Post by James Allan on Sept 1, 2013 22:14:38 GMT -5
2014 Senate Races
It’s time to stop letting the party big wigs select who they want to run for individual offices and start vetting candidates for the 2014 senate races ourselves.
Complete list of races
Alabama
Three-term incumbent Republican Jeff Sessions was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2008. He will be 67 years old in 2014.
Alaska Sarah Palin may run against Begich (not announced yet)
One-term incumbent Democrat Mark Begich was elected with 48% of the vote in 2008, defeating six-term Senator Ted Stevens by 3,953 votes. Begich will be 52 years old in 2014 and intends to seek re-election to a second term.Stevens, who would have been almost 91 years old at the time of the election, had already filed for a rematch back in 2009, but was killed in a plane crash the following year. On December 1, 2012 Republican Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell announced that he was exploring a candidacy in 2014.
Arkansas
Two-term incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor was re-elected with 80% of the vote without Republican opposition in 2008. He will be 51 years old in 2014. He is planning on running for a third term.Potential Republican candidates include Congressman Steve Womack and Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr.
Colorado
One-term incumbent Democrat Mark Udall was elected with 53% of the vote in 2008. He will be 64 years old in 2014. Former Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and failed 2010 U.S. Senate candidate Jane Norton is being encouraged to run by Republican U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte. Polling conducted by Public Policy Polling December 1–4, 2011, showed Udall with a lead against Congressman Mike Coffman (48–34), and former Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton (50–33).<Additional polling conducted by Public Policy Polling June 14–17, 2012, of 799 Colorado voters showed Udall with leads against former Governor Bill Owens (47–43), 2010, Republican nominee for Senate Ken Buck (50–35), former Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton (48–38), former Congressman Tom Tancredo (49–39), Congressman Doug Lamborn (49–36), Congressman Mike Coffman (48–39), and state Attorney General John Suthers (48–38).
Delaware
Democrat Chris Coons defeated Tea Party activist and three-time Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell at the 2010 special election caused by Joe Biden’s election as Vice Presidet. Coons will be 51 years old in 2014.
Georgia
Two-term incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss was re-elected with 57% of the vote in 2008 in a runoff election with former state Representative Jim Martin after he failed to receive a simple majority in the general election. Chambliss will not seek a third term. Congressman Paul Broun (GA-10) announced that he is running for the seat.
Hawaii (special)
Daniel Inouye, the second longest serving United States Senator in history died on December 17, 2012, after respiratory complications. Hawaii law allows Neil Abercrombie, the Governor of Hawaii, to appoint an interim Senator “who serves until the next regularly-scheduled general election, chosen from a list of three prospective appointees that the prior incumbent’s political party submits.” Abercrombie eventually picked his Lt. Governor, Brian Schatz, to fill the Senate seat. Inouye was re-elected in 2010 with 72 percent of the vote.
Illinois
Three-term incumbent and Senate Majority Whip Democrat Dick Durbin was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2008. He will be 70 years old in 2014. Polling by PPP from November 2012 shows him with wide leads against potential Republican opponents.
Idaho
One-term incumbent Republican Jim Risch was elected with 58% of the vote in 2008. He will be 71 years old in 2014. Risch plans to seek a second term.
Iowa
Five-term incumbent Democrat Tom Harkin was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2008. He will be 74 years old in 2014. Harkin will not run for re-election.
Kansas
Three-term incumbent Republican Pat Roberts was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2008. He will be 78 years old in 2014. Roberts plans to seek a fourth term and is already raising funds for his campaign.
Kentucky
Five-term incumbent and Senate Minority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell was re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2008. He will be 72 years old in 2014. McConnell will seek re-election to a sixth term and is already beginning to prepare for his campaign by hiring key staffers and building a fundraising operation.
Louisiana
Three-term incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu was re-elected with 52% of the vote in 2008. She will be 59 years old in 2014. Landrieu has already begun to fundraise for her intended re-election bid for a fourth term. Potential Republican opponents include Congressman Bill Cassidy, Congressman John Fleming and former Congressman Jeff Landry>
Maine
Three-term incumbent Republican Susan Collins was re-elected with 61% of the vote in 2008. She will be 61 years old in 2014. Collins has not yet announced whether or not she will seek a fourth term. Former state treasurer Bruce Poliquin is a possible Republican candidate.
Massachusetts
Five-term incumbent and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry was re-elected with 66% of the vote in 2008. Kerry has been confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of State and will resign from the Senate to take the post. In the interim, Mo Cowan will temporarly hold the vacated seat. Democratic Congressman Ed Markey has announced that he will run to succeed Kerry in a special election if Kerry is confirmed and Democratic Congressman Stephen Lynch is seriously thinking of running, as well. Former U.S. Senator Scott Brown was considered the likely Republican nominee but announced on February 1 that he would not run in the special election. With Brown not running, possible Republican candidates include former state Senator Richard Tisei, who was a near-successful candidate for Congress in 2012, state Representative Daniel Winslow, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez .
Michigan
Six-term incumbent and Chairman of the Armed Services Committee Democrat Carl Levin was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2008. He will be 80 years old in 2014. Term-limited Republican State Senator Roger Kahn has said he is considering running.
Minnesota
One-term incumbent Democrat Al Franken defeated one-term Republican Norm Coleman by 312 votes in a three-way race with 42% of the vote in 2008. Franken will be 63 years old in 2014. Franken will seek re-election. Polling conducted by Public Policy Polling January 21–22, 2012, showed Franken with a lead against former Governor Tim Pawlenty (49-43) and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (54–39). Another poll conducted by PPP May 31 – June 3, 2012, of 973 Minnesota voters showed Franken with a lead against Pawlenty (52–41), Bachmann (57–35) and former Senator Coleman (51–41). A third poll by PPP September 10–11, 2012, showed Franken leading Pawlenty (50–43), Bachmann (52–40) and Coleman (50–43). A fourth poll conducted by PPP October 5–8, 2012, showed Franken beating Pawlenty (51–42), Bachmann (55–37) and former Senator Coleman (51–41). Other possible Republican candidates include Congressman Erik Paulson, Congressman John Kline, and state Representative Laura Brod.
Mississippi
Six-term incumbent Republican Thad Cochran was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2008. He will be 76 years old in 2014.
Montana
Six-term incumbent Democrat Max Baucus was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2008. He will be 72 years old in 2014. Baucus will seek re-election to a seventh term. Republican state Representative Champ Edmunds is considering challenging Baucus. Former state Senator Corey Stapleton has announced his candidacy .
Nebraska
One-term incumbent Republican Mike Johanns was elected with 58% of the vote in 2008. He will be 64 years old in 2014.
New Hampshire
One-term incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen was elected with 52% of the vote in 2008. She will be 67 years old in 2014. At the end of 2011 Shaheen had the lowest amount of campaign funds out of any senator up for re-election in 2014, leading some to believe she would not defend her seat, but her office has confirmed that she will run for re-election.> Polling by PPP in November 2012 found her leading former Senator John E. Sununu by 53% to 42%.
New Jersey
Five-term (non-consecutive), two-term (consecutive since January 2003), incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg was re-elected with 56% of the vote in 2008. He will be 90 years old in 2014. Newark Mayor Cory Booker has announced that he will run for the seat. Congressman Frank Pallone has said that he would consider running if Lautenberg decided not to seek reelection State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver is also a possible Democratic candidate . PPP polling from November 2012 shows Booker as the strongest Democrat among possible contenders and running farthest ahead of Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, who is also thinking of running.
New Mexico
One-term incumbent Democrat Tom Udall was elected with 61% of the vote in 2008. He will be 66 years old in 2014. Possible Republican opponents include former Republican state Chairman Allen Weh and Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry.
North Carolina
One-term incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan was elected with 53% of the vote in 2008. She will be 61 years old in 2014 and intends to seek re-election. Polling conducted by Public Policy Polling December 1–4, 2011, showed Hagan with a lead against Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives Thom Tillis 46–34, with 19% undecided.
Oklahoma
Three-term incumbent Republican Jim Inhofe was re-elected with 57% of the vote in 2008. He will be 79 years old in 2014.
Oregon
One-term incumbent Democrat Jeff Merkley was elected with 49% of the vote in 2008. He will be 58 years old in 2014. Merkley will run for a second term. Polling conducted by Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012, of 686 Oregon voters showed Merkley trailing potential Republican challenger Congressman Greg Walden (42–40), while leading the others: State Republican Party Chairman Allen Alley (43–37), co-Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives Bruce Hanna (43–35), and State Senator Jason Atkinson (43–34). Polling from PPP in December 2012 showed Merkley with an approval rating of 44-29 and showed him leading Allen Alley (53-36), Bruce Hanna (52-34), Gordon Smith (47-43), Bruce Starr (52-32) and Greg Walden (47-42).
Rhode Island
Three-term incumbent Democrat Jack Reed was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2008. He will be 64 years old in 2014. Reed will run for re-election.
South Carolina
Two-term incumbent Republican Lindsey Graham was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2008. He will be 59 years old in 2014. A survey conducted January 28–30, 2011, by Public Policy Polling showed that in a potential primary match-up with Congressman Joe Wilson, Wilson led 43–41, while Graham led when tested in a potential primary against former Governor Mark Sanford 52–34. State Senator Lee Bright has announced that he is seriously thinking of running against Graham in the Republican primary .
South Carolina (special)
Jim DeMint announced his resignation from the Senate on December 6, 2012, effective January 1, 2013, to become president of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank.< On December 17, 2012, Gov. Nikki Haley announced the appointment of U.S. Rep. Tim Scott as DeMint’s replacement.> Scott has not indicated if he will run in the special election to fill the remainder of DeMint’s term.
South Dakota
Three-term incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2008. He will be 67 years old in 2014. Johnson announced on November 29, 2012 that he would make a “formal announcement later next year” and “But I feel great, still have work to do, and I fully intend to put together a winning campaign in the weeks and months ahead For Republicans, former two-term Governor Mike Rounds announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination on November 29, 2012. Republican Congresswoman Kristi Noem has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. If Johnson doesn’t seek reelection, possible Democratic candidates include U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson and former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth
Tennessee
Two-term incumbent Republican Lamar Alexander was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2008. He will be 74 years old in 2014. Alexander will seek re-election to a third term.
Texas
Two-term incumbent Republican John Cornyn was re-elected with 55% of the vote in 2008. He will be 62 years old in 2014.
Virginia
One-term incumbent Democrat Mark Warner was elected with 65% of the vote in 2008. He will be 58 years old in 2014. State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli was considering challenging Warner, but decided to run for Governor of Virginia instead. Polling by Public Policy Polling shows Warner beating current Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who will be term-limited in 2013, 51% to 40%.
West Virginia
Five-term incumbent Democrat Jay Rockefeller was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2008. He announced on January 11, 2013 that he would not seek reelection to a sixth term.
On November 26, 2012, Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito announced her plans to run for the seat. If elected, she would become the first woman U.S. Senator from West Virginia and the first Republican elected since 1956.
Wyoming Liz Cheney is running against Enzi
Three-term incumbent Republican Mike Enzi was re-elected with 76% of the vote in 2008. He will be 70 years old in 2014.
