The Green Papers: Off Year Election 2003
 
Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm 108th Congress
Senate Seats by State

This is a list of the current Senate seats and the incumbents occupying them. There are no seats up for election in the year 2003.

There have been no deaths and no resignations in the 108th Senate.

  Alabama    Alaska    Arizona    Arkansas    California    Colorado    Connecticut    Delaware    Florida    Georgia    Hawaii    Idaho    Illinois    Indiana    Iowa    Kansas    Kentucky    Louisiana    Maine    Maryland    Massachusetts    Michigan    Minnesota    Mississippi    Missouri    Montana    Nebraska    Nevada    New Hampshire    New Jersey    New Mexico    New York    North Carolina    North Dakota    Ohio    Oklahoma    Oregon    Pennsylvania    Rhode Island    South Carolina    South Dakota    Tennessee    Texas    Utah    Vermont    Virginia    Washington    West Virginia    Wisconsin    Wyoming 

Senate Links     Senate Electoral Classes


Alabama  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator Jeff Sessions
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Richard Shelby
First elected as a Democrat: 1986; re-elected: 1992; Changed Party affiliation to Republican: 9 November 1994; re-elected as a Republican: 1998
[also served in the U.S. House- elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984 as a Democrat]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Alaska  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator Ted Stevens
Appointed by Governor Walter J. Hickel (Republican) on 24 December 1968, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator E. L. Bartlett (Democrat): 11 December 1968; elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1970; elected to first full term: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996; 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski
Appointed by Governor Frank H. Murkowski (Republican) on 20 December 2002, to fill vacancy left by the resignation of her father, the same Frank H. Murkowski, when he resigned to become Governor of the State on 2 December 2002.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Arizona  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Jon Kyl
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Republican Senator John McCain
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Arkansas  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2 Democrat Senator Mark Pryor
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln
First elected: 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

California  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein
First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1992 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Pete Wilson (Republican): 7 January 1991- which John Seymour (Republican) had been appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (Republican) to fill, 10 January 1991];
Elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Colorado  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator Wayne Allard
First elected: 1996; re-elected 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1990, 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell
First elected as a Democrat: 1992; Changed Party affiliation to Republican: 3 March 1995; re-elected as a Republican: 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1986, 1988, 1990 as a Democrat]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Connecticut  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman
First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Christopher J. Dodd
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998
[also served in U.S. House: elected 1974, 1976, 1978]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Delaware  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Thomas R. Carper
First elected: 2000
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990;
elected Governor: 1992; re-elected: 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996; 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Florida  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Bill Nelson
First elected: 2000
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Bob Graham
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
[also served as Governor- elected: 1978; re-elected: 1982]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - On 27 February 2003 Senator Graham filed papers to form a Presidential campaign committee and will not be running for re-election to the Senate. Come 6 October 2003 he dropped out of the Presidential contest. On 3 November 2003 he announced his retirement from the Senate.

Georgia  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 2 Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator Zell Miller
Appointed by Governor Roy E. Barnes (Democrat) on 27 July 2000, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Paul Coverdell (Republican): 24 July 2000; elected to serve the remainder of Senator Coverdell's term: 2000
[also served as Governor- elected: 1990; re-elected: 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - 8 January 2003: Senator Miller, 70, announced that he will not seek re-election in 2004.

Hawaii  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Daniel K. Akaka
Appointed by Governor John Waihee (Democrat) 16 May 1990, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Spark M. Matsunaga (Democrat): 15 April 1990; elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1990; elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Daniel K. Inouye
First elected: 1962; re-elected: 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1959 (Hawaii having just been admitted as a State to the Union), 1960]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Idaho  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator Larry E. Craig
First elected: 1990; re-elected: 1996; 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Mike Crapo
First elected: 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1992, 1994, 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Illinois  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democrat Senator Richard J. Durbin
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Peter G. Fitzgerald
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
2003 April 15: Senator Fitzgerald announced that he will not seek re-election in 2004.

Indiana  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 1 Republican Senator Richard G. Lugar
First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Evan Bayh
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Iowa  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democrat Senator Tom Harkin
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996; 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Charles Grassley
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Kansas  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator Pat Roberts
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Sam Brownback
First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1996 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Robert J. Dole: 11 June 1996- which Sheila Frahm (Republican) had been appointed by Governor Bill Graves (Republican) to fill, 11 June 1996]; elected to a full term: 1998
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Kentucky  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator Mitch McConnell
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Jim Bunning
First elected: 1998
[also served in U.S. House-elected: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Louisiana  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2 Democrat Senator Mary L. Landrieu
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator John B. Breaux
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
[also served in U.S. House-first elected, 30 September 1972, in Special Election re: resignation of Congressman Edwin Edwards, 9 May 1972, having been elected Governor; re-elected: 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Maine  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Olympia J. Snowe
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000
[also served in U.S. House-elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Susan M. Collins
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Maryland  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Paul Sarbanes
First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Massachusetts  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Edward M. Kennedy
First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1962 [held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator John F. Kennedy (Democrat): 22 December 1960- which Benjamin A. Smith II (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor Foster Furcolo (Democrat) to fill, 27 December 1960]; elected to first full term: 1964; re-elected: 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator John F. Kerry
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Michigan  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow
First elected: 2000
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1996, 1998]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator Carl Levin
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Minnesota  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 1 Democrat Senator Mark Dayton
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Norm Coleman
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Mississippi  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Trent Lott
First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Thad Cochran
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Missouri  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Jim Talent
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Republican Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Montana  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 1 Republican Senator Conrad Burns
First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator Max Baucus
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Nebraska  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 1 Democrat Senator Ben Nelson
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Chuck Hagel
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Nevada  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 1 Republican Senator John Ensign
First elected: 2000
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1994, 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Harry Reid
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

New Hampshire  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator John E. Sununu
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Judd Gregg
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

New Jersey  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Jon Corzine
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator Frank Lautenberg
First elected: 2002
Previously served in the Class 1 NJ Senate seat to which he was first elected: 1982 and re-elected: 1988, 1994-- was not a candidate for his Party's nomination for the Class 1 seat in 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

New Mexico  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 1 Democrat Senator Jeff Bingaman
First elected: 1982; re-elected: 1988, 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Pete V. Domenici
First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

New York  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

North Carolina  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 2 Republican Senator Elizabeth H. Dole
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator John Edwards
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - Sunday 7 September 2003: Senator Edwards, a 2004 Presidential Candidate, announced that he will not seek re-election to the Senate in 2004.

North Dakota  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Kent Conrad
First elected to the "Class 3" seat from the state: 1986; was not a candidate for re-election in the 3 November 1992 General Election; Elected to finish out the "Class 1" term in a Special Election: 4 December 1992 [held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Quentin N. Burdick (Democrat): 8 September 1992- which Jocelyn B. Burdick (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor George Sinner (Democrat) to fill, 12 September 1992]; elected to a full term: 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Byron L. Dorgan
First elected: 1992; was induced to take the oath of office: 5 December 1992 when the seat became vacant upon outgoing Senator Kent Conrad (Democrat) having taken the oath of office for the "Class 1" seat from the state; re-elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Ohio  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Mike DeWine
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Republican Senator George V. Voinovich
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Oklahoma  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 2 Republican Senator James M. Inhofe
First elected to fill out the term in a Special Election: 1994 [held to fill the impending vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator David L. Boren (Democrat): effective, 15 November 1994 but announced before the 1994 Oklahoma state/local Primary in August 1994, allowing for this Special Election to take place; elected to a full term: 1996; re-elected 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Republican Senator Don Nickles
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - 7 October 2003: Senator Nickles announced that he will not seek re-election in 2004.

Oregon  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 2 Republican Senator Gordon H. Smith
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator Ron Wyden
First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 30 January 1996 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Robert Packwood (Republican): 1 October 1995 (Oregon state law does not permit the state's Governor to make temporary appointments to fill vacancies in the United States Senate)]; elected to a full term: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Pennsylvania  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Rick Santorum
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Republican Senator Arlen Specter
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Rhode Island  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 1 Republican Senator Lincoln D. Chafee
Appointed by Governor Lincoln C. Almond (Republican) on 2 November 1999, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator John H. Chafee (Republican): 24 October 1999; elected to first full term 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator John F. "Jack" Reed
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

South Carolina  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 2 Republican Senator Lindsey Graham
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings
First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1966 [held to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Olin D. Johnston (Democrat): 18 April 1965- which Donald S. Russell (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor Robert E. McNair (Democrat) to fill, 22 April 1965 (Russell had resigned as Governor on 22 April 1965 allowing Lieutenant Governor McNair to succeed to the office of Governor, after which McNair appointed Russell to the Senate)]; elected to full term: 1968; re-elected: 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004
Open Seat - 4 August 2003: Senator Hollings, 81, announced that he will retire at the end of his current term.

South Dakota  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2 Democrat Senator Tim Johnson
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Class 3 Democrat Senator Tom Daschle
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Tennessee  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Bill Frist
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Lamar Alexander
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Texas  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1 May 1993- and necessary subsequent Runoff: 5 June 1993 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. (Democrat): 20 January 1993- which Robert Krueger had been appointed by Governor Ann W. Richards (Democrat) to fill, 21 January 1993]; elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator John Cornyn
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Utah  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch
First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Republican Senator Robert F. Bennett
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Vermont  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Independent, 1 Democrat

Class 1 Independent Senator Jim Jeffords
First elected (as a Republican): 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000. Switched to Independent 24 May 2001.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy
First elected: 1974; re-elected: 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Virginia  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator George F. Allen
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator John W. Warner
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Washington  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Patty Murray
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

West Virginia  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Robert C. Byrd
First elected: 1958; re-elected: 1964, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Democrat Senator John D. "Jay" Rockefeller, IV
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Wisconsin  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 1 Democrat Senator Herbert H. Kohl
First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 3 Democrat Senator Russ Feingold
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Wyoming  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Republicans

Class 1 Republican Senator Craig Thomas
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Class 2 Republican Senator Michael B. Enzi
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
 

Notes

Senate Class

Class 1 seats begin their new terms at noon on 3 January 2001... next regular election for these seats is in 2006.
Class 2 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2003... next regular election for these seats is 2008.
Class 3 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2005... next regular election for these seats is 2004.

For more information review UNITED STATES SENATE: Electoral "Classes"


Article I, Section 3, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States reads as follows:

"Immediately after [the Senate of the United States] shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year..."

Pursuant to this Constitutional provision, a three-Senator Committee was appointed by the Senate on 11 May 1789 to come up with a plan to carry out the requirements of that provision; this Committee reported to the Senate on 14 May 1789 a plan to divide the then 20 Senators (there were 10 of the 13 original States represented in the Senate at the time- each having 2 Senators: North Carolina and Rhode Island had yet to ratify the U.S. Constitution, while New York had so ratified but had failed to elect Senators as of that date) into the requisite three electoral Classes: under this plan, three groups of Senators (set up in such a way so as no State had its two Senators in the same group) were to be listed and the first Senator on each list (a list which was set up geographically north-to-south in the manner in which the Electoral Vote for President was counted before Congress at that time, so that two of the first Senators on these lists were from New Hampshire and the third was the first Senator in alphabetical order from Massachusetts) was to each blindly draw a piece of paper numbered either "1", "2" or "3" out of a box in the possession of the Secretary of the Senate. This plan being agreeable to the Senate and so approved, the drawing of lots in this manner was carried out the following day (15 May 1789)- such lot drawing ultimately determining that, to start with, Classes 1 and 2 were to have 7 Senators each and Class 3 was to have only 6 Senators.

When New York finally seated its two Senators during the ensuing Summer, there was another lot drawing (actually a double-lot drawing) on 28 July 1789 to determine the Classes for these seats: since one of the seats had to be Class 3 to make it equal in number to that of the other two Classes so far, the two New York Senators each blindly drew between two pieces of paper, one marked "3", the other which was blank- after this, there was a second lot drawing in which the New York Senator who had drawn the blank paper blindly drew again between two pieces of paper marked "1" and "2": he drew "1" so that New York would henceforth have Senators of electoral Classes 1 and 3.

When North Carolina seated its two Senators after ratifying the Constitution on 21 November 1789, there was yet another lot drawing (on 29 January 1790) in which North Carolina's two Senators each blindly drew between pieces of paper marked "2" and "3" (since there were now 12 States and, thus, 24 Senators: 24 being equally divisible by 3, there would now have to be 8 Senators in each of the three Classes to fulfill the Constitutional provision that, as nearly as was practicable, one third of the Senate be elected every second year).

After Rhode Island- the last of the 13 original States- finally ratified the Constitution on 29 May 1790 and subsequently seated its two Senators that Summer, there was yet one more lot drawing in the First Congress (on 25 June 1790) in which Rhode Island's two Senators blindly drew between pieces of paper marked "1", "2" and "3": one Senator drew "2", the other drew "1"- thereby determining electoral Classes 1 and 2 as those for the Senators from this State. When Vermont was admitted to the Union as the 14th state on 4 March 1791, there was again a double lot drawing as there had been for New York. From that day until this, whenever a new State has been admitted to the Union, these types of lot drawings (the type determined by the necessity of keeping the number of Senators in each electoral Class as close to one third as possible at the time of said lot drawing) between the new State's first Senators is held before the Senate to determine in just which of the three electoral Classes that State's Senate seats will be placed from then on.

 

 


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