Template:Future election

Elections for the United States Senate will be held on November 7, 2006, with 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate being contested. Since Senators are elected for six-year terms, those elected will serve from January 3, 2007 until January 3, 2013. Those Senators who were elected in 2000 will be seeking reelection or retiring in 2006.

The 2006 House election is scheduled for the same date as the Senate election, as well as many state and local elections, including those for 36 state governors.

The Senate is currently composed of 55 Republicans, who have been in the majority since 2003, 44 Democrats, and 1 independent. (The independent, former Republican Jim Jeffords of Vermont, began voting with the Democratic caucus in 2001, but will not seek re-election.) Jeffords's seat is one of the 33 seats being contested, while another 17 are held by Democrats and 15 are held by Republicans.

To gain 51 seats, a majority in the Senate, Democrats would need to retain the 17 seats currently at risk and acquire at least 6 Republican seats (if independent candidate Bernie Sanders holds Jim Jeffords' seat in Vermont), or acquire 7 Republican seats (if Sanders loses to a Republican). If the Republicans hold exactly 50 seats after the election, the Democrats would remain in the minority, as the sitting Vice President of the United States (currently Republican Vice President Dick Cheney) breaks all tie votes in his role as President of the Senate.

To gain a "working majority" of 60 members, the number of votes required to break a filibuster, Republicans would need to gain five seats and hold the 15 seats at risk.

It is not yet clear which seats will have the most competitive races. Incumbent senators have a high rate of re-election, even when their party affiliation is at odds with the political trends of their state. The most competitive races tend to be those where the incumbent has retired, and those races in which the incumbent has served only one term are frequently competitive.

Additional special elections that are held due to the death or resignation of Senators in the interim would change the party balances listed above.

Main article : New Jersey U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Corzine, currently the second most popular elected official in New Jersey next to Acting Governor Richard Codey, would probably have been easily reelected if he had run, but instead ran in and won the 2005 gubernatorial election. He has announced that he will appoint Rep. Bob Menendez to fill out the last year of his Senate term[1]. Republican state Senator Thomas Kean, Jr., the son of the former New Jersey Governor and 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean, announced on March 25 2005 that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat regardless of the winner of the 2005 race for governor. Other Democrats such as Representative Frank Pallone have also expressed interested in running. Currently, Kean is leading on the Republican side, and while some have speculated Menendez may not win in the Primary in 2006, his Congressional District constitutes a large percentage of registered Democrats in New Jersey, making it likely that he will probably win the nomination. While Kean Jr. is very popular due to his father's popular governorship, he is slightly behind Menendez in a recent Rasmussen poll 34% to 38% [2] and his winning this election is problematic, considering the Democratic tilt of the state.

Main article : Minnesota U.S. Senate election, 2006

On February 9 2005, Senator Dayton announced that he would not seek a second term in the Senate, leaving an open seat to be contested. Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy, the GOP candidate, secured major GOP endorsements and will not face any serious challengers. Kennedy has benefited greatly from high-profile Republicans coming to fund raise for him, including Vice President Dick Cheney in July, 2005.

On the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) side, there are a half-dozen candidates seeking the DFL nomination and endorsement, but only four have declared. The current DFL front runner is Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar. Children's advocate Patty Wetterling, who was Kennedy's 2004 unsuccessful Congressional opponent, is also seeking the seat. Veterinarian, philanthropist, and heir to a founder of General Mills, Ford Bell has also announced his candidacy. Bell will rely only on contributions to fund his campaigns. Both Wetterling and Klobuchar have promised to abide by a DFL endorsement, and Bell has not stated yet what he'll do. Minneapolis attorney Mike Ciresi, who narrowly lost to Dayton in the 2000 DFL primary, is also considering another bid.

Klobuchar and Kennedy are the only two candidates who have been elected to office. A poll conducted in February, 2005 for the Wetterling campaign shows Wetterling defeating Kennedy 47%-39%, and Klobuchar defeating Kennedy 40%-38%. [3] A poll conducted in the fall of 2005 by the Wall Street Journal and Zogby Interactive shows Wetterling winning 48%-45% over Kennedy, and Klobuchar winning 49%-43% over Kennedy. [4]

Main article : Tennessee U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Frist, the current Majority Leader, has previously promised to leave the Senate when his second term ends in 2006, and is widely considered to have presidential aspirations for the 2008 election. This will leave an open seat, contested by Democratic candidates Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. and State Senator Rosalind Kurita. Former Reps. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, along with Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, are running in the Republican primary. with a double-digit lead over Bryant and an even larger lead over Corker. In November, the independent political analytical weekly The Tennessee Journal, said a synthesis of polling shows Hilleary with a double-digit lead over Bryant and a 20-point lead over Corker. Currently Ford is leading all candidates in a recent poll, though he leads in all polls by only a few points. While some consider Tenessee to be solidly Republican, a majority of the statewide offices are held by Democrats and its electoral votes went to Clinton in both 1992 and 1996, albeit narrowly. Tennessee also has more registered Democratic voters than Republican voters and sends more Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives than Republicans. Ford is also very popular and well known throughout the state due to his Keynote Address at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.[5].

Main article : Vermont U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an independent soon after being reelected as a Republican in the 2000 election. On April 20 2005, he declared he would not seek another term, possibly for health reasons. Representative Bernard Sanders, an independent socialist, is running and is likely to attract much of his support from Democrats, though Democratic perennial candidate Larry Drown is running for the seat without party backing. Republican challenger Greg Parke plans to run again, as does businessman Richard Tarrant. Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie considered running, but withdrew from the race on October 26 2005. [6] A Research 2000 poll [7] conducted in May showed Sanders with a 40 percent lead over both Tarrant and then-candidate Dubie.

Main article : Maryland U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Sarbanes announced on March 11 2005 that he would retire in 2006 rather than run for re-election. Sarbanes' seat was previously considered safe, as Maryland is a Democratic-leaning state. The Green Party's Kevin Zeese was the first to launch a U.S. Senate campaign. Zeese is a lawyer, and by most accounts did and outstanding job as Nader's press secretary in 2004. Former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume and Rep. Ben Cardin have announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. Most other prominent Maryland Democrats have decided not to run or are not likely to enter the race, though four other minor Democratic candidates are in the race. Mfume had great difficulty raising funds in the summer of 2005, and this may leave Cardin as the likely nominee. [8] Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, a Republican, announced his candidacy on October 25 2005, and is currently the only major contender for the Republican nomination. Steele is considered a more charismatic candidate than either Cardin or Mfume and has built broad public support, including surprising support among Democrats, during his term as Lieutenant Governor. A Baltimore Sun poll showed Steele narrowly trailing Cardin and leading Mfume. [9]

An article appeared on Rollcall.com that suggested that Senator Lott, who was affected by Hurricane Katrina when his house was destroyed, might retire in order to get his life back in order. There have been no comments by Senator Lott, but should he run again it is almost certain that he will win as the Democrats have not put up a strong candidate yet. Should he retire, his Senate seat will definitely be contested. Congressman Chip Pickering would be the likely Republican nominee, while several Democrats are possible candidates. State Rep. Erik Fleming (D) plans to run in 2006.

Main article : Connecticut U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat who is mostly liberal on domestic policy, has drawn fire from liberals within his party for his continual support for the foreign policy of president George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfield, and for statements that he has made in which he has criticized other Democrats for "undermining the president" during a time of war. Many liberals are considering running a candidate against him in the democratic primary. Former three-term Senator and one-term governor Lowell Weicker, and Independent and former Republican, has stated that he may enter the senate race. Incidently, Lieberman was elected to the Senate by narrowly unseating Weiker in 1988. Additionally, Jim Dean, brother of Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, has organized a letter writing campaign with his Democracy for America organization, collecting 55,000 signatures to an open letter that has been sent to Lieberman, asking him to "stop stifling debate" on the Iraq War and "join the majority of Americans in questioning President Bush's foreign policy" [10]. A recent poll by Rasmussen Reports showed that Lieberman lead Weiker by a 54% to 32% margin, but Weiker was even with Lieberman among self-discribed liberals and polled 37% of Democrats. Lieberman relied on support from Republican voters for his wide margin. So should Weiker actually become a candidate, Republicans may give this race a second look.

Main article : Washington U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Cantwell drew fire from progressives in Washington State for many of her votes including her vote for the Iraq War Resolution and the confirmation of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. In 2005 she voted with the Senate Democratic leadership for the John Murtha Resolution on Removing American armed forces from Iraq. Former CEO of Safeco Mike McGavick is the only announced GOP candidate. Cantwell has a double digit over McGavick in the polls, leading him 50 to 39 in a recent Rasmussen poll [11] Her favorable rating is climbing according to a December 12 2005 SurveyUSA poll. [12]

Main article : New York U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Clinton, former First Lady and wife of former President Bill Clinton, was being challenged by Westchester district attorney Jeanine Pirro. Republican leaders have asked Jeanine Pirro to withdraw from the race and instead run for state attorney general, and Pirro has decided to withdraw from the Senate race and run for Attorney General. [13] This leaves Clinton facing two largely unknown candidates unless Ed Cox, son-in-law of former president Richard Nixon, enters the race. He had previously expressed interest but withdrew due to Pirro enjoying the support of Governor George Pataki. Republicans currently in the race are former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer (no relation to the recently deceased actor) and attorney Bill Brennan, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2004. Spencer, a Vietnam War combat veteran, is considered the likely Republican nominee at this point.

It is widely speculated and rumored that Clinton will make a bid for the Presidency in 2008. If this is true, winning the Senate race by a wide margin would be crucial. Clinton faces few tough challenges, since she is widely popular in New York with approval ratings over 60 percent [14], and New York is a mostly Democratic state that went solidly to John Kerry in the 2004 election.

Main article : Florida U.S. Senate election, 2006

As the only southern Democrat facing re-election, Senator Nelson will draw major regional attention to this race. Florida also will elect a new governor in 2006, and the cost of two major campaigns in a large state could require that one of the Republican candidates have a high profile. Rep. Katherine Harris, who served as Secretary of State during the controversial 2000 presidential election, is the presumed favorite in a Republican primary. Though polls show Nelson with an 48% approval rating (low for an incumbent), he has a lead of 17 points against Harris (53 to 36), and with polls showing her with a big lead in the primaries, Nelson has good chances of facing her. [15]. Top Republicans, including Governor Jeb Bush and those close to President Bush, are trying to find a candidate to oppose Harris in the primary as they fear she will drive up Democratic turn out due to her controversial role in the 2000 election.[16] So far, the only potential candidates floated to challenge her in the primary are Afghanistan War General Tommy Franks, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings, Congressman Mark Foley, and state House Speaker Allen Bense, though if they jumped into the race, they would be trailing in the polls severly (Harris 55, Franks 20, Jennings 8, and Foley 6) [17].

Main article : Virginia U.S. Senate election, 2006

Gail Parker (58), businesswoman, retired USAF Major, retired Pentagon budget analyst, and State Secretary of the Independent Greens of Virginia www.VoteJoinRun.US is the only announced alternative for U.S. Senate to the incumbent in 2006. Gail Parker will launch her petition drive January 1, 2006 - the earliest date Virginia law allows. Parker calls for "More candidates, less apathy", and will use her petiton drive to recruit additional candidates for local office. Virginia holds local elections in May. With half of elections having only the incumbent on the ballot, Parker calls for more candidates.

Gail Parker is for "More Trains, Less Traffic". Building high speed rail around Virginia and the nation to cut dependence on foriegn oil. Parker calls for fiscally conservative, and socially responsible action to install an auditable accounting system at the Pentagon to cut waste and save tax dollars.

Since outgoing Governor Mark Warner announced that he will not run for this seat, the dems are not expected to field a candidate.

Parker's Independent Greens plan petition drives and campaigns in all 11 U.S. Congressional districts. Including, bestselling author Dr. Brad Blanton(7th district), retired marine Colonel Marvin Pixtio(1st District), fireman and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col Albert Burckard, and former Richmond City Councilwoman L.Shirley Harvey (3rd).

Senator Allen is also expected by many to be a possible 2008 presidential candidate, which would possibly be harmed if he were to lose (or even have a tough race) for his seat in 2006.

Conservatives in the Green Party also expect Gail Parker to be a possible 2008 presidential contender.

Main article : Montana U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Burns faced a strong challenge from current Governor Brian Schweitzer in 2000, being re-elected by a mere 3% in a state that went for Bush twice by margins of over 20%. This, combined with the increasing strength of the state Democratic party and accusations of ethical issues related to the Jack Abramoff scandal, could make this a competitive race. Burns is also rumored to be considering retirement. State auditor John Morrison has filed papers to run for the Democratic nomination, and popular state senate president Jon Tester has announced his candidacy. While recent polling have suggested that Conrad Burns has a commanding lead over his Democratic challengers, an even newer one shows Burns with only a 45% approval rating, the second lowest in the Senate, and the highest disapproval rating in the Senate, 46%, making him one of only two Senators to have a negative Net Approval rating (approval rating minus disapproval rating).

Main article : Rhode Island U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Chafee, perhaps the most liberal Republican in the Senate, will face a primary challenge from Cranston mayor Steve Laffey. Currently, the candidates for the Democratic nomination are Secretary of State Matt Brown, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, and former businessman Carl Sheeler. U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin and Patrick J. Kennedy have both chosen not to run. Many Republicans are angry for Chafee's "RINO"-ness, and that could cost him the primary election to the Cranston mayor. Laffey, however has come under fire from conservatives himself, having pushed tax increases as Mayor and increasing city spending. It is widely believed that the more liberal Chafee would have an easier time winning in the general election due to his appeal to independent liberals.

Carl Sheeler's website can be found at www.carlsheeler.com. He is an easy going father of five, Marine Corps vet, business owner/advisor and college professor (Business, Entreprenurship and Finance) with a people, not politics oriented platform best described as socially progressive and fiscally responsible. He has strong support from working families, womens' groups, gay/lesbian, and minorities as well as military and small business owners. His populist campaign has emphasized a withdrawal from Iraq, campaign finance reform, reinvestment in America to include increased funding of infrastructure, first responders (improved domestic security by police, fire and rescue)and education. His alternative energy platform is clear and achieveable and considers geopolitical implications of failing to do so. He combined the philosophy that women-centric party should be the Democrats with a naturing community orientation versus the Patriarchial slef-interest, rules oriented GOP. This includes the need for a national healthcare program.

Main article : Ohio U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator DeWine has low approval ratings and the current Coingate scandal involving the Ohio Republican Party could hurt his re-election chances. The senator's son, R. Patrick DeWine, lost the Republican nomination for the Second Congressional District, suggesting DeWine's influence may be waning. Democratic hopes have been raised by the ongoing "Coingate" scandal and the unpopularity of Governor Bob Taft. DeWine could also face a tough primary challenge from several more conservative Republicans unhappy with his relatively centrist stances including his role as one of the Gang of 14 who intervened to stop a showdown over judicial nominations. Lawyer and Iraq War veteran Paul Hackett, who narrowly lost to Jean Schmidt in the Second District on August 2 2005, said in October 2005 he would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge DeWine. U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown will also be seeking the Democratic nomination, and is expected to make a formal announcement in November 2005. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan was also a potential candidate though he recently threw support to Hackett.

Main article : Arizona U.S. Senate election, 2006

Wealthy real-estate developer Jim Pederson declared his intention to challenge Senator Kyl on September 14th, 2005. Pederson served as Arizona Democratic Party Chairman from 2001 to 2005 while spending millions of his own money to help Democrats modernize and to elect Janet Napolitano Governor. Although Arizona voted for Bush in the last two elections, Kyl has an undistinguished career and most Arizonans know little about him. In addition, Kyl's approval ratings in a recent poll were an anemic 48%. [18] Pederson hopes to capitalize on this blank slate, while Kyl plans to argue that his seniority and experience will help the state.

Main article : Pennsylvania U.S. Senate election, 2006
Senator Santorum is a very conservative member of the Senate in a state that went for John Kerry in 2004 by 2.5 percent. In his last election in the year 2000, Santorum received 7,706 more votes than Al Gore, the Democratic candidate for President, who won Pennsylvania by 4 percent. [19] Santorum ran against U.S. Rep. Ron Klink, a pro-life Democrat from southeastern Pennsylvania. Democrats believe that Santorum's seat is extremely vulnerable, and are making it a priority for a pick-up in 2006. Democrat Bob Casey, Jr., Pennsylvania's state treasurer, announced his candidacy on March 5 2005. Currently, his only primary opponents are college professor Chuck Pennacchio [20] and Alan Sandals [21]. Polls pitting Casey against Santorum have generally indicated greater support for Casey. As of November 11 2005, Casey is leading Santorum 54 to 34 percent in the polls [22]. A Casey-Santorum race would feature two pro-life candidates, a rarity in major elections.

Main article : Missouri U.S. Senate election, 2006

Senator Talent, who was elected to the four remaining years of this term in a 2002 special election, might face a strong Democratic challenge for his seat. Unlike most states, Missouri will not hold an election for governor in 2006, making this the only major statewide race in a traditional battleground state. Talent was elected by a very slim margin, which suggests that he might be vulnerable, and he now has a well-known challenger in Claire McCaskill, Missouri's state auditor and 2004 Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Missouri is considered a "swing" state, but McCaskill carries significant political baggage from her 2004 loss. A recent poll by Rasmussen Reports shows McCaskill with a lead of 2 points, which is within the margin of error.

• 2006 House election
• 2006 Gubernatorial elections
• 2008 Presidential election