Incumbent)		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

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Tennessee general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Bob Tuke	767,236	31.64%
	Independent	Edward L. Buck	31,631	1.30%
	Independent	Christopher G. Fenner	11,073	0.46%
	Independent	Daniel Towers Lewis	9,367	0.39%
	Independent	Chris Lugo	9,170	0.38%
	Independent	Ed Lawhorn	8,986	0.37%
	Independent	David Gatchell	7,645	0.32%
Majority			812,241	33.50%
Turnout			2,424,585	66.34%
	hold		Swing

Texas

Texas has not elected a Democrat in a statewide election since 1994, but according to pre-election Rasmussen polling, senator John Cornyn had an approval rating of 50%. Texas House of Representatives member and Afghanistan 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 showed Cornyn leading Noriega by a narrow four percentage points - 47% to 43%.

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

There were three Libertarians, including 2006 LP senate nominee Scott Jameson, running for their party's nomination. In addition, the Green Party of Texas sought ballot access for its candidate David B. Collins.

In the end, John Cornyn won re-election, 55%-43%

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Rick Noriega		51.01%
		Gene Kelly		26.87%
		Ray McMurrey		12.37%
		Rhett Smith		9.75%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Republican Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Larry Kilgore	226,649	18.52%

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2008 Texas U.S. Senate general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Rick Noriega	3,389,365	42.83%
		Yvonne Adams Schick	185,241	2.34%
Majority			948,104
Turnout			7,912,075	58.28%
	hold		Swing

Virginia

File:John Warner in committee.jpg

Republican senator John Warner chose to retire after five terms.

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

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."

In one of the first senate races called on election day, Warner won, taking 65% of the vote, with Gilmore winning 34%. Since Democrat Jim Webb had defeated incumbent Republican George Allen for Virginia's other Senate seat in 2006, Virginia's senate delegation flipped from entirely Republican to entirely Democratic in just two years.

File:Mark Warner in Staunton.jpg

Former Gov. Mark Warner (D) campaigns at the Dixie Theatre in Staunton, Virginia

File:Jim Gilmore 2004 NSTAC.jpg

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R)

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Virginia general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jim Gilmore	1,228,830	33.72%
		Glenda Parker	21,690	0.60%
		Bill Redpath	20,269	0.56%
	Write-ins		3,178	0.09%
Majority			1,140,497	31.30%
Turnout			3,643,294
	gain from Template:Yesno		Swing

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. 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 handily won on election day, being re-elected with 64% of the vote. Wolfe had 36%.

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2008 West Virginia U.S. Senate Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Sheirl Fletcher	51,073	14.5%
		Billy Hendricks	29,707	8.4%
Turnout			352,150

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Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Turnout				100.00%

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West Virginia general

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Jay Wolfe	254,629	36.3%
Majority			192,931
Turnout			702,189
	hold		Swing

Wyoming

Wyoming (regular)

Incumbent Republican Mike Enzi was considered likely to be re-elected without significant opposition for a third term in strongly Republican Wyoming. His Democratic opponent was Chris Rothfuss, a professor at the University of Wyoming and a chemical engineer, nanotechnologist, and diplomat. Pre-election polling indicated that Enzi led Rothfuss by 24%.

Enzi won another term, 76%-24%.

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Chris Rothfuss		62.38%
		Al Hamburg		37.62%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Mike Enzi (Incumbent)		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Chris Rothfuss	60,631	24.26%
	Write-ins		269	0.11%
Majority			128,415	51.38%
Turnout			249,946
	hold		Swing

Wyoming (special)

Republican 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. Wyoming law requires that the interim senator be affiliated with the same political party as the departed senator. Barrasso ran in the November 4, 2008, special election, held on the day of the 2008 presidential election, to serve out the remainder of Thomas's term, which expires in January 2013.

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

Barrasso won on Election Day, taking 73% of the vote and winning every county in the state.

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Nick Carter		50.68%
		Keith Goodenough		49.32%
Total votes				100.00%

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John Barrasso (Incumbent)		100.00%
Total votes				100.00%

Template:Election box winning candidate with party link

Wyoming special election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Nick Carter	66,202	26.53%
	None	Write-ins	293	0.12%
Majority			116,861	46.83%
Turnout			249,558
	hold		Swing

See also

• 2008 United States elections
  • 2008 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 2008 United States presidential election
  • 2008 United States House of Representatives elections
• 110th United States Congress
• 111th United States Congress

External links

• Cook Political Report 2008 Senate Race Ratings
• CQ Politics Senate Analysis Template:Webarchive
• Interactive Map of 2008 Senate Races Template:Webarchive
• Senate Newspaper Endorsement ListTemplate:Category handler
• FiveThirtyEight Senate Projections
• Intrade Composite Poll - Supermajority Predictions
• United States Election 2008 Web Archive from the U.S. Library of Congress
• List of Senate Newspaper EndorsementsTemplate:Category handler