The Green Papers: 2008 General Election
 
Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm 110th Congress
Senate Seats by State

This is a list of the current Senate seats and the incumbents occupying them. 34 Senate Seats are up for election in 2008.

There has been 1 death, 1 resignation, and 0 changes re: party breakdown in the 110th Senate.

  • Senator Craig L. Thomas (Republican, Wyoming) passed away Monday 4 June 2007 at the age of 74. Senator Thomas was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November 2006.
  • Senator John Barrasso (Republican, Wyoming) was appointed to fill the vacant Class 1 Seat by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal on 22 June 2007. A Special Election will be held Tuesday 4 November 2008 to fill the seat through January 2013. The next regular election is Tuesday 6 November 2012.
  • Senator Barack Obama (Democrat, Illinois) was elected to the Presidency on 4 November 2008. He resigned from the Senate 16 November 2008.

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Legislative Links     Senate Electoral Classes

           

Alabama  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Jefferson B. "Jeff" Sessions
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 3 June 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator Jefferson B. "Jeff" Sessions

Class 3 Republican Senator Richard C. Shelby
First elected as a Democrat: 1986; re-elected: 1992; Changed Party affiliation to Republican: 9 November 1994; re-elected as a Republican: 1998, 2004.
[also served in the U.S. House- elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984 as a Democrat]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Alaska  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Theodore F. "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
Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich or Republican Senator Theodore F. "Ted" Stevens
  

On 30 July 2007, FBI and IRS agents searched the home of Senator Stevens as part of an investigation into the Senator's relationship with contractor Bill Allen. Mr. Allen has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators. On 28 July 2008, Senator Stevens was indicted on 7 counts of failing to disclose services he received from a company that renovate his home. On 31 July 2008, Senator Stevens pleaded not guilty to 7 felony charges. He was conviced on all 7 charges on 27 October 2008. Sentencing is scheduled for 26 January 2009.

6 November 2008 update: The latest "scuttlebutt" is that Ted Stevens (who appears has won re-election) is under heavy pressure to resign anyway or at least not serve past the end of his current term which ends on 3 January 2009. There exists sentiment in the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, to formally expel him if he does not (2/3 of the Senate is needed for expulsion: per Art. I, Sec. 5, clause 2). If he does NOT serve his new 6-year term, Alaska law requires a Special Election within 90 days of the seat becoming vacant.

7 April 2009 update: U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan set aside the conviction of former Senator Ted Stevens and initiated criminal contempt proceedings against the government lawyers who prosecuted the case.


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. First elected: 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Arizona  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 1 Republican Senator Jon L. Kyl
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000, 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Republican Senator John McCain
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998, 2004.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Colorado  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democratic

Class 2
Seat up for election
Open
Republican Senator A. 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
Open Seat - Announced retirement 15 January 2007 effective at the end of this term.
 Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic Congressman Mark E. Udall
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Florida  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator Mel Martinez
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Open Seat - 2 December 2008: Announced he would not run for re-election.

Georgia  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss
• Re-elected Tuesday 2 December 2008
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 December 2008
Renominated - 15 July 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss vs. Democratic James Francis "Jim" Martin: expect no candidate to receive 50% on 4 November - contest to be decided on 2 December runoff
  

Since no candidate received 50% of the vote plus 1 in the 4 November General Election, the top 2 vote getters, Senator Saxby Chambliss (Republican, 49.8%) and James Francis "Jim" Martin (Democratic, 46.8%) advance to a 2 December 2008 runoff.


Class 3 Republican Senator Johnny Isakson
First elected: 2004.
(also served in U.S. House- first elected in a special election [to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Congressman Newt Gingrich]: 1999; re-elected: 2000, 2002.)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Idaho  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Open
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
Open Seat - Announced his resignation on 1 September 2007. On 4 October 2007 Senator Craig announced he would retire at the end of his term and not run for re-election.
 Polls: Republican Lieutenant Governor James E. "Jim" Risch
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  

On Thursday 4 October 2007 a Minnesota judge rejected Senator Craig's bid to withdraw his guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from his 11 June 2007 arrest in a sex sting at an airport men's room. Senator Craig now states that he will retire and not seek re-election at the end of his current term.

Senator Larry E. Craig (Republican) announced his resignation on Saturday 1 September 2007 effective 30 September 2007. However, on Wednesday 26 September 2007, he said he would remain in Congress.

The Senator was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and charged with lewd conduct on On 11 June 2007. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct on 8 August 2007 but later filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea. A ruling on that motion is expected in October 2007.


Class 3 Republican Senator Mike Crapo
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1992, 1994, 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Indiana  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democratic

Class 1 Republican Senator Richard G. Lugar
First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Iowa  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator Charles "Chuck" Grassley
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Kansas  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Pat Roberts
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator Pat Roberts

Class 3 Republican Senator Samuel D. "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, re-elected: 2004.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Open Seat - 19 October 2007: Withdrew his candidacy for President and announced his retirement at the end of his term.

Kentucky  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 20 May 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Senator Mitch McConnell

Class 3 Republican Senator Jim Bunning
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
[also served in U.S. House-elected: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Louisiana  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator David Vitter
First elected: 2004.
(also served in U.S. House- first elected in a special election [to fill the seat vacated by Congressman Bob Livingston]: 1999; re-elected: 2000, 2002.)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Maine  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 1 Republican Senator Olympia J. Snowe
First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000, 2006
[also served in U.S. House-elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Susan M. Collins
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 10 June 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Senator Susan M. Collins

Minnesota  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Norm Coleman
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
 Polls: Toss-up - Republican Senator Norm Coleman vs. Democratic-Farmer Labor Al Franken
  

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - 2008 Recount Guide

Monday 13 April 2009 update: The District Court has issued a judgement: "Based on the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and pursuant to Minnesota Stat. 209.12, the Court decides, declares, and adjudges that ... Al Franken ... received the highest number of votes ... and is entitled to receive the certificate of election". Signed by Judge Elizabeth A. Hayden, Judge Kurt J. Marben, and Judge Denise D. Reilly. Norm Coleman has 10 days to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Reference: Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment [No. 62-CV-09-56]


Mississippi  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Roger F. Wicker
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Appointed 31 December 2007 to fill the vacancy caused by the 18 December 2007 resignation of Senator Trent Lott. First elected in a special election: 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Senator Trent Lott who was first elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1994, 2000, and 2006 announced his retirement on 26 November 2007 and resigned on Tuesday 18 December 2007. On 31 December 2007 Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour Wicker announced his choice for former Senator Lott's replacement to be Congressman Roger Wicker (Congressman CD 1), 56. Senator Wicker will serve until the special election is held.
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Senator Roger F. Wicker favored over Democratic former Governor David Ronald "Ronnie" Musgrove
  
Governor Haley Barbour (Republican) called a Special Election and Special Runoff for Tuesday 4 November 2008 and Tuesday 25 November 2008 respectively. The next regular election for this seat is Tuesday 6 November 2012.

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Thad Cochran
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 11 March 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator Thad Cochran

Missouri  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Nebraska  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Open
Republican Senator Charles T. "Chuck" Hagel
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Open Seat - Announced his retirement on 10 September 2007.
 Polls: Republican former Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Michael O. "Mike" Johanns
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Nevada  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democratic

Class 1 Republican Senator John Eric Ensign
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1994, 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

New Hampshire  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator John E. Sununu
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 9 September 2008 Primary
 Polls: Toss-up - Democratic former Governor Jeanne Shaheen slightly favored over Republican Senator John E. Sununu

Class 3 Republican Senator Judd Gregg
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

New Mexico  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Open
Republican Senator Pete V. Domenici
First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Open Seat - 4 October 2007: Announced retirement at the end of his current term.
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Congressman Tom Udall favored over Republican Congressman Stevan E. "Steve" Pearce
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

North Carolina  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Elizabeth H. Dole
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 6 May 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic state Senator Kay R. Hagan favored over Republican Senator Elizabeth H. Dole

Class 3 Republican Senator Richard M. Burr
First elected: 2004.
(also served in U.S. House- first elected: 1994; re-elected: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002.)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Ohio  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator George V. Voinovich
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Oklahoma  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator James M. "Jim" Inhofe
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
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, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 29 July 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator James M. "Jim" Inhofe

Class 3 Republican Senator Tom Coburn
First elected: 2004.
(also served in U.S. House- first elected: 1994; re-elected: 1996, 1998.)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Oregon  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democratic

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Gordon Harold Smith
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 20 May 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic state Speaker of the House Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Merkley favored over Republican Senator Gordon Harold Smith

Pennsylvania  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator Arlen Specter
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
16 February 2005: Diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.
15 April 2008: Announced that he has been diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkins lymphoma.

South Carolina  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Lindsey Olin Graham
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 10 June 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator Lindsey Olin Graham

Class 3 Republican Senator Jim DeMint
First elected: 2004.
(also served in U.S. House- first elected: 1998; re-elected: 2000, 2002)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

South Dakota  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 3 Republican Senator John Thune
First elected: 2004.
(also served in U.S. House- first elected: 1996; re-elected: 1998, 2000. Unsuccessful candidate for Senate 2002.)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Tennessee  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 1 Republican Senator Robert P. "Bob" Corker, Jr.
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Lamar Alexander
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 7 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator Lamar Alexander

Texas  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

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, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 15 October 2007: Announced she would not seek re-election and may step down before the end of her current term.

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator John Cornyn
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 4 March 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator John Cornyn

Utah  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 1 Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch
First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Republican Senator Robert F. Bennett
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Virginia  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Open
Republican Senator John William Warner
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Open Seat - 31 August 2007: Announced retirement effective at the end of his current term.
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic former Governor Mark Robert Warner
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Wyoming  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Republican Senator John A. Barrasso
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Appointed: 22 June 2007 by Governor Dave Freudenthal; first elected in a special election: 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 19 August 2008 Primary.
Next Special Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008; Next regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Polls: Republican Senator John A. Barrasso
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Class 2
Seat up for election
Republican Senator Michael B. "Mike" Enzi
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Senator Michael B. "Mike" Enzi

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
  Democratic
  Democratic-Farmer Labor
  Republican
Major Third Parties
  Green
  Libertarian
  Reform
Other Third Parties
  Alaskan Independence
  American Constitution
  Boston Tea
  Constitution
  Independence
  Independent Greens
  Independent Party of Oregon
  Natural Law
  Nebraska
  Socialist Workers Party
  U.S. Taxpayers
  Veterans Party of America
Independents
  Independent
  Independent Democrat
  No Party Affiliation
  Nominated By Petition
  Other-party nominee
  Unenrolled
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering
  Write-in
 

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.

FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.


Senate Class

Class 1 seats begin their current terms at noon on 3 January 2007... next regular election for these seats is in 2012.
Class 2 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2009... next regular election for these seats is 2008.
Class 3 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2011... next regular election for these seats is 2010.

For more information on Senate Classes refer to 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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