United States Senate elections, 2016

United States Senate elections, 2016
Class 3 (34 of the 100) seats in the United States Senate; 51 seats needed for a majority
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Majority Leader before election; Mitch McConnell; Republican	Elected Majority Leader; Mitch McConnell; Republican

Elections to the United States Senate were held on November 8, 2016. The presidential election, House elections, 14 gubernatorial elections, and many state and local elections were held on the same date.

In the 2016 Senate election, 34 of the 100 seats—all class 3 Senate seats—were contested in regular elections; the winners will serve six-year terms until January 3, 2023. Class 3 was last up for election in 2010, when Republicans won a net gain of six seats.

In 2016, Democrats defended 10 seats, while Republicans defended 24 seats. Republicans, having won a majority of seats in the Senate in 2014, held the Senate majority with 54 seats before this election. Democrats won a net gain of two seats. Republicans will retain control of the Senate for the 115th United States Congress. Only two incumbents lost their seats, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Mark Kirk of Illinois, both to Democrats Maggie Hassan and Tammy Duckworth, respectively. Despite Republicans retaining control of the Senate, 2016 marks the first time since 1986 that Democrats made a net gain of seats in class 3. This election marks the first time since 2000 in which the party in opposition to the elected or reelected presidential candidate made net gains in the Senate. It is the first and only election where the winning party in every Senate election mirrored the winning party in the Presidential election.^[1]

With the retirement of Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer became the Democratic leader after the elections, while Mitch McConnell retained his position as Senate Majority Leader.

Results summary

All 34 Class 3 Senators were up for election in 2016; Class 3 consisted of 10 Democrats and 24 Republicans. Of the Senators not up for election, 34 Senators were Democrats, 30 Senators were Republicans and two Senators are independents who caucus with the Senate Democrats.

Parties		Democratic	Republican	Independent	Libertarian	Other	Total
Parties							Total
Before these elections		44	54	2	-	-	100
Not up		34	30	2	-	-	66
	Class 1 (2012→2018)	23	8	2	-	-	33
	Class 2 (2014→2020)	11	22	0	-	-	33
Up		10	24	0	-	-	34
	Class 3 (2010→2016)	10	24	0	-	-	34
	Special: All classes	0	0	0	-	-	0

General election
Incumbent retired		3	2	—	—	—	5
	Held by same party	3	2	—	—	—	5
	Replaced by other party	0	0	—	—	—	0
	Result	3	2	—	—	—	5
Incumbent ran		7	22	—	—	—	29
	Won re-election	7	20	—	—	—	27
	Lost re-election	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats		—	—	—	2
	Lost renomination but held by same party	0	0	—	—	—	0
	Result	9	20	—	—	—	29

Total elected		12	22	—	—	—	34
Net gain/loss		2	2	—	—	—

Nationwide vote		51,269,434	40,761,406	562,935	1,950,641	1,918,756	96,103,172
	Share	53.54%	42.41%	0.58%	1.65%	2.00%	100%

Result		46	52	2	—	—	100

Change in composition

Before the elections

D₃₉ Ran	D₄₀ Ran	D₄₁ Ran	D₄₂ Retired	D₄₃ Retired	D₄₄ Retired	R₅₄ Retired	R₅₃ Retired	R₅₂ Ran	R₅₁ Ran
I₁	I₂	D₁	D₂	D₃	D₄	D₅	D₆	D₇	D₈
D₁₈	D₁₇	D₁₆	D₁₅	D₁₄	D₁₃	D₁₂	D₁₁	D₁₀	D₉
D₁₉	D₂₀	D₂₁	D₂₂	D₂₃	D₂₄	D₂₅	D₂₆	D₂₇	D₂₈
D₃₈ Ran	D₃₇ Ran	D₃₆ Ran	D₃₅ Ran	D₃₄	D₃₃	D₃₂	D₃₁	D₃₀	D₂₉
Majority →									R₅₁ Ran
R₄₁ Ran	R₄₂ Ran	R₄₃ Ran	R₄₄ Ran	R₄₅ Ran	R₄₆ Ran	R₄₇ Ran	R₄₈ Ran	R₄₉ Ran	R₅₀ Ran
R₄₀ Ran	R₃₉ Ran	R₃₈ Ran	R₃₇ Ran	R₃₆ Ran	R₃₅ Ran	R₃₄ Ran	R₃₃ Ran	R₃₂ Ran	R₃₁ Ran
R₂₁	R₂₂	R₂₃	R₂₄	R₂₅	R₂₆	R₂₇	R₂₈	R₂₉	R₃₀
R₂₀	R₁₉	R₁₈	R₁₇	R₁₆	R₁₅	R₁₄	R₁₃	R₁₂	R₁₁
R₁	R₂	R₃	R₄	R₅	R₆	R₇	R₈	R₉	R₁₀

After the elections

D₃₉ Re-elected	D₄₀ Re-elected	D₄₁ Re-elected	D₄₂ Hold	D₄₃ Hold	D₄₄ Hold	D₄₅ Gain	D₄₆ Gain	R₅₂ Hold	R₅₁ Hold
I₁	I₂	D₁	D₂	D₃	D₄	D₅	D₆	D₇	D₈
D₁₈	D₁₇	D₁₆	D₁₅	D₁₄	D₁₃	D₁₂	D₁₁	D₁₀	D₉
D₁₉	D₂₀	D₂₁	D₂₂	D₂₃	D₂₄	D₂₅	D₂₆	D₂₇	D₂₈
D₃₈ Re-elected	D₃₇ Re-elected	D₃₆ Re-elected	D₃₅ Re-elected	D₃₄	D₃₃	D₃₂	D₃₁	D₃₀	D₂₉
Majority →									R₅₁ Hold
R₄₁ Re-elected	R₄₂ Re-elected	R₄₃ Re-elected	R₄₄ Re-elected	R₄₅ Re-elected	R₄₆ Re-elected	R₄₇ Re-elected	R₄₈ Re-elected	R₄₉ Re-elected	R₅₀ Re-elected
R₄₀ Re-elected	R₃₉ Re-elected	R₃₈ Re-elected	R₃₇ Re-elected	R₃₆ Re-elected	R₃₅ Re-elected	R₃₄ Re-elected	R₃₃ Re-elected	R₃₂ Re-elected	R₃₁ Re-elected
R₂₁	R₂₂	R₂₃	R₂₄	R₂₅	R₂₆	R₂₇	R₂₈	R₂₉	R₃₀
R₂₀	R₁₉	R₁₈	R₁₇	R₁₆	R₁₅	R₁₄	R₁₃	R₁₂	R₁₁
R₁	R₂	R₃	R₄	R₅	R₆	R₇	R₈	R₉	R₁₀

Key:

D_#	Democratic
R_#	Republican
I_#	Independent, caucusing with Democrats^[2]^[3]

Latest predictions of competitive seats

Several sites and individuals publish predictions of competitive seats. These predictions look at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assign ratings to each seat, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat. Most election predictors use "tossup" to indicate that neither party has an advantage, "lean" to indicate that one party has a slight advantage, "likely" or "favored" to indicate that one party has a significant but not insurmountable advantage, and "safe" or "solid" to indicate that one party has a near-certain chance of victory. Some predictions also include a "tilt" rating that indicates that one party has an advantage that is not quite as strong as the "lean" rating would indicate.

Where a site gives a percentage probability as its primary indicator of expected outcome, the chart below classifies a race as follows:

Tossup: 50-55%
Tilt: 56-60%
Lean: 61-75%
Likely: 76-93%
Safe: 94-100%

The New York Times' Upshot gave the Democrats a 60% chance of winning the Senate on August 24, 2016;^[4] on September 23, their model gave Republicans a 58% chance to maintain control.^[5]

All seats classified with at least one rating of anything other than "safe" or "solid" are listed below.

State	PVI	Incumbent	2010 result	Cook Nov. 2 2016^[6]	Sabato Nov. 7 2016^[7]	Roth. Nov. 3 2016^[8]	Kos Nov. 7 2016^[9]	RCP Nov. 2 2016^[10]	538 Nov. 7 2016^[11]	NYT Nov. 7 2016^[12]	TPM Nov. 5 2016^[13]	Winner
Alaska	R+12	Lisa Murkowski (R)	39.5%^[14]	Likely R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	98% R	99+% R	Safe R	Murkowski
Arizona	R+7	John McCain (R)	59.2%	Lean R	Likely R	Likely R	Likely R	Lean R	97% R	99% R	Safe R	McCain
Colorado	D+1	Michael Bennet (D)	47.7%	Likely D	Safe D	Safe D	Safe D	Lean D	95% D	96% D	Likely D	Bennet
Florida	R+2	Marco Rubio (R)	48.9%	Lean R	Lean R	Lean R	Likely R	Tossup	87% R	85% R	Lean R	Rubio
Georgia	R+6	Johnny Isakson (R)	58.1%	Likely R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	97% R	99% R	Safe R	Isakson
Illinois	D+8	Mark Kirk (R)	48.2%	Lean D	Likely D	Lean D	Safe D	Likely D	97% D	98% D	Safe D	Duckworth
Indiana	R+5	Dan Coats (R) (Retiring)	56.4%	Tossup	Lean R	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	61% R	53% D	Lean R	Young
Iowa	D+1	Chuck Grassley (R)	64.5%	Likely R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	99+% R	99+% R	Safe R	Grassley
Kentucky	R+13	Rand Paul (R)	55.7%	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	93% R	97% R	Safe R	Paul
Louisiana	R+12	David Vitter (R) (Retiring)	56.6%	Safe R	Likely R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	86% R	96% R	Likely R	Kennedy
Missouri	R+5	Roy Blunt (R)	54.3%	Tossup	Lean R	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	55% R	65% R	Tossup	Blunt
Nevada	D+2	Harry Reid (D) (Retiring)	50.2%	Tossup	Lean D	Tossup	Lean D	Tossup	57% D	60% D	Tossup	Cortez Masto
New Hampshire	D+1	Kelly Ayotte (R)	60.2%	Tossup	Lean D	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	53% D	55% R	Tossup	Hassan
North Carolina	R+3	Richard Burr (R)	55.0%	Tossup	Lean R	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	69% R	67% R	Tossup	Burr
Ohio	R+1	Rob Portman (R)	57.3%	Lean R	Safe R	Likely R	Safe R	Likely R	98% R	97% R	Safe R	Portman
Pennsylvania	D+1	Pat Toomey (R)	51.0%	Tossup	Lean D	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	68% D	66% D	Lean D	Toomey
Wisconsin	D+2	Ron Johnson (R)	51.9%	Tossup	Lean D	Tilt D	Lean D	Tossup	87% D	72% D	Lean D	Johnson

Cook, Sabato, Rothenberg, Daily Kos Elections, FiveThirtyEight, Real Clear Politics, Talking Points Memo, and the New York Times consider the states listed below to be safe seats for the party currently holding the seat.

Safe Republican	Safe Democratic
Alabama	California^O
Arkansas	Connecticut
Idaho	Hawaii
Kansas	Maryland^O
North Dakota	New York
Oklahoma	Oregon
South Carolina	Vermont
South Dakota	Washington
Utah

^O indicates an open seat

Primary dates

This table shows the primary dates for regularly-scheduled elections. It also shows the type of primary.

"Open" primary: any registered voter can vote in any party's primary
"Closed" primary, only voters registered with a specific party can vote in that party's primary.
"Top-two" primary, all candidates run against each other regardless of party affiliation, and the top two candidates advance to the second round of voting. (In Louisiana, a candidate can win the election by winning a majority of the vote in the first round.)
All of the various other primary types are classified as "hybrid." Alaska in 2008 provides one example of a hybrid primary: The Democratic Party allowed unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary, while the Republican Party only allowed party members to vote in its primary.^[15]

State	Date^[16]	Type^[15]
Alabama	Mar. 1^R	Open
Arkansas	Mar. 1^R	Open
Illinois	Mar 15	Hybrid
North Carolina	Mar 15	Hybrid
Ohio	Mar 15	Hybrid
Maryland	April 26	Hybrid
Pennsylvania	April 26	Closed
Indiana	May 3	Open
Idaho	May 17	Hybrid
Kentucky	May 17	Closed
Oregon	May 17	Hybrid
Georgia	May 24^R	Open
California	June 7	Top-two
Iowa	June 7	Hybrid
South Dakota	June 7^R	Hybrid
Nevada	June 14	Closed
North Dakota	June 14	Open
South Carolina	June 14^R	Hybrid
Colorado	June 28	Hybrid
New York	June 28	Closed
Oklahoma	June 28^R	Hybrid
Utah	June 28	Hybrid
Kansas	Aug 2	Closed
Missouri	Aug 2	Open
Washington	Aug 2	Top-two
Connecticut	Aug 9	Hybrid
Vermont	Aug 9	Open
Wisconsin	Aug 9	Open
Hawaii	Aug 13	Open
Alaska	Aug 16	Hybrid
Arizona	Aug 30	Hybrid
Florida	Aug 30	Closed
New Hampshire	Sep 13	Hybrid
Louisiana	Nov 8	Top-two

^RIndicates a state that requires primary run-off elections under certain conditions.

Race summary

State (linked to summaries below)	Incumbent			Status	Candidates
State (linked to summaries below)	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Status	Candidates
Alabama	Richard Shelby	Republican	1986 1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Richard Shelby (Republican)^[17] 64.2% Ron Crumpton (Democratic)^[18] 35.8%
Alaska	Lisa Murkowski	Republican	2002 (Appointed) 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Lisa Murkowski (Republican)^[19]44% Joe Miller (Libertarian)^[20]29% Margaret Stock (Independent)^[21]^[22] 13% Ray Metcalfe (Democratic)^[23] 12%
Arizona	John McCain	Republican	1986 1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John McCain (Republican)^[24]53% Ann Kirkpatrick (Democratic)^[25]41% Pat Quinn (independent/Write-in)^[26]^[27] Gary Swing (Green/Write-in)^[28] 5%
Arkansas	John Boozman	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John Boozman (Republican)^[29]59.7% Conner Eldridge (Democratic)^[30]36.3% Frank Gilbert (Libertarian)^[31] 4.0%
California	Barbara Boxer	Democratic	1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	√ Kamala Harris (Democratic)^[32]61.8% Loretta Sanchez (Democratic)^[33]38.2%
Colorado	Michael Bennet	Democratic	2009 (Appointed) 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Michael Bennet (Democratic)^[34]50.0% Darryl Glenn (Republican)^[35]44.3% Lily Tang Williams (Libertarian)^[36] 3.6 Arn Menconi (Green)^[37] 1.3
Connecticut	Richard Blumenthal	Democratic	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)^[38]63.2% Dan Carter (Republican)^[39]34.6% Richard Lion (Libertarian)^[40] 1.1 Jeff Russell (Green)^[41] 1.0
Florida	Marco Rubio	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Marco Rubio (Republican)^[42]52.0% Patrick Murphy (Democratic)^[43]44.3% Paul Stanton (Libertarian)^[44] 2.1
Georgia	Johnny Isakson	Republican	2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Johnny Isakson (Republican)^[45]54.8% Jim Barksdale (Democratic)^[46]41% Allen Buckley (Libertarian)^[47]
Hawaii	Brian Schatz	Democratic	2012 (Appointed) 2014 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Brian Schatz (Democratic)^[48]73.6% John Carroll (Republican)^[48]22.2%
Idaho	Mike Crapo	Republican	1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Mike Crapo (Republican)^[49]66.1% Jerry Sturgill (Democratic)^[50]27.8% Ray Writz (Constitution)6.0%
Illinois	Mark Kirk	Republican	2010	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	√ Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)^[51] 54.9% Mark Kirk (Republican)^[52]39.8% Kent McMillen (Libertarian)^[53] 3.2% Scott Summers (Green)^[54] 2.1
Indiana	Dan Coats	Republican	1989 (Appointed) 1990 (Special) 1992 1998 (retired) 2010	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold.	√ Todd Young (Republican)^[55]52.1% Evan Bayh (Democratic)^[56]42.4% Lucy Brenton (Libertarian)^[57] 5.5%
Iowa	Chuck Grassley	Republican	1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Chuck Grassley (Republican)^[58]60.1% Patty Judge (Democratic)^[59]35.7% John Heiderscheit (Libertarian)^[60] 2.7
Kansas	Jerry Moran	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Jerry Moran (Republican)^[61]62.1% Patrick Wiesner (Democratic)^[62]32.2% Robert Garrard (Libertarian)^[63]5.5%
Kentucky	Rand Paul	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Rand Paul (Republican)^[64]57.27% Jim Gray (Democratic)^[65]42.73%
Louisiana	David Vitter	Republican	2004 2010	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold.	√John N. Kennedy (Republican)^[66]60.65% Foster Campbell (Democratic)^[67]39.35%
Maryland	Barbara Mikulski	Democratic	1986 1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	√ Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)^[68]60.9% Kathy Szeliga (Republican)^[69]35.7% Margaret Flowers (Green)^[70]
Missouri	Roy Blunt	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Roy Blunt (Republican)^[71]49.3% Jason Kander (Democratic)^[72]46.2% Jonathan Dine (Libertarian)^[73]
Nevada	Harry Reid	Democratic	1986 1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	√ Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic) 47.1% ^[74] Joe Heck (Republican) 44.7% ^[75] Tom Jones (Independent American) Tony Gumina (unaffiliated) Tom Sawyer (unaffiliated) Jarrod Michael Williams (unaffiliated) (None of these candidates)
New Hampshire	Kelly Ayotte	Republican	2010	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	√ Maggie Hassan (Democratic) 47.97% ^[76] Kelly Ayotte (Republican) 47.87% ^[77] Brian Chabot (Libertarian)^[78]
New York	Chuck Schumer	Democratic	1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Chuck Schumer (Democratic) 70.4% ^[38] Wendy Long (Republican) 27.4% ^[79] Alex Merced (Libertarian)^[80] Robin Wilson (Green)^[81]
North Carolina	Richard Burr	Republican	2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Richard Burr (Republican) 51.1% ^[82] Deborah Ross (Democratic) 45.3% ^[83] Sean Haugh (Libertarian)^[84]
North Dakota	John Hoeven	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John Hoeven (Republican) 78.4% ^[85] Eliot Glassheim (Democratic) 17.0% ^[86] Robert Marquette (Libertarian)^[87]
Ohio	Rob Portman	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Rob Portman (Republican) 58.0% ^[88] Ted Strickland (Democratic) 37.1% ^[89] Joseph DeMare (Green)^[90]
Oklahoma	James Lankford	Republican	2014 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	√ James Lankford (Republican) 67.7% ^[38] Mike Workman (Democratic) 24.5% ^[91] Robert Murphy (Libertarian)^[92]
Oregon	Ron Wyden	Democratic	1996 (Special) 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Ron Wyden (Democratic) 56.1% ^[38] Mark Callahan (Republican) 33.35% ^[93] Jim Lindsay (Libertarian)^[94] Eric Navickas (Green)^[94]
Pennsylvania	Pat Toomey	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Pat Toomey (Republican) 48.9% ^[95] Kathleen McGinty (Democratic) 47.2% ^[96] Edward Clifford (Libertarian)^[97]
South Carolina	Tim Scott	Republican	2013 (Appointed) 2014 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Tim Scott (Republican) 60.5% ^[38] Thomas Dixon (Democratic) 37.0% ^[98] Bill Bledsoe (Libertarian)^[99]
South Dakota	John Thune	Republican	2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John Thune (Republican) 71.8% ^[100] Jay Williams (Democratic) 28.2% ^[101]
Utah	Mike Lee	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Mike Lee (Republican) 68.1% ^[102] Misty K. Snow (Democratic) 27.1% ^[103] Stoney Fonua (Independent American) Bill Barron (unaffiliated)
Vermont	Patrick Leahy	Democratic	1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Patrick Leahy (Democratic) 59.9% ^[104] Scott Milne (Republican) 32.3% ^[105] Pete Diamondstone (Liberty Union) Cris Ericson (Marijuana)^{[verification needed]} Jerry Trudell (unaffiliated)
Washington	Patty Murray	Democratic	1992 1998 2004 2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Patty Murray (Democratic) 59.04% ^[106] Chris Vance (Republican) 40.96% ^[107]
Wisconsin	Ron Johnson	Republican	2010	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Ron Johnson (Republican) 50.19% ^[108] Russ Feingold (Democratic) 46.84% ^[109] Phil Anderson (Libertarian)^[110]

Close races

Red denotes Senate races won by Republicans; Blue denotes those won by Democrats.

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

New Hampshire, 0.14%

States where the margin of victory was between 1% and 5%:

Pennsylvania, 1.43%
Nevada, 2.37%
Missouri, 2.79%
Wisconsin, 3.36%

States where the margin of victory was between 5% and 10%:

Colorado, 5.66%
North Carolina, 5.70%
Florida, 7.67%
Indiana, 9.70%

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Complete list of races

Thirty-four seats were up for election in 2016:

7 Democrats and 21 Republicans sought re-election.
5 Senators (3 Democrats, 2 Republicans) retired.

Alabama

Five-term Senator Richard Shelby (Republican) was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2010. He was 82 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election. He served in the Senate as a Democrat until switching parties in 1994. Shelby ran for re-election and faced four challengers in the Republican primary: ex-state Senator Shadrack McGill, former Marine and Birmingham businessman Jonathan McConnell, Marcus Bowman, and John Martin.^[111] On March 1, Shelby won the primary with 65% of the vote.^[112]

There were two Democratic candidates: Ron Crumpton, patient rights advocate,^[18]^[113] and Charles Nana.^[111] Crumpton won the primary with 56% of the vote.^[112]

Sen. Shelby won re-election with 63.9% of the vote.

Alaska

Two-term Senator Lisa Murkowski (Republican) was appointed in 2002 and elected to a full term in 2004. She was defeated in the Republican primary in 2010 by Joe Miller. She later ran as a write-in candidate in the 2010 general election and was re-elected to a second full term with 40% of the vote, making her one of two senators in US history to win election via write-in votes. She was 59 years old in 2016. She ran for re-election.^[19]

Thomas Lamb, a candidate for the State House in 2006, and Bob Lochner filed to run against Murkowski.^[114] Other potential Republican primary challengers included 2010 nominee and 2014 candidate Joe Miller, State Senator Mike J. Dunleavy, former Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell, and former Mayor of Anchorage Dan Sullivan.^[115]

The only person to file for the Democratic primary as of May 20 was writer and satirist Richard Grayson, who previously sought election to Wyoming's House seat in 2014.^[116]^[117]^[118]^[114] Potential Democratic candidates included State Senator Dennis Egan, State Representative Andy Josephson, State Senator Bill Wielechowski, State Senator Hollis French and State Senate Minority Leader Johnny Ellis.^[119] Former Senator Mark Begich was mentioned as a possible candidate,^[120] but he declined to run.^[121]

Murkowski won her primary on August 16, 2016 with 72 percent of the vote.

Joe Miller received the Libertarian nomination and will run against Murkowski in the general election.

Anchorage attorney and veteran Margaret Stock ran as an Independent candidate.^[122]

Sen. Murkowski won re-election with 44% of the vote compared to Miller with 30% and Metcalfe with 11%. 15% went to other candidates. Murkowski has been re-elected three times now with 48% in 2004, 39.5% in 2010 and 44% in 2016, never having won a majority.

Arizona

Five-term Senator and Republican presidential candidate in 2008 John McCain was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2010. He was 80 years old in 2016. Despite speculation that he might retire,^[123] McCain ran for re-election.^[24]

McCain faced primary challenges from Fair Tax activist Alex Meluskey,^[124] businessman David Pizer,^[125] talk radio host Clair Van Steenwyk,^[126] and State Senator Kelli Ward.^[127] David Pizer later dropped out of the race. Representatives Matt Salmon and David Schweikert were both mentioned as possible candidates,^[128] but both chose not to run.^[129]^[130] Other potential Republican candidates included former Governor Jan Brewer,^[131] businesswoman and 2014 gubernatorial candidate Christine Jones,^[132] former Governor of Alaska and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin,^[133] former U.S. Representative John Shadegg,^[134] and former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods.^[134]

Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick^[25] and teacher Lennie Clark^[135] ran for the Democratic nomination. Lennie Clark dropped out and Ann Kirkpatrick became the Democratic nominee. Other potential Democratic candidates included U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego, former Surgeon General and 2012 nominee Richard Carmona, 2014 gubernatorial nominee Fred DuVal, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, and retired astronaut Mark Kelly, who is the husband of ex-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.^[136]^[137]

Sen. McCain won re-election with 53% to Kirkpatrick's 41%.

Arkansas

One-term Senator John Boozman (Republican) defeated two-term Senator Blanche Lincoln with 58% of the vote in 2010. He was 65 years old in 2016. Despite speculation that he might retire following health problems,^[138]^[139] Boozman ran for re-election.^[29] Fellow Republican Curtis Coleman, who ran against Boozman in 2010 but came in fifth place, ran again.^[140]

Conner Eldridge, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, is the only Democrat who met the filing deadline.^[141]

Frank Gilbert is the candidate for the Libertarian Party,^[142]^[143]^[144] and Jason Tate was running a write-in campaign.^[145]

Sen. Boozman won re-election with 60% to Eldridge's 36%.

California

Four-term Senator Barbara Boxer (Democrat) was re-elected with 52% of the vote in 2010. Boxer declined to run for re-election.^[146] California Attorney General Kamala Harris and U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, both Democrats, finished first and second, respectively,^[147] in California's nonpartisan blanket primary, and will contest the general election. As such, Boxer's successor is guaranteed to be a Democrat.^[148] This marks a historic first such occasion in California, ever since the Senate elections began in 1914.

Other Democrats on the primary ballot included "President" Cristina Grappo, Massie Munroe, Herbert Peters, Emory Rogers, and Steve Stokes.^[149] Among the potential candidates who declined to run were Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Representatives Xavier Becerra and Adam Schiff, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Former state Republican Party chairs Tom Del Beccaro^[150] and Duf Sundheim,^[151] and former State Senator Phil Wyman^[152]^[153] ran, along with Don Krampe,^[154] Tom Palzer,^[155] Karen Roseberry,^[156] Greg Conlon, Von Huogo, Jerry Laws, Ron Unz, Jarrell Williamson, and George Yang.^[149] State Assemblymen Rocky Chavez was running as well,^[157] but withdrew from the race.^[158] Republicans who were once considered potential candidates but ruled out runs included San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Neel Kashkari, U.S. Representative Darrell Issa, and businesswoman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 Carly Fiorina.^[159]

Independent Mike Beitiks ran on a single-issue climate change platform.^[160]

Polling conducted by the SurveyUSA from March 30, 2016 to April 3, 2016 indicated that Harris was ahead with 26%, compared to Rep. Sánchez with 22%, Del Beccaro with 8%, Wyman with 8%, and Sundheim with 3%; 7% of those polled were supporting other candidates, and 24% were undecided.^[161]

Harris won the election with 63% of the vote to Sanchez's 37%.

Colorado

One-term Senator Michael Bennet (Democrat) was appointed in 2009 and elected to a full term with 48% of the vote in 2010. He was 51 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[34]

Businessman Robert Blaha,^[162] former Aurora councilman Ryan Frazier,^[163] El Paso County Commissioners Darryl Glenn,^[35] and Peggy Littleton,^[164] former Colorado State University Athletic Director Jack Graham,^[165] State Representative Jon Keyser,^[166] former SBA director Greg Lopez,^[167] State Senator Tim Neville,^[168] and Jefferson County Commissioner Donald Rosier^[169]^[170] ran for the Republican nomination. Glenn, Graham, Blaha, Keyser, and Frazier actually competed in the primary.^[171]

Darryl Glenn won the Republican nomination with 37% of the vote against four other opponents.^[171]

Bennet won re-election with 49% of the vote to Glenn's 46%.

Connecticut

One-term Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat) was elected with 55% of the vote in 2010. He was 70 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[38]

State Representative Dan Carter,^[39] apparel company CEO and 2004 Senate nominee Jack Orchulli,^[172] and former Olympic athlete August Wolf^[173] ran for the Republican nomination. Another potential candidate was former West Hartford Town Councilor Joe Visconti, who ran for CT-01 in 2008 and ran as an Independent for Governor in 2014.^[174] Former U.S. Comptroller General and 2014 candidate for Lieutenant Governor David M. Walker,^[175]^[176] former U.S. Representative and 2010 candidate Rob Simmons,^[177] and economist and former CNBC television host Lawrence Kudlow declined to run.^[178]^[179]

Blumenthal won re-election with 63% of the vote to Carter's 35%.

Florida

One-term Senator Marco Rubio (Republican) was elected in a three-way race with 49% of the vote in 2010. In April 2014, Rubio stated that he would not run for both the Senate and President in 2016, as Florida law prohibits a candidate from appearing twice on a ballot.^[180] In April 2015, he announced that he would run for President and would not seek re-election.^[181] After suspending his campaign on March 15, 2016, Rubio announced on June 22, 2016 that he changed his mind and will run for re-election.^[42]

U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis, combat veteran Todd Wilcox,^[182] real estate developer Carlos Beruff,^[183] retired college lecturer Ilya Katz,^[184] and Donald J. DeRenzo ran for the Republican nomination.^[185]^[186] Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and candidate for President in 2016 is also mentioned as a potential candidate.^[187] On June 17, 2016, U.S. Representative David Jolly withdrew from the race to run for re-election to his House seat, four days after Rubio began openly considering reversing his decision to not run for re-election.^[188]

U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy^[43] defeated fellow representative Alan Grayson, as well as Pam Keith, Lateresa Jones, Richard Coleman, Sam Brian Gibbons, and Josh Larose, for the Democratic nomination. Murphy lost to incumbent Marco Rubio in the November general election on November 8.^[189]

Sen. Rubio won re-election with 52% of the vote compared to Murphy's 44%.

Georgia

Two-term Senator Johnny Isakson (Republican) was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2010. He was 71 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[45] In 2015, Isakson announced he was being treated for Parkinson's disease, but stated that his treatment would not interfere with his re-election campaign or his ability to serve another term.^[190]

Mary Kay Bacallao, college professor, former Fayette County Board of Education member, and candidate for State Superintendent of Schools in 2014^[191] and Derrick Grayson, candidate for the state's other Senate seat in 2014,^[192] challenged Isakson for the Republican nomination. Isakson won the Republican nomination with more than three quarters of the vote.^[193]

Investment firm executive Jim Barksdale,^[46] project manager Cheryl Copeland,^[194] and businessman John Coyne^[195] ran for the Democratic nomination. USAF veteran Jim Knox was running but dropped out of the race.^[196] Barksdale defeated Copeland in a close race to win the Democratic nomination.^[193]

Sen. Isakson won re-election with 55% to Barksdale's 41%.

Hawaii

In 2012, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz (Democrat) to take the place of deceased nine-term Senator Daniel Inouye. Schatz won a 2014 special election to serve the remainder of Inouye's term. Schatz ran for re-election.^[38]

Former U.S. Representative and 2014 Senate candidate Colleen Hanabusa may challenge Schatz in the primary again,^[197] while U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard declined to seek the Democratic nomination for the seat.^[198]

Charles Collins, a Republican who ran for the Senate in 2012 and for Governor in 2014, was seeking the nomination again,^[199] but withdrew from the race.^[200]

Sen. Schatz won re-election with 74% of the vote compared to Carroll's 22%.

Idaho

Three-term Senator Mike Crapo (Republican) was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2010. Crapo was 65 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[49] U.S Representative Raul Labrador declined to challenge Crapo in the Republican primary.^[201]^[202]

Jerry Sturgill ran for the Democratic nomination.^[50]

Perennial candidate Pro-Life ran as an independent.^[203]^[204] He was defeated in the Constitution Party primary on May 17, 2016 to Ray J. Writz.^[205]

Sen. Crapo was re-elected.

Illinois

One-term Senator Mark Kirk (Republican) was elected with 48% of the vote in 2010. He was 57 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election. Kirk suffered a stroke in January 2012 that kept him away from the Senate until January 2013.^[206] In June 2013, he confirmed that he was planning to run for re-election,^[207] but speculation he might retire persisted.^[208] In November 2014, Kirk reiterated that he was going to run for re-election, saying: "No frickin' way am I retiring."^[209]

Joe Walsh, a former U.S. Representative and conservative talk radio host, declined to challenge Kirk in the Republican primary.^[210] Two others filed for the right to challenge Senator Kirk in the primary: businessman James Marter,^[211] and Elizabeth Pahlke,^[212] but Pahlke was disqualified, so only Marter was on the ballot running against Kirk.^[213] On March 15, Kirk won the primary with 71% of the vote.^[214]

U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth,^[215] President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League Andrea Zopp,^[216] and State Senator Napoleon Harris ran for the Democratic nomination.^[217]^[218] On March 15, Duckworth won the primary with 64% of the vote.^[214]

In December 2015, Jim Brown, a teacher and former businessman, announced he was running as an independent.^[219]

Chris Aguayo, an Iraq/Afghan war Veteran and Veterans Party State Chair, announced he was running representing the Veterans Party.^[220]

Rep. Duckworth unseated Sen. Kirk with 54% compared to his 40%.

Indiana

Three-term Senator Dan Coats (Republican) was elected with 55% of the vote in 2010; Coats served in the Senate from 1989 to 1999 and then returned to serve another term from 2011 to 2017. Coats did not run for re-election.^[221] Republican candidates include U.S. Representatives Marlin Stutzman^[222] and Todd Young.^[55] Coats's chief of Staff Eric Holcomb was a candidate, but withdrew from the race.^[223]^[224]

Former U.S. Representative Baron Hill won the Democratic nomination on May 3, but withdrew in July 2016 in favor of Evan Bayh.^[225] Bayh held the seat from 1999 until his retirement in 2011, and also served as Governor of Indiana from 1989 to 1997. Former non-profit director John Dickerson also announced he was going to run, but suspended his campaign in early 2016.^[226]^[227]

Former Sen. Bayh lost his bid to regain his seat to Rep. Young. Rep Young garnered 52% to Bayh's 42%

Iowa

Six-term Senator Chuck Grassley was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2010. He was 83 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[228]^[229] Talk radio host Robert Rees announced he was going to challenge Grassley for the nomination,^[230] but later withdrew.^[231]

Former Lt Governor Patty Judge ^[59] earned the Democratic nomination by defeating State Senator Rob Hogg,^[232] former state Senator Tom Fiegen,^[233] and former state representative Bob Krause.^[234] Former state representative Ray Zirkelbach^[235] briefly ran but ended his campaign soon after.

Sen. Grassley won re-election with 60% to Judge's 36%.

Kansas

One-term Senator Jerry Moran (Republican) was elected with 70% of the vote in 2010. He was 62 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[61] Radiologist and 2014 Senate candidate Milton R. Wolf and U.S. Representative Tim Huelskamp declined to run.^[61]^[136]^[236]^[237]

Patrick Wiesner,^[62] an attorney and a candidate for the Senate in 2010 and 2014, defeated Monique Singh-Bey^[238] for the Democratic nomination. Potential candidates who declined to run included Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, 2014 Governor nominee Paul Davis, former Kansas City Mayor Joe Reardon, former U.S. Representative and 2008 nominee Jim Slattery, and 2014 KS-02 nominee Margie Wakefield.^[136]

Sen. Moran won re-election with 62% to Wiesner's 32%.

Kentucky

One-term Senator Rand Paul (Republican) was elected with 56% of the vote in 2010. He was 53 years old in 2016. Paul filed for re-election,^[64] although he was also running for President of the United States in 2016.^[239] Although Kentucky law did not allow for a candidate to appear twice on the same ballot, Paul successfully convinced the Kentucky GOP to adopt a caucus system for 2016, allowing Paul to run for president and for the Senate simultaneously.^[240] Kentucky law still bars Paul from appearing twice on the ballot in the general election.^[240] However, on February 3, 2016, Paul ended his campaign for the presidency and ran for reelection.^[241] James Gould and Stephen Slaughter filed to run against Paul.^[242] Paul won the primary with almost 85% of the vote.^[243]

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray,^[65] Rory Houlihan,^[244] Ron Leach,^[245] Sellus Wilder^[246] Jeff Kender, Tom Recktenwald (who was a candidate in 2014), and Grant Short ran for the Democratic nomination.^[242] Gray won the nomination.

Sen. Paul won re-election with 57% of the vote to Gray's 43%.

Louisiana

Two-term Senator David Vitter (Republican) was re-elected with 57% of the vote in 2010. After losing the 2015 gubernatorial race, Vitter chose to retire from the Senate at the end of his term.^[38]^[247]

Republicans who ran for the seat included U.S. Representatives Charles Boustany^[248] and John Fleming,^[249] former U.S. Representative Joseph Cao,^[250] State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy,^[66] retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Rob Maness,^[251] and former Louisiana State Representative David Duke. Other potential Republican candidates included Public Service Commissioner Erik Skrmetta,^[252] 2014 candidate for LA-05 Zach Dasher,^[252] state representative Paul Hollis,^[253] and former President of Jefferson Parish John Young.^[254]

Democratic candidates included Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell,^[67] attorney Derrick Edwards,^[255] Caroline Fayard, an attorney and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2010,^[256] and businessman Josh Pellerin.^[257] Other potential Democratic candidates included state legislators Robert Johnson, Eric LaFleur, and Gary Smith, Jr., and Mayor of Alexandria Jacques Roy.^[258]^[259]^[260] Former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and her brother, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, declined to run.^[261]

As no candidate won a majority of the vote in the "jungle primary", a runoff election was held on December 10 to choose between Kennedy and Campbell (the 2 candidates with the most votes in the primary).^[262] John Kennedy was declared the winner of the runoff election with 61% of the vote to Campbell's 39%.

Maryland

Five-term Senator Barbara Mikulski (Democrat) was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2010. She is the longest-serving female Senator and the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. Congress. She is not seeking re-election.^[263]

The candidates who filed for the Democratic nomination were: U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards^[264] and Chris Van Hollen,^[68] Freddie Donald Dickson, Jr., Ralph Jaffe, Theresa Scaldaferri, Charles Smith, Violate Staley, Blaine Taylor, Ed Tinus, and Lih Young.^[265] Van Hollen won the April 26 primary.

The Republican candidates who filed were former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Senate candidate in 2012 Richard Douglas,^[266] Chrys Kefalas,^[267] State Delegate Kathy Szeliga,^[69] Chris Chaffee, Sean Connor, John Graziani, Greg Holmes, Joseph David Hooe, Mark McNicholas, Lynn Richardson, Anthony Seda, Richard Shawver, Dave Walle, and Garry T. Yarrington.^[265] Szeliga won the primary and will face Van Hollen in the general election.

Rep. Van Hollen won election to the Senate with 60% of the vote to Szeliga's 36%.

Missouri

One-term Senator Roy Blunt (Republican) was elected with 54% of the vote in 2010. He was 66 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[71] Former U.S. Representative and 2012 Senate nominee Todd Akin was rumored to be a possible candidate, but declined to run.^[268]^[269] Three candidates ran against Blunt for the Republican nomination, the best-known being sales manager, tea party activist, and 2010 candidate Kristin Nichols, but Blunt won decisively with 72% of the vote.

For the Democrats, Secretary of State Jason Kander^[72] easily won the nomination, defeating Robert Mack, Pastor Cori Bush^[270]^[271] and activist Chief Wana Dubie.^[272] Governor Jay Nixon and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel chose not to seek election to the Senate.^[273]^[274]

Sen. Blunt won re-election with 49% of the vote to Kander's 46%.

Nevada

Five-term Senator and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat) was re-elected with 50% of the vote in 2010. Reid is not seeking re-election.^[275] Former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto earned the Democratic nomination, defeating Bobby Mahendra, Liddo Susan O'Briant, and Allen Rheinhart in the primary on June 14, 2016.

Congressman Joe Heck^[75] defeated eight candidates, including 2010 nominee Sharron Angle,^[276] who ran against Reid in 2010, for the Republican nomination.

Jarrod M. Williams, an independent candidate ran for the seat. He describes himself as a Democratic Socialist, a supporter of Bernie Sanders, and is a member of the Socialist Party USA, although the party doesn't have a chapter in the State of Nevada.^{[citation needed]}

Cortez Masto was elected with 47.1% of the vote to Heck's 44.7%.

New Hampshire

One-term Senator Kelly Ayotte (Republican) was elected with 60% of the vote in 2010. She was 48 years old in 2016. Ayotte ran for re-election.^[77] Jim Rubens, a former state senator, candidate for Governor in 1998 and for the Senate in 2014, announced a challenge to Ayotte in the primary,^[277]^[278] but Ayotte won the nomination.

Brian Chabot is the Libertarian candidate for US Senate in 2016. He is a relative newcomer to politics, having run for US Senate in 2010 and US Representative in 2014.

Governor Maggie Hassan ran for the Democratic nomination.^[76] Other potential candidates include Executive Councilor Chris Pappas, State Senators Dan Feltes and Donna Soucy, Portsmouth City Councilor and daughter of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen Stefany Shaheen, and campaign manager for Senator Shaheen Mike Vlacich.^[279]

A series of polls taken by WMUR/UNH in February, April, and July 2016, as well as WBUR polls taken in May and July/August, show Hassan gaining support over time and now leading Ayotte.

Gov. Hassan won a very close election, 353,978 or 47.97%, to Sen. Ayotte's 353,262 or 47.87%, a difference of 716 votes. Sen. Ayotte conceded the race to Gov. Hassan around noon Wednesday November 9, 2016.

New York

Three-term Senator Chuck Schumer (Democrat) was re-elected with 66% of the vote in 2010. He was 66 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[38] Chuck Schumer has been elected leader of the Senate Democrats succeeding Harry Reid.^[280]

Wendy Long, the Republican nominee in 2012, ran as the nominee of Republican, Conservative, and Reform Parties.^[79] Other potential Republican candidates included U.S. Representatives Chris Gibson and Peter T. King.^[281] U.S. Representative Richard L. Hanna, Manhattan Republican Party Chairwoman Adele Malpass, and former CNBC television host Larry Kudlow^[282] were also mentioned as possible candidates, but all have declined to run.^[281]^[283]

Robin Laverne Wilson was the Green Party of New York nominee, whose election returns exceeded popular votes and percentage for all previous Green Party campaigns for U.S. Senator of New York.^[284] Alex Merced was the Libertarian candidate. Upon exclusion from the televised debate with Schumer and Long,^[285] Wilson and Merced hosted their own live streamed debate.^[286]

North Carolina

Two-term Senator Richard Burr (Republican) was re-elected with 55% of the vote in 2010. He was 61 years old in 2016. There had been speculation that Burr might retire,^[287] but he ran for re-election.^[82]^[288]

Three Republicans challenged Sen. Burr in the primary: Greg Brannon,^[289] Larry Holmquist,^[290] and former Superior Court Judge Paul Wright.^[291] On March 15, Burr won the primary with 61% of the vote.^[292]

Former state representative Deborah Ross,^[83] Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey,^[293] businessman Kevin Griffin,^[294] and retired U.S. Army Captain Ernest Reeves^[295] ran for the Democratic nomination. Former U.S. Senator Kay Hagan,^[296] state treasurer Janet Cowell,^[297] and Anthony Foxx, the United States Secretary of Transportation and former Mayor of Charlotte, declined to run.^[298] On March 15, Ross won the primary with 62% of the vote.^[299] Burr won re-election 51% to 45% for Ross.

North Dakota

One-term Senator John Hoeven (Republican) was elected with 76% of the vote in 2010. He was 59 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[85]

Democrats endorsed state representative Eliot Glassheim^[300]

On November 7, 2015, the Libertarian party nominated Robert Marquette.

Ohio

One-term Senator Rob Portman (Republican) was elected with 57% of the vote in 2010. He was 60 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election. He had considered running for President, but decided not to.^[88]

Two candidates filed to challenge him: Don Elijah Eckhart, who ran for OH-15 as an independent in 2008,^[301] and Melissa Strzala, but Strzala was disqualified.^[302] On March 15, Portman won the primary with 82% of the vote.

Former Governor and Congressman Ted Strickland, Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, and occupational therapist Kelli Prather ran for the Democratic nomination.^[303]^[304]^[305] Former State Representative Bob Hagan had filed papers to run,^[306] but later withdrew from the race.^[307] On March 15, Strickland won the primary with 65% of the vote.

Joseph DeMare, a machinist from Bowling Green, is the Green Party candidate. He ran unopposed in the March 15, 2016 primary, and received enough votes to substantially increase the number of enrolled Green Party members. In Ohio, the only way to join a political party is to vote in that Party's primary.

Oklahoma

Two-term Senator Tom Coburn (Republican) was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2010, but chose to leave office before the end of his term after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. James Lankford won the 2014 special election to serve the remainder of Coburn's term.^[308] Lankford ran for re-election.^[38]

Former Congressman Dan Boren was viewed by some Oklahoma political operatives as the only Democrat who could make the 2016 race competitive, but was seen as unlikely to run.^[309] Lankford's 2014 special election opponent Constance N. Johnson has said that she plans to run again.^[310]

Oregon

Three-term Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat) was re-elected with 57% of the vote in 2010. He was 67 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[38]

Medford City Councilor Kevin Stine^[311] and retired locomotive engineer Paul Weaver^[312] challenged Wyden for the Democratic nomination. Wyden won the Democratic nomination.

Information technology consultant and 2014 candidate Mark Callahan,^[93] businessman Sam Carpenter,^[313] business consultant Dan Laschober,^[314] Steven Reynolds,^[312] and Lane County commissioner Faye Stewart^[315] ran for the Republican nomination. Callahan won the Republican nomination.

Pennsylvania

One-term Senator Pat Toomey (Republican) was elected with 51% of the vote in 2010. He was 54 years old in 2016. Toomey ran for re-election.^[95]

Everett Stern, a security intelligence consultant and whistleblower of the HSBC money laundering scandal, announced that he would challenge Toomey for the Republican nomination,^[316] but has missed the filing deadline, so Toomey was unopposed in the primary.

Democratic candidates included Katie McGinty, former Chief of Staff to Governor Tom Wolf and former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,^[96] former Congressman Joe Sestak, who defeated incumbent Senator Arlen Specter (a Democrat turned Republican turned back to Democrat) for the 2010 Democratic nomination, but lost to Toomey in the general election,^[317] the current mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, John Fetterman,^[318] who is an AmeriCorps alum and Harvard University graduate,^[319] and small businessman and senate candidate in 2010 and 2012 Joseph Vodvarka.^[320] Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski announced his candidacy for the seat but suspended his campaign due to an FBI investigation of Allentown.^[321] McGinty won the primary and faced Toomey in the general election on November 8, 2016. Toomey defeated McGinty and retained the seat.

South Carolina

Two-term Republican Senator Jim DeMint (Republican) was re-elected with 61% of the vote in 2010. He resigned at the start of 2013 to become President of The Heritage Foundation and U.S. Representative Tim Scott (Republican) of South Carolina's 1st congressional district was appointed to replace DeMint by Governor Nikki Haley.^[322]

Scott subsequently won the special election in 2014 for the remaining two years of the term. Scott ran for re-election^[38] and he was a potential Republican vice presidential nominee.^[323]^[324]

Other potential Republican candidates include Congressmen Mick Mulvaney,^[325] Jeff Duncan and Mark Sanford, along with State Senator Tom Davis, State Treasurer Curtis Loftis and State Attorney General Alan Wilson.^[323] Darla Moore was mentioned as a potential candidate for either party.^[323]

On the Democratic side, pastor Thomas Dixon ran in the general primary on November 8, 2016 but was defeated by the incumbent, Scott.^[98]

South Dakota

Two-term Senator John Thune (Republican) ran unopposed and was re-elected with 100% in 2010. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2016.^[100]

Jay Williams, Chair of the Yankton County Democratic Party, and candidate for the State House in 2010 and 2014, is running for the Democratic nomination.^[101] Other potential Democratic candidates include State Senator Bernie Hunhoff^[326] and filmmaker and former television news producer Sam Hurst.^[327]

Former U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Heuther, and 2014 nominee Rick Weiland all declined to run.^[328]^[329]

Utah

One-term Senator Mike Lee (Republican) was elected with 62% of the vote in 2010. He was 45 years old in 2016. He ran for re-election.^[102] State party chair Thomas Wright, former State Senator Dan Liljenquist, State Senator Aaron Osmond, Congressman Jason Chaffetz, Congressman Chris Stewart, former Governor of Utah Mike Leavitt, and Mitt Romney's son Josh Romney^[330]^[331]^[332] were mentioned as potential primary challengers, but all declined to run.^[333]^[334] Lee ran unopposed at the Utah Republican convention and is the Republican nominee.^[335]

Marriage therapist Jonathan Swinton^[336] and grocery store clerk Misty Snow, a transgender woman, ran for the Democratic nomination. Snow defeated Swinton by more than 20 percentage points, running to the left of Swinton, criticizing him for supporting limitations on abortion rights. She became the first transgender woman to become a major party's nominee for the Senate.^[337]

Vermont

Seven-term Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2010. Leahy won re-election in 2016, aged 76.^[104]

Scott Milne, the Republican nominee who narrowly lost the 2014 Vermont gubernatorial election, ran unsuccessfully against Leahy.^[338]^[339]

Washington

Four-term Senator Patty Murray (Democrat) was re-elected with 52% of the vote in 2010. She ran successfully for re-election against Republican candidate Chris Vance.^[107] Congressman Dave Reichert was considered a potential Republican candidate^[340] but chose to run for reelection.^[341]

Wisconsin

One-term Senator Ron Johnson (Republican) defeated three-term Senator Russ Feingold (Democrat) with 52% of the vote in 2010.

On May 14, 2015, Feingold announced that he would seek a rematch against Johnson for his former Senate seat.^[109] Immediately after his announcement, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorsed Feingold's candidacy.^[342] Businesswoman and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Mary Burke has declared that she is not seeking statewide office in 2016.^[343]

Johnson and Feingold faced each other again, and Johnson again defeated Feingold, in what many observers and pundits considered to be a surprising and uphill victory.^[108]

References