Senate Elections 2012

2012 United States Senate elections to be held November 6, 2012 includes Republican, Democrat and Independent candidates vying for six-year terms and a seat in the 113th Congress. Democrats need to defend 23 seats and Republicans need only to defend 10 seats. 2 seats held by Independents are 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.

The RealClearPolitics website forecasts a 46-46 tie with 8 toss-up seats, but that includes a questionable claim that Democrats will likely hold on to the New Mexico seat. In these key states, most of which are listed as "toss-up" or even leaning Democrat, the Democrat candidate will probably not win unless he garners more votes than Obama in the state:

• Montana (Rehberg-R v. Tester-D)
• Missouri (Republican v. McCaskill-D)
• Florida
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Wisconsin

Senate Contests

* Arizona

Republican Jon Kyl is retiring. Richard Carmona [D], Jeff Flake [R], Wil Cardon [R] are running.

* California

Democrat Dianne Feinstein is the incumbent. Dan Hughes [R], Elizabeth Emken [R]

* Connecticut

Independent Joe Lieberman is retiring. Six Democrats including Chris Murphy and five Republicans have declared including Linda McMahon.

* Delaware

Democrat Tom Carper is the incumbent. Businessman Kevin Wade is the Republican candidate.

* Florida

Democrat Bill Nelson is the incumbent. George LeMieux [R], Mike McCalister [R] and Connie Mack [R].

* Hawaii

Democrat Daniel Akaka is retiring. Ed Case [D], Mazie Hirono [D], John Carroll [R], John Roco [R], and former Governor Linda Lingle.

* Indiana

Republican Richard Lugar is the incumbent. Teaparty-backed Republican Richard Mourdock and Democrat Joe Donnelly have declared.

* Maine

Republican Olympia Snowe is retiring. Benjamin Pollard [D], Cynthia Dill [D], Jon Hinck [D], Matt Dunlap [D], Andrew Ian Dodge [I], Bill Schneider [R], Bruce Poliquin [R], Charlie Summers [R], Deb Plowman [R], Rick Bennett [R], Scott D’Amboise [R] including former Gov. Angus King [I].

* Maryland

Democrat Ben Cardin is the incumbent. He will face former Secret Service agent and Republican Dan Bongino.

* Massachusetts

Republican Scott Brown is the incumbent. Three Democrats running and socialist Elizabeth Warren is the expected challenger.

* Michigan

Democrat Debbie Stabenow is the incumbent. Nine Republican challengers including Pete Hoekstra.

* Minnesota

Democrat Amy Klobuchar is the incumbent. Two Democrat and three Republican candidates have declared.

* Mississippi

Republican Roger Wicker is the incumbent. He will face Democrat Albert N. Gore.

* Missouri

Democrat Claire McCaskill is the incumbent. Four Republicans have declared. McCaskill trails in the polls to all four of the leading GOP hopefuls.

* Montana

Democrat Jon Tester is the incumbent. Two Republicans and two independents running.

* Nebraska

Democrat Ben Nelson is the incumbent. Six Republicans including Don Stenberg and Jon Bruning plus 5 Democrats have declared including Bob Kerrey.

* Nevada

Republican Dean Heller was appointed in 2011 to replace John Ensign and is considered the incumbent. Barry Ellsworth [D], Nancy Price [D], Shelley Berkley [D] have declared.

* New Jersey

Democrat Bob Menendez is the incumbent. 3 Republican, 2 Democrats and 2 Independents have declared.

* New Mexico

Democrat Jeff Bingaman is retiring. Martin Heinrich (D) and Heather Wilson (R) have declared.

* New York

Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand is the incumbent. Republican Rep. Bob Turner has declared.

* North Dakota

Democrat Kent Conrad is retiring. 2 Republican, 2 Democrats declared.

* Ohio

Democrat Sherrod Brown is the incumbent. He will face Republican Josh Mandel. Mandel has the backing of Senator Jim Demint. Brown has the backing of George Soros, the SEIU and the former ACORN.

* Pennsylvania

Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. is the incumbent. 7 Republicans declared. Fake Pro-life Casey Jr. is a strong defender of Obama and Harry Reid.

* Rhode Island

Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse is the incumbent. Republican Barry Hinckley the challenger.

* Tennessee

Republican Bob Corker is the incumbent. 3 Republicans have declared.

* Texas

Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison is retiring. 9 Republicans including Tea party backed Ted Cruz, Addie Allen [D], Grady Yarbrough [D], Paul Sadler [D], Sean Hubbard [D].

* Utah

Republican Orrin Hatch is the incumbent. Pete Ashdown is the Democrat challenger and Chris Herrod [R], Dan Liljenquist [R].

* Vermont

Independent Bernie Sanders is the incumbent. John MacGovern [R] is the Republican challenger.

* Virginia

Democrat Jim Webb is retiring. 3 Democrats including Tim Kaine, 1 Independent and 5 Republicans including George Allen have declared.

* Washington

Democrat Maria Cantwell is the incumbent. Art Coday [R], Michael Baumgartner are the Republican challengers.

* West Virginia

Democrat Joe Manchin is the incumbent. He will face Republican John Raese.

* Wisconsin

Democrat Herb Kohl is retiring. Tammy Baldwin is the declared Democrat and four Republicans including Senate Conservatives Fund endorsement of Mark Neumann and former GovernorTommy Thompson.

* Wyoming

Republican John Barrasso is the incumbent.

States without a Senate race in 2012

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, N. Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, S. Carolina, s. Dakaota, Vermont.

See also

• Presidential Election 2012