Changes

The '''2012 United States Senate elections''', to be held November 6, 2012, include [[Republican]], Democrat and Independent candidates vying for six-year terms and a seat in the 113th Congress. [[Democrat]]s need to defend 21 seats and Republicans need only to defend 10 seats. Two seats held by Independents are up for election and lean Democrat: Bernie Sanders seeks re-election and Joe Lieberman is retiring.  

The '''2012 United States Senate elections''', held November 6, 2012, included [[Republican]], Democrat and Independent candidates vying for six-year terms and a seat in the 113th Congress. [[Democrat]]s needed to defend 21 seats and Republicans needed only to defend 10 seats. Two seats held by Independents were up for election and lean Democrat: Bernie Sanders seeks re-election and Joe Lieberman is retiring.  

Democrats' majority status and [[Harry Reid]]'s Senate leadership are at stake.  Some Democrats are growing uncomfortable as they decline to endorse [[Obama]]'s shift on [[gay marriage]]. Of the 33 Democrats who have won their primaries, only 20 have clearly stated their support for gay marriage while 8 have stated their opposition. "Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] predicted Thursday the Democratic Party would adopt a pro-gay marriage plank in its platform." [http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/227007-vulnerable-democratic-senators-balk-at-obamas-endorsement-of-gay-marriage]

Democrats' majority status and [[Harry Reid]]'s Senate leadership are at stake.  Some Democrats are grew uncomfortable and declined to endorse [[Obama]]'s shift on [[gay marriage]]. Of the 33 Democrats who won their primaries, only 20 clearly stated their support for gay marriage while 8 stated their opposition. The Democratic Party adopted a pro-gay marriage plank in its platform.

As of November 6, the [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/senate/2012_elections_senate_map.html RealClearPolitics website] forecasts a 49-44 split favoring Democrats with 7 toss-up seats:

On November 6, the [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/senate/2012_elections_senate_map.html RealClearPolitics website] forecasted a 49-44 split favoring Democrats with 7 toss-up seats:

*Indiana

*Indiana

'''* Missouri'''

'''* Missouri'''

Democrat [[Claire McCaskill]] is the incumbent and faces [[movement conservative]] [[Todd Akin]], the [[Republican]] nominee. Since Akin's comments regarding pregnancy and "legitimate rape," Akin went from leading McCaskill by 6 points in prior polls to trailing her by 10 points in a Rasmussen Poll from August 22. The gap had lessened for Akin to 6 points in a September 12th poll, but grew again to an 8 point difference favoring McCaskill by an October 17th Rasmussen poll.<ref>[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/missouri/election_2012_missouri_senate Election 2012: Missouri Senate] rasmussenreports.com, retrieved September 21, 2012</ref> Now that Missouri has become what is likely to be a necessary win for Republicans to gain control of the Senate, and now that Akin can no longer drop from the race and be replaced by a different Republican on the ballot, he has received the support of a number of influential Republicans including [[Jim DeMint]], [[Rick Santorum]], and [[Roy Blunt]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/27/return-todd-akin-republicans-offer-support-to-embattled-candidate/?test=latestnews</ref> This may give Akin the boost he needs to win.

Democrat [[Claire McCaskill]] is the incumbent and faces [[movement conservative]] [[Todd Akin]], the [[Republican]] nominee. Since Akin's comments regarding pregnancy and "legitimate rape," Akin went from leading McCaskill by 6 points in prior polls to trailing her by 10 points in a Rasmussen Poll from August 22. The gap had lessened for Akin to 6 points in a September 12 poll, but grew again to an 8-point difference favoring McCaskill by an October 17 Rasmussen poll.<ref>[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/missouri/election_2012_missouri_senate Election 2012: Missouri Senate] rasmussenreports.com, retrieved September 21, 2012</ref> Now that Missouri has become what is likely to be a necessary win for Republicans to gain control of the Senate, and now that Akin can no longer drop from the race and be replaced by a different Republican on the ballot, he has received the support of a number of influential Republicans including [[Jim DeMint]], [[Rick Santorum]], and [[Roy Blunt]].<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/27/return-todd-akin-republicans-offer-support-to-embattled-candidate/?test=latestnews</ref> This may give Akin the boost he needs to win.

'''* Massachusetts'''

'''* Massachusetts'''

==States without a Senate race in 2012==

==States without a Senate race in 2012==

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and South Dakota.

 

Senate Balance of Power after elections: 45R, 55D

 

 

 

*Vermont (71.1% to 24.8%)

==See also==

==See also==

<references/>

<references/>

[[category:Politics]]

[[Category:Politics]]

[[category:Obama Presidency]]

[[Category:Obama Presidency]]

[[category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:United States Presidential Election, 2012]]

[[Category:United States Presidential Election, 2012]]