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 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 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

Arkansas  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 3 Democratic Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

California  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic 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; 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990]
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 3 Democratic Senator Ken Salazar
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Open Seat - 12 December 2008: Nominated for Secretary of the Interior by President-elect Obama.

Connecticut  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Independent Democrat, 1 Democratic

Class 1 Independent Democrat Senator Joseph I. "Joe" Lieberman
First elected: 1988 (as a Democrat); re-elected: 1994, 2000, 2006 (as an Independent)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
  
Senator Lieberman, elected as an Independent on 7 November 2006, caucuses with the Democrats. He has chosen to officially list his party as "Independent Democrat".

Class 3 Democratic Senator Christopher J. Dodd
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
Open Seat - On 10 January 2007, Senator Dodd announced that he is running for President in 2008. He has stated that he will not be a candidate for re-election to the Senate in 2010.

Delaware  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Thomas R. "Tom" Carper
First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990;
elected Governor: 1992; re-elected: 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator Bill Nelson
First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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 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

Hawaii  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Daniel Kahikina 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, 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Daniel K. Inouye
First elected: 1962; re-elected: 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004.
[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 2010

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

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

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

Class 3

Vacant
Democratic Senator Barack Obama
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Vacant Office - Senator Barack Obama was elected to the Presidency 4 November 2008. He resigned from the Senate on 16 November 2008.
 

Tuesday 30 December 2008: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Democrat) has appointed Roland Burris (Democrat), a former state Comptroller and Attorney General of the State of Illinois, to fill the U.S. Senate Class 3 seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) have issued a joint statement stating they will block the appointment.


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

Class 3 Democratic Senator Evan Bayh
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

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 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 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

Maryland  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Benjamin L. "Ben" Cardin
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Massachusetts  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Edward Moore "Ted" 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, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Michigan  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow
First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1996, 1998]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator Claire C. McCaskill
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Montana  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Jon Tester
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator E. Benjamin "Ben" Nelson
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 3 Democratic Senator Harry Reid
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

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

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

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator Robert "Bob" Menendez
Appointed by Governor Jon S. Corzine to fill the vacancy caused by Corzine having resigned this seat 17 January 2006 upon taking the Oath of Office as Governor of the State; first elected: 2006
 
Previously served in the U.S. House to which he was first elected in 1992: subsequently re-elected in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator Jesse F. "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr.
First elected: 1982; re-elected: 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

Class 1 Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Monday 1 December 2008: Nominated for Secretary of State by President-elect Obama

Class 3 Democratic Senator Charles E. "Chuck" Schumer
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

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

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

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

Class 1 Democratic 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, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic 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, 2004.
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 1 Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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 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 3 Democratic 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; re-elected: 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

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

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

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.

Rhode Island  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, II
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

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

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

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.

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

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

Class 1 Independent Senator Bernard "Bernie" Sanders
First elected: 2006 (ran as a Democrat in the primary and as an Independent in the General Election)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy
First elected: 1974; re-elected: 1980, 1986, 1992, 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 1 Democratic Senator James H. "Jim" Webb, Jr.
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Washington  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Patty Murray
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

West Virginia  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Robert C. Byrd
First elected: 1958; re-elected: 1964, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Wisconsin  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1 Democratic Senator Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl
First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Russ Feingold
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

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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