In 2008 there will be 21 Republican Senators up for re-election and only 12 Democrats. Of the 21 Republicans there will be several retirements. Likely retirements are Pat Roberts (KS), Pete Domenici (NM), and John Warner (VA). Other potential retirements are Ted Stevens (AK) and Larry Craig (ID). On the Dem side possible retirements include Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Joe Biden (DE), and John Kerry (MA).
Go below the fold to take a look at all 33 Senate races and help me fill in the potential challengers category.
Senators up for re-election in 2008
Alexander, Lamar- (R – TN) Class II
302 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4944
Web Form:
alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Alexander will be seeking his second term. He is running for Senate Minority Whip against Trent Lott and claims to have enough votes. That would help him get re-elected.
Potential challengers: Governor Paul Bredeson. Harold Ford, Jr., Rep. John Tanner (currently House Minority Chief Deputy Whip). Rep. Bart Gordon (slated to Chair House Science Committee).
Allard, Wayne- (R – CO) Class II
521 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5941
Web Form:
allard.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Allard is seeking his third term. He has a position on the Appropriations Committee, which makes him formidable. He will be 65 years old in 2008.
Potential challengers: Rep. Mark Udall. Udall works on Armed Services, Resources, and Science. His Boulder residence might make him unappealing state-wide. Any others?
Baucus, Max- (D – MT) Class II
511 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2651
Web Form:
baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue</blockquoteBaucus will be seeking his sixth term. He will be 67 years old in 2008. He is set to chair the Finance Committee. He should be safe. I see no reason to run a primary challenger against him.
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D – DE) Class II
201 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5042
E-mail: senator@biden.senate.govBiden is planning on running for President. It is not clear whether he will seek a seventh-term. He will be 65 in 2008. He is set to chair the Foreign Relations Committee. Interestingly, the top four members of Foreign Relations are all running for President (Biden, Dodd, Kerry, Feingold). I don’t know how that committee will be able to function.
Possible challengers: Biden’s son might run for it. Paul Donnelly is another possibility. Dennis Spivack just ran unsuccessfully for the House.
Chambliss, Saxby- (R – GA) Class II
416 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3521
Web Form:
chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactU…Chambliss is seeking his second term. He will be 65 in 2008. He serves on five committees, including Armed Services and Intelligence. Georgia has been trending red.
Possible challengers: Max Cleland. Anyone else?
Cochran, Thad- (R – MS) Class II
113 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5054
Web Form:
cochran.senate.gov/contact.htmCochran will be seeking his sixth-term in office. He will be seventy-years old in 2008. He was chairman of Appropriations. I don’t know if he will retain the position of ranking member.
Potential challengers: Rep. Gene Taylor. Anyone else?
Coleman, Norm- (R – MN) Class II
320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
Web Form:
coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactFormColeman is seeking his second-term. He will be 59 in 2008. He just barely beat Walter Mondale in 2002. This is our best pick-up opportunity.
Possible challengers: Rep. Collin Peterson (set to chair the House Agriculture Committee). Mike Hatch. Anyone else?
Collins, Susan M.- (R – ME) Class II
461 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2523
Web Form:
collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Contact…Collins will be seeking her third-term. She will be 54 in 2008. She was the Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Committee.
Potential challengers: Rep. Thomas Allen (D-ME-1). Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME-2). Anyone else?
Cornyn, John- (R – TX) Class II
517 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2934
Web Form:
cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index.htmlCornyn is seeking his second term. He will be 56 in 2008. He serves on the Judiciary and Armed Services committees (among others). He is not a very good politician and could be vulnerable despite being from Texas.
Potential challengers: Don’t know.
Craig, Larry E.- (R – ID) Class II
520 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2752
Web Form: craig.senate.gov/email/Larry Craig would be seeking his fourth term. He will be 65 in 2008. There is some doubt about whether he will seek re-election. He has a seat on the Appropriations committee.
Potential challengers: Jerry Brady and Larry Grant.
Dole, Elizabeth- (R – NC) Class II
555 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6342
Web Form:
dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.C…Dole will be seeking her second term. She will be 72 in 2008. She is chairwoman of the NRSC. She serves on Armed Services. Her power is at a low ebb after a disastrous midterm election.
Potential challengers: John Edwards, Gov. Michael Easley. Any others?
Domenici, Pete V.- (R – NM) Class II
328 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6621
Web Form:
domenici.senate.gov/contact/contactform.cfmDomenici will be 76 in 2008 and is reportedly retiring.
Potential challengers: Rep. Tom Udall. Any others?
Durbin, Richard- (D – IL) Class II
332 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2152
Web Form:
durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfmDurbin is set to become Majority Whip. He is seeking his third term. This seat should be safe.
Enzi, Michael B.- (R – WY) Class II
379A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3424
Web Form:
enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInform…Enzi is seeking his third term. He will be 64 in 2008. He was the Chair of Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Potential challengers: Gov. Dave Freudenthal. Gary Trauner. Anyone else?
Graham, Lindsey- (R – SC) Class II
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
Web Form:
lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contactGraham is seeking his second term. He will be 53 years old in 2008. He serves on Armed Services and Judiciary. Graham has angered some fire-breathers and may have to survive a primary challenge. He is a rising star in the GOP and is probably unbeatable.
Potential challengers: No idea.
Hagel, Chuck- (R – NE) Class II
248 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4224
Web Form:
hagel.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.HomeHagel is reportedly running for President. I assume he will run for re-election to his third Senate term as well. He will be 62 in 2008.
Potential challengers: Scott Kleeb. James Esch. Any others?
Harkin, Tom- (D – IA) Class II
731 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3254
Web Form:
harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfmHarkin is seeking his fifth term. He will be 69 in 2008. He is set to chair the Agriculture Committee.
Inhofe, James M.- (R – OK) Class II
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4721
Web Form:
inhofe.senate.gov/contactus.htmInhofe is seeking his fourth term. He will be 73 in 2008. We was chairman of the Environment Committee. He serves on Armed Services.
Potential challengers: Rep. Dan Boren. Brad Carson. Any others?
Johnson, Tim- (D – SD) Class II
136 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5842
Web Form:
johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfmJohnson is seeking his third-term. He will be 61 in 2008. He is set to chair the Ethics Committee. He has a seat on Appropriations. He is always endangered.
Kerry, John F.- (D – MA) Class II
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2742
Web Form:
kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.htmlKerry may or may not run for President. If he does, he may not run for re-election to a fourth term in the Senate. He will be 64 in 2008. He is set to chair the Small Business Committee.
Potential challengers: Rep. Marty Meehan. Any others?
Landrieu, Mary L.- (D – LA) Class II
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5824
Web Form:
landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfmLandrieu will be seeking her third-term. She will be 52 in 2008. She has a seat on Appropriations. She may warrant a primary challenge. The loss of population in New Orleans endangers all state-wide elected Democrats.
Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D – NJ)
Class II
324 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
Web Form:
lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/Lautenberg will be 84 in 2008 and probably will not seek another term.
Potential challengers: Rep. Rush Holt. Rep. Rob Andrews. Any others?
Levin, Carl- (D – MI) Class II
269 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6221
Web Form:
levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfmLevin is seeking his sixth term. He will be 74 in 2008. He is set to chair Armed Services.
McConnell, Mitch- (R – KY) Class II
361-A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2541
Web Form:
mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfmMcConnell is seeking his sixth term. He will be 66 in 2008. He is set to be Minority Leader. He has a seat on Appropriations. Will have more money than God. Could become a victim of a second backlash against Republicans.
Potential challengers: Ben Chandler. Anyone else?
Pryor, Mark L.- (D – AR) Class II
257 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2353
Web Form:
pryor.senate.gov/contact/Pryor is seeking his second term. He will be 45 in 2008. Dems would be well advised to give him a prominent subcommittee chair.
Reed, Jack- (D – RI) Class II
728 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4642
Web Form:
reed.senate.gov/contact/thoughts.cfmReed is seeking a third term. He will be 58 in 2008. He serves on Armed Services. He’s safe.
Roberts, Pat- (R – KS) Class II
109 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4774
Web Form:
roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInf…Roberts reportedly had to be talked into running in 2002. It is very unlikely that he will run for re-election. He will be 72 in 2008. He was chair of Intelligence.
Potential challengers: Rep. Dennis Moore. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Any others?
Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D – WV)
Class II
531 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6472
Web Form:
rockefeller.senate.gov/services/email.cfmRockefeller is seeking a fifth-term. He will be 71 in 2008. He is set to chair the Intelligence Committee.
Sessions, Jeff- (R – AL) Class II
335 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4124
Web Form:
sessions.senate.gov/email/contact.cfmSessions is seeking a third term. He will be 61 in 2008. He serves on Armed Services and Judiciary.
Potential challengers: Rep. Artur Davis. Anyone else?
Smith, Gordon H.- (R – OR) Class II
404 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3753
Web Form:
gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htmSmith is seeking his third term. He will be 55 in 2008. He was the chair of Aging. He should be vulnerable.
Potential challengers: not sure.
Stevens, Ted- (R – AK) Class II
522 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3004
Web Form:
stevens.senate.gov/contact.cfmStevens will be just shy of 85 on election day 2008. I don’t know if he will seek an eighth term. If he does, he will win. But if he doesn’t we might be able to capture this seat.
Potential challengers: Tony Knowles? Any others?
Sununu, John E.- (R – NH) Class II
111 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2841
Web Form:
www.sununu.senate.gov/webform.htmlSununu is seeking his second term. He will be 44 in 2008.
Potential challengers: Gov. John Lynch. Fmr. Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. Any others?
Warner, John- (R – VA) Class II
225 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2023
Web Form:
warner.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfmWarner will be 81 in 2008. He is reportedly retiring.
Potential challengers: Mark Warner, Tim Kaine.
you have to be America’s Number One Political Junkie. Ask me again in about 2 weeks. I’m just gonna watch Desperate Housewives and Supernatural on the TV and get an early start on light summer reading til then.
Seriously, don’t let this get lost — bring it back after us mere diletantes have had our r&r.
have to agree here with Dave. Man, I haven’t even come all the way down from my election night high and you want to talk 2008? I for another am so not there.
“Cochran will be seeking his sixth-term in office. He will be seventy-years old in 2008. He was chairman of Appropriations. I don’t know if he will retain the position of ranking member.
Potential challengers: Rep. Gene Taylor. Anyone else?”
The one contender that everyone down here keeps bringing up is our former State Atty General, Mike Moore (D), of Tobacco lawsuit fame.
Whichever senate seat goes up for grabs first (Lott or Cochran), we all expect Michael Moore to run for it.
I hope he runs!
Me, too. He is the only big name Dem here in MS with a good chance to win and lots of big money pals. I think he would be a very good alternative to either of the current MS Senators. He is one of those self-proclaimed “conservative” Dems, which is bad, but good… Here in MS, it will take someone more ‘conservative’ to win enough white votes to put him over the top. His name has been floated for every major race since he left office as our AG, but so far he is holding his cards close to the vest. No one really knows what he intends to do, but many of us hope he will come out of private life to run for Senate, the sooner the better.
Gordon Smith is an embarrassment to Oregon.
Somebody will step forward to take him on. I’ve heard rumors about possibly Rep. Earl Blumenauer taking Smith on. Former Gov. Kitzhaber might be convinced to run.
I hope Gov. Dean puts recruiting Gov. Kitzhaber at the top of his “To Do” list. Gov. Kitzhaber is an ER physician. They would get along great.
I agree. Put Earl Blumenauer and John Kitzhaber as potential challengers for Smith. Either one would be superb in my opinion.
If I had my druthers, Kitz would run against Smith, and Earl would run for Governor in 2010.
Domenici said he was not retiring in 2008. Of course, he could change his mind.
He keeps the seat as long as he wants it, but when he goes, the loathsome Heather Wilson will step up to take his place.
For a reasonably blue state, there are remarkably few democrats who could win that seat. Tom Udall is the best bet, he’s very popular upstate.
Big Bill Richardson could have it, of course, and might even be able to beat Pete, but the Big One wants to be president (I see him as a serious VP choice), so that’s out.
Nobody from Albuquerque could win the seat; the rest of the state hates Albuquerque on general principles.
A couple of thoughts:
-Brad Henry, the popular governor of Oklahoma, seems like a potential candidate for Inhofe’s seat, no?
-And a couple of names bandied about in New Jersey
(should Lautenberg retire0 include Rep. Pallone and
Joe Piscopo
-Gordon Smith in Ore. shouse be very vulnerable and the Democrats would do well to recruit a top=notch candidate there, it would seem.
-Tim Johnson in South Dakota could conceivably be one of the luckiest politicians in the Senate, having eked out a victory last time even with the Republicans throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. If the Democrats play their cards correctsly, Johnson will be given greater influence as a member of the majority party, which should help his re-election chances. It would seem that, coming from a relatively conservative, red, Republican state like South Dakota, however, the Republicans will be coming after him full force, yet again.
-Allard withstood a strong challenge last time, but
just barely. It would seem with the political winds shifting in Colorado that this should become a top-tier race for Democrats to try to pick up. Udall would seem to be a logical choice, with his name recognition and environmental record.
Max Baucus, D-Mont., received $271,649 from the Pharmaceutical Industries, was one of two Democrats involved in the negotiations of Medicare D, which led to one REPORTED death–Eddie Rosa wha unable to get his prescriptions (for seizures) under Medicaire D.
In 2006 election cycle, he received $1,587,658 from the Fianance/Insurance/Real Estate Sectors and $1,066,579 from the Health Sector.
In the 2004 election cycle he received $1,286,062 from the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate Sectors and $746,950 from the Health Sector.
In 2002, prior to Medicare D being passed, amounts received from the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate Sectors was $1,243,988 and $637,650 from the Health Sector.
And prior to Medicare D being introduced, in 2000? $698,956 from the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate Sectors–$248,986 from the Health Sector..
Hell, if I lived in Montana, I’d run against him!
Montana is a beautiful place, cheap to live in, and even more important from a political point of view, it’s relatively cheap to run a race there. Billings is something like the 250th largest media market in the United States, and it covers a lot of ground. Missoula gets a lot of their programming from Spokane, which would be more expensive, but still not as expensive as someplace like Seattle. And you only have to convince a couple hundred thousand people to vote for you to win.
I think Montanans would be pretty receptive to messages about health care. They have a big VA facility in Miles City, and at one time there were a lot of asbestos-related concerns in the Kallispell area. You’d have to handle agriculture, land use, privacy and other issues, and there are issues you’d need to step around. You notice Jon Tester didn’t try to raise gun control issues, for instance.
(Yeah, I know, I’m mostly just being snarky. You’re probably not in a position to pick up and move to Montana, and even if you were moving there just to run for political office is a really bad idea unless your name is Conrad Burns. This is mostly just thinking out loud about what it would take to win a campaign there.)
Omir, you really crack me up sometimes–Friend of mine is from Montana–from the pictures he took, IMO, it’s tied w/the UP (MI Upper Peninsula) re: beautiful! (Friend efuses to go back to Montana again for another visit–“If I do, I won’t come back.” Told me I’d love it.)
I spent some time in the UP in the late 90’s–summer and winter–to this day I regret coming back downstate (Lower Peninsula). Have the exact same feeling re: UP as he does re: visit to Montana. I LOVE winter–nothing beats a bright sunny day after a blizzard! UP temps of twenty+ below w/a similar windchill sounds cold, but it’s not, due to that nice dry air from Canada–just layer up!
Gun control? Honestly on the fence about that and leaning toward no–been hunting. (Missed the season this year, as I was sick–still a bit p.o.’d about it.)
Been my experience that most hunters were taught about gun safety and pass that on to their kids. (Before I went hunting, a buddy took me out to a range and showed me how to use a gun–I know, I should have taken a class.) Like to fish and hike too.
Agriculture? Sympathize w/small farmers–know of several instances where family had to sell off farm to pay inheritance taxes. County that I live in now used to be rural–countless local meetings re: land use. (Now its overdeveloped–if there’s a plot of land somewhere, damn if some builder won’t pop a strip mall, or subdivision on it. Completely ruined this area.) Also took a horiticulure class God-knows-how-long ago. Earned some certificate, come to think of it. (Hadn’t thought about that in years.) Organic pesticides can be used in some instances, not all. When chemicals are used, the user has to know what he/she is doing for his/her health reasons and the health of others. Those are my opinions/extent of my knowledge.
Heath care? Self-taught, due to the impact of Medicare D on me. Self-taught re: computers too, as, due to Steven D’s work, I got interested in election integrity. Nothing else to do on SSD/I, so I’ve been hitting the tech sites when I get bored. (Come across a word/term I don’t know, I look it up and continue. Or ask someone on a site.) VA? It’s all paperwork–dealt w/enough to know that if the paperwork is filled out properly, there’s no problem. (I bet that’s why vets are being denied benefits.) Asbestos? Also a concern in Detroit (older architecture).
Privacy? Bet it’s just like the UP–people want to be left alone/don’t want to be bothered w/bullshit.
Damn, I’ve got to move to the UP! (Better for my sinuses too.) All my paperwork will transfer…
The absestos stuff in Libby was about mining rather than buildings, I think. It’s been a long time since I lived there and I don’t remember all the details.
As for shooting a gun, I know how. I took a gun safety course back in 8th grade or so, and friends have taken me out shooting once or twice. I’m OK with recreational hunting and fishing, especially for food. I don’t own a gun, but that’s just a personal choice. If I really needed one I suppose I’d be able to get one — but I don’t like to think of the circumstances in which I would need one. (I do have a wicked samurai sword that’s seen combat if the hilt is any indication, but only a fool would bring a knife to a gunfight.)
Montana is indeed very pretty, and not even just the west side. I lived in and around Billings, and the plains are very nice to just drive through. Miles of open country with nothing around you but grass and occasional livestock. I really liked living there and would have been happy to stay, but Seattle is my home now.
And as for privacy, let me tell you a story I first heard in Montana, told about a Montanan:
“Hey Jim, what’d you do, break your arm?”
“Yeah.”
“How’d you do that?”
“Broke it pattin’ myself on the back.”
“What were you doin’ that for?”
“For bein’ so good at mindin’ my own business.“
re: privacy–LOL!
Also did some searching–UP mines and architecture. (And a few other things.)
BTW, also found this.
well, i too am trying to get on top of all the anxiety I have suffered since the year of 2000….;o) Since tanner is my congresscritter, I might just run for his office….;o) would you all move to my state and my district so I can with with your votes??????? {{{{wink, wink))))))
I’m afraid I’m not in a position to move, but send me an absentee ballot and I’ll fill it out. 🙂
Minnesota – Al Franken is considering running in Minnesota.
Dumbest Moron in the Senate.
he should be very vulnerable in 2008. CO is going bluer and bluer.
Collins says she’s retiring in 2008. But even if she didn’t, she’s a lock to be reelected.
We’ve (by that I mean ME) been obsessed with Elizabeth Dole over at BlueNC. Today, Jerry Meek, the Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party,came by to ask our opinion on who he should recruit. We’re not offering anything ground-breaking, but I still think it is worth a read.
p.s. to keep up with all the latest Liddy Dole news, you can visit my newly reenergized A Raw Dole blog over on blogspot.
May include:
Al Franken, he’s taking a very serious look at the race.
R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis has been mentioned in some circles.
Steve Kelley, former State Senator from Minneapolis’ western burbs. He’s faced two hard defeats this year due to democratic insider manipulation, so he may not want to take this one on.
I’d be interested to know why you chose Mike Hatch & Colin Peterson as potential challengers?
Frank Pallone. He was interested in Corzine’s seat when Corzine stepped down to become governor.
Progressive, VERY strong on the environment, has represented the northern tier of the Jersey Shore as a state legislator and congressman for many years. Early supporter of Howard Dean.
Since 2000 has also represented democratic strongholds in Middlesex County including New Brusnwick, home of Rutgers University, NJ’s state university which has a student population of 35,000 – 40,000. (Which btw is the birthplace of College Football, and who by the way scored 18 straight points to beat the #3 team in the nation Thursday night to remain undefeated!!!)