Summary
The 2020 United States Senate elections will be held on November 3, 2020, with the 33 Class 2 seats of the Senate being contested in regular elections. The winners will be elected to six-year terms extending from January 3, 2021, until January 3, 2027.
Additionally, there will also be two special elections: one special election in Arizona to fill the vacancy created by the death of John McCain in 2018 and one in Georgia following the resignation of Johnny Isakson at the end of 2019.
Including the special elections in Arizona and Georgia, Republicans will be defending 23 seats in 2020, while the Democratic Party will be defending 12 seats. Democrats will need to pick up three or four seats to gain a majority in the Senate, depending on which party wins control of the vice presidency.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: 2020 Senate Races
News
Vox, – November 12, 2020
Democrats are now looking to the Georgia runoffs as their last opportunity to pick up seats.
Democrats pinned their hopes of retaking the Senate on four key races this year, but they ultimately failed in two of them.
Democrats flipped Colorado and Arizona last week — half of the seats they need to get to a bare majority. But they fell short in North Carolina and Maine. They also lost races in more than a half dozen other more conservative states including Iowa, Montana, Texas, and South Carolina.
The dynamics in the states they lost were different: Former Vice President Joe Biden finished with a strong lead in Maine overall, suggesting that some voters split their ticket between him and longtime incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R). Meanwhile, President Donald Trump narrowly won North Carolina, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R) performing closely in line with him.
To put some numbers on it: Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon lost to Collins by as much as 9 points, after polls generally favored her to win, sometimes by a large margin. (About 5 percent of the vote had yet to be tallied on November 11, however, according to Decision Desk’s tracker.)
Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue and his Democratic opponent Jon Ossoff traded barbs in unusually personal terms during their debate Wednesday night, with Ossoff labeling Perdue a “crook” and Perdue accusing Ossoff of profiting off China.
The stakes in the close race are high. Georgia has not one but two US Senate seats up for grabs, and some Republicans fear that Ossoff’s strong challenge in a reliably red state, coupled with a splintered GOP fight for current Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s seat, puts both seats at play as the party looks to avoid losing the US Senate.
Wednesday night in Savannah, Perdue at one point attacked Ossoff for raising large sums of cash from out-of-state donors who want a “radical socialist agenda.”
CNN, – October 29, 2020
Joe Biden’s lead in national and state polls has Democrats well-positioned to have a good night up and down the ballot next week.
The latest race ratings from Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, a CNN contributor, tell the story: Democrats aren’t just playing in red states and districts; they’re seriously competitive in many of them, with more than a third of registered voters having already cast their ballots and less than a week to go until Election Day.
Inside Elections now projects Democrats to pick up a net gain of 14 to 20 seats in the House, building on their historic 2018 midterm gains to grow their House majority, and a net gain of four to six seats in the Senate, which would be enough to flip the chamber. (Democrats need a net gain of three seats if Biden wins the White House, since the vice president breaks ties in the Senate, or four if he loses.) But the nonpartisan election analyst notes that greater Democratic gains in the Senate are possible.
The Senate majority is firmly within Democrats’ reach with just a week to go until Election Day
That wasn’t necessarily expected a year ago, but Democrats’ improving fortunes have a lot do with President Donald Trump. Republicans breathed a sigh of relief after the second presidential debate last week, where they think the President at least didn’t hurt himself. But Trump has been a consistent drag on down-ballot Republicans, and he’s spurred Democrats to raise staggering sums of money.
Democrats in once-red suburban House districts started shattering fundraising records in the 2018 midterms, and now a similar dynamic is playing out across the Senate landscape, with Democratic challengers raising more in one quarter than incumbents and challengers — combined — used to raise in an entire cycle.
Entering the final week before the election, Democrats are on offense in a broad array of states.
Democrats began the 2020 election cycle with only a narrow path back to the Senate majority. But entering the final week before the election, there are competitive races everywhere.
Republicans are scrambling resources into red and purple states alike — from Kansas and South Carolina to Iowa and North Carolina — cutting down Democrats’ massive financial edge and hoping for a late-breaking turn in their favor, similar to four years ago. But their defensive posture underscores just how broad the playing field is, with nearly a dozen Republican senators in various levels of danger, and only two Democratic seats at risk.
Democrats aren’t declaring the chamber won, given that the map still tilts heavily toward red states. But their paths back to the majority have expanded significantly as the election nears its close, leaving party strategists more optimistic about their chances than two years ago — when retaking the Senate seemed next to impossible, even in a wave election.
With less than two weeks before Nov. 3, some incumbents confident of their chances are choosing to avoid the debate stage.
Debates can often produce some of the most memorable moments of a campaign. But just two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, four states are unlikely even to hold debates on whom to send to the U.S. Senate.
The debate about the debates is playing out in three red-leaning states — Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, where GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy and Cindy Hyde-Smith plus Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville are not planning to debate their opponents.
A closer race in Michigan between Democrat Sen. Gary Peters and Republican businessman John James also likely won’t produce a debate, though it’s because of disagreements over the forum.
Throughout the spring, summer and fall, vulnerable Senate Republicans and their allies ran TV ads touting their efforts to pass multi-trillion dollar bills addressing the coronavirus pandemic. In Georgia, a Republican super PAC praised “quick action” from Sen. David Perdue to direct funding to hospitals, while North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis ran ads about setting up the Paycheck Protection Program to save small businessesBut Senate Republicans have largely dropped mentioning coronavirus in TV ads during the final weeks of the election, while Senate Democrats have continued to emphasize the pandemic and health care throughout their campaigns, according to a CNN analysis of Kantar Media/CMAG advertising data. The review covers the top 10 competitive Senate races in nine states: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and South Carolina (Georgia has two Senate races this year)
Republicans referred to coronavirus in roughly 41% of their TV ads in these Senate races through the end of September, but only in 6% of their ads since October 1. At least 10 other issues were more frequently mentioned in their ads over the past few weeks.
CNN, – October 20, 2020
President Donald Trump’s constant string of controversies and scandals. They’ve ignored his Twitter outbursts and endless grievances. And they’ve avoided confronting him, while voting mostly in lockstep for his agenda and protecting him during his impeachment trial.
But two weeks until Election Day, GOP senators are beginning to come to grips that Trump’s reign in Washington could soon come to an end.
Publicly and privately, Republicans are now beginning to distance themselves from the President. And the debate over the post-Trump Republican Party is already taking shape, with some eager to emulate his populist style of America-first, slash-and-burn politics — and others pushing to return to a more moderate, pro-business message to woo disaffected younger voters and women who have been put off by Trump.
Both parties are looking past the Supreme Court fight, with an eye on November.
When Sen. Lindsey Graham began his committee’s Supreme Court hearing for Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination on Tuesday morning, you’d be forgiven for confusing it with a re-election ad.
The Judiciary chairman attacked Obamacare for sending too much money to states represented by Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren, then touted his own bill to replace it. After noting repeatedly he’s involved in a campaign back home, Graham (R-S.C.) bragged about his efforts to ban abortions after 20 weeks.
Then Graham said he might just join Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-R.I.) effort to regulate money in politics as he faces Democrat Jaime Harrison’s record-shattering fundraising: “I’d like to know where the hell it’s coming from.” A few minutes later, Graham said he plays lots of golf with President Donald Trump in which they discuss topics like killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for President Donald Trump, and that’s squeezing some GOP senators who were already facing competitive reelections.
Republicans were optimistic that a Supreme Court vacancy would galvanize their supporters — and with confirmation hearings for nominee Amy Coney Barrett beginning this week, they may still see that boost. But the hearing could also give Democrats a chance to prosecute their arguments on health care, a winning issue for them in the 2018 midterm elections. Democratic nominee Joe Biden led Trump 53% to 42% in CNN’s poll of polls as of Sunday. And three weeks from Election Day, with millions of voters already casting their ballots, the national environment seems to be benefiting Democrats running for Senate — even if one of their candidates in a top-tier race is facing negative headlines about his personal life.
Democratic Senate candidates are burying Republicans in ad spending after raising historic amounts of money.
In mid-April, senior advisers to a dozen Republican senators gathered on the second floor of the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s offices, where NRSC executive director Kevin McLaughlin detailed the stark online fundraising disparities that led to eight GOP incumbents getting outraised by Democrats in the first three months of 2020.
McLaughlin concluded his presentation with a dire warning: If campaigns didn’t improve their digital fundraising dramatically, they’d have no way to counter a “green tsunami” of Democratic spending in the fall, according to three people familiar with the meeting.
Republicans are growing increasingly worried that President Trump’s slide in the polls following his COVID-19 diagnosis, coupled with an outbreak at the White House, is posing a major threat to their Senate majority.
The presidential campaign has quickly become one of the most tumultuous in modern history, but there’s more than enough turmoil and uncertainty to go around as both parties battle for control of the Senate.
One of the main concerns for Senate Republicans is Trump’s cash crunch, which has forced him to cut back on advertising in key battleground states at a time when Senate Democratic challengers are projected to significantly outraise GOP incumbents heading into the final stretch.
Another challenge for Republicans is the expanding battleground map, with traditionally red states such as Alaska, Kansas and South Carolina becoming more competitive as Democratic incumbents in Michigan and New Hampshire build comfortable leads.
Republicans are defending 23 seats, while Democrats need to protect only 12.
With a little more than four weeks until Election Day, the Senate map is now tilting in Democrats’ favor and even more Republicans in once-red House districts are feeling the heat of changing demographics and the weight of a President who remains deeply unpopular in the suburbs
That’s according to the latest House and Senate race ratings changes from Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, a CNN contributor.
Inside Elections shifted three Republican-held Senate seats in favor of the Democrats: Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. Whereas Democrats are now favored in the first two contests, Republicans still have the advantage in South Carolina, but the race looks far more competitive for Sen. Lindsey Graham than it did several months ago. Thursday’s changes mean that four GOP-held Senate seats are now Tilt Democratic races, which is good news for a party that needs a net gain of four seats to flip the chamber — or three if Joe Biden wins the White House, since the vice president breaks ties in the Senate.
If Joe Biden wins the White House, and Democrats take back the Senate, there is one decision that will loom over every other. It is a question that dominated no debates and received only glancing discussion across the campaign, and yet it is the master choice that will either unlock their agenda or ensure they fail to deliver on their promises.
That decision? Whether the requirement for passing a bill through the Senate should be 60 votes or 51 votes. Whether, in other words, to eliminate the modern filibuster, and make governance possible again.
Virtually everything Democrats have sworn to do — honoring John Lewis’s legacy by strengthening the right to vote, preserving the climate for future generations by decarbonizing America, ensuring no gun is sold without a background check, raising the minimum wage, implementing universal pre-K, ending dark money in politics, guaranteeing paid family leave, offering statehood to Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, reinvigorating unions, passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act — hinges on this question.
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court over the weekend is likely to further nationalize the fight for control of the Senate, with Republicans looking to defend a majority that was very much at stake well before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died.
There’s no question the court battle has already injected more money and partisanship into many of these races, but a little more than week out from Ginsburg’s death, there isn’t yet enough data to definitively say whether the vacancy — another major national event in a year full of them — will benefit one party or another.
The loss of the liberal justice has been a fundraising bonanza for Democrats, many of whom already had significant financial advantages, with ActBlue processing millions in donations in the week since her death. But it’s also stirring conservatives, who are hoping to remind right-leaning voters who may have soured on Trump of the importance of having a GOP-controlled Senate when it comes to the long-term balance of the high court.
The pending Senate battle over the next Supreme Court nominee shows us how important winning Congress’ upper chamber is this fall. A president who doesn’t have the Senate backing him cannot fully use the power of the presidency to influence the government’s direction.
2020 could be shaping up to be a winner-take-all situation. Given the lineup of seats up in the Senate, chances are Democrats will take the Senate if former vice president Joe Biden takes the presidency. If President Donald Trump wins a second term, chances are Republicans will retain control of the Senate.
The biggest news out of The Economist’s release this week of its Senate model is that it gives Democrats a 67% chance of winning 51 seats (and the the majority) on November 3.
But look a little deeper into the model’s projection and you see this: Democrats have a 1 in 3 chance of winning at least 53 seats and a 1 in 5 chance of winning at least 54 seats.
Which isn’t that much of a long shot!
Those projections about the possibility of November being a BIG win for Senate Democrats as opposed to recapturing the majority by a single seat (or two) have all sorts of potential implications for what 2021 might look like.
FiveThirtyEight, – September 22, 2020
But could the Supreme Court opening shake up the race? Preliminary evidence suggests probably not. In a SurveyMonkey/Insider poll conducted immediately after Ginsburg’s death, only 5 percent of registered voters said the vacant seat made them less certain of their vote. And in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 30 percent (most of them Democrats) said it made them more likely to vote for Biden, about the same as the 25 percent (most of them Republicans) who said it made them more likely to vote for Trump. A plurality (38 percent) said it would have no impact on their presidential vote.
However, the Senate — where Democrats have a 60 in 100 chance of taking control1 — may be a different story. Several vulnerable members of that chamber are now faced with the politically difficult choice of whether to vote to confirm Trump’s soon-to-be-announced Supreme Court nominee.
The brawl over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s successor began before her body was buried. Within hours of her death on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
Since then, almost every Republican senator running for reelection has announced their support for the process to confirm the to-be-announced nominee, shaking up the race for Senate control only six weeks out from Election Day.
The quick embrace of McConnell’s strategy could help Republicans in toss-up Senate races in purple and red states, including in North Carolina, Iowa, Georgia and Montana, although it could hurt them in others.
CNN, – September 21, 2020
The battle for control of the United States Senate assumed fresh urgency Friday following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, drawing more intense scrutiny to several competitive down-ballot contests whose outcomes could have long-lasting consequences for all three branches of government.
Republicans enter the election on November 3 holding a narrow three-seat majority in the Senate. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win a majority in the Senate, but can take control by picking up three seats if former Vice President Joe Biden wins the presidency, since the vice president breaks ties in the chamber. Of the 35 Senate seats up for grabs in November, 23 are held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats.
A looming confirmation fight to replace late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could put Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado in an electoral vise.
After Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said late Friday he would hold a floor vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee to fill Ginsburg’s seat, attention quickly turned to the most endangered Republicans on the Senate map, including two incumbents up for reelection in states Trump lost in 2016: Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
The issue is likely to supercharge base voters in both parties and add even more massive implications to the outcome, on top of the pandemic and economic crisis that are already shaping Senate campaigns. A nomination fight — either before the Nov. 3 election or teed up for a lame-duck session of Congress in the weeks after — could force tough votes for a handful of other vulnerable GOP senators running in battleground states, like Sens. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and two senators in Georgia.
ActBlue, the 16-year old group that provides Democrats with their primary online fundraising platform, said that the three biggest fundraising hours in their history happened on Friday night. A sizable portion of that money went to a fund started by Crooked Media that aims to end Republican control of the Senate and force Majority Leader Mitch McConnell into the minority.
The fund, which according to a spokeswoman had raised $3.5 million since it was founded in July 2019, raised a sizable $12.5 million since 8 p.m. ET on Friday, the hour when Ginsburg’s death was announced. The fund supports Senate campaigns in Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, Montana, Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Alaska, South Carolina, Texas and Kansas.
The battle for control of the Senate is fierce, less than two months from Election Day.
Control of the Senate could be within Democrats’ grasp this November. But they’re going to have to fight for it.
A once-narrow Senate map has dramatically expanded for Democrats this year, and Republicans have few options to expand their majority. Though some things have improved for the GOP since the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, they are still saddled with a controversial incumbent president at the top of their ticket and a turbulent and uncertain political climate.
“It will not be a news flash to say the Senate is very much in play,” Republican pollster Whit Ayres told Vox. “There are numerous Senate races that are essentially margin of error races right now.”
Many Republicans were in a full-blown panic in the spring and early summer months as the pandemic forced a once-booming US economy to shut down. Coronavirus cases are gradually declining, and the economy has started to recover over the summer — with the unemployment rate falling from 14.7 percent in April to 8.4 percent in August. Still, millions are out of work and new Covid outbreaks are popping up in Midwestern states as schools and colleges have begun to reopen.
CNN Politics, – September 10, 2020
The episode illustrated McConnell’s intense focus at holding onto his perch atop the Senate and keeping the majority in GOP hands, navigating one of the most tumultuous elections of his long political career while finding a way to take advantage of having a Republican in the White House — even one who has a penchant for putting GOP senators in a jam time and again.
Asked if he thinks Trump is a net positive for Senate Republican candidates on the ticket, McConnell would only say: “We’ll find out. That’s something that we’ll only know the day after the election.”
Quick take: The Senate is currently made up of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats. Dems must win 3 or 4 GOP-held seats to take control of the Senate — 3 if the new vice president is a Democrat and 4 if not.
- Republican senators representing left-leaning states or states that are shifting demographically — Susan Collins (Maine), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Martha McSally (Ariz.) — are considered among the Democrats’ clearest 2020 targets.
- As Democrats from Trump-won states, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) are also vulnerable.
Inside Climate News, – September 9, 2020
Advocates for action on global warming want to oust Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and put Democrats in charge. But real progress will take more than that.
This piece introduces a series of stories examining the climate records of candidates in 11 key Senate races on the ballot in November.
“It died in the Senate.” That brief phrase could be etched on the memorial of every U.S. legislative effort to address climate change: treaties, economy-wide caps on carbon, lasting support for renewable energy, a public works program on the scale of the New Deal.
It is an epitaph that climate advocates argue the nation can no longer afford.
In their view, President Donald Trump’s historic abandonment of climate policy has deepened the peril of a warming planet for the United States and the world. The second-largest carbon polluter has retreated from the international effort to address the climate crisis, while reducing oversight of its industry and protection of its public lands. Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions have been tracking scientists’ worst-case scenarios, with record wildfires and storm—costly in damage and lives—heralding the disruption to come.
Video accompanies article [3:24].
With just two months to go until Election Day, the race for the White House is not the only key decision American voters will make. Six of the thirty-five U.S. Senate seats up for re-election this November are rated by the non-partisan Cook Political Report as true toss-ups – giving both parties the opportunity to win control of the U.S. Senate. A Republican loss of the Senate majority could have a wide-ranging impact on the second term of a Donald Trump presidency or the agenda of a President Joe Biden.
Democrats will need to win control of three to four seats to win that majority. Here’s a look at a handful of states with some of the most interesting races this election cycle:
In 2018, Democrats delivered a blue wave, taking control of the House of Representatives in a rebuke to President Trump’s win two years earlier. Now, in 2020, eyes are on the U.S. Senate, where Democrats would either need a net gain of four Senate seats or three Senate seats plus the presidency in order to have a majority. (In the Senate, the vice president casts any tie-breaking votes.) While defending already-blue seats is essential for the party, they’re also looking to potentially flip Republican seats come November.
Below, a look at the Democratic women running for Republican-held Senate seats this year, plus how the races are looking so far.
About
This United States onAir Hub is the central Hub for the US onAir network of 50 state elections and governance Hubs. Student curators from DC area universities will be focusing over the next several months on the thirty five open US Senate seats especially the competitive states races shown in the feature image.
On a computer, select the “2020 Elections” button to learn more about the 33 states with senate races this year.
Our plan is for USA onAir student teams to conduct video interviews with the incumbent senators running for election. Once a state’s primary is concluded, students will interview their opponents. These interviews will be included in a post on each candidate along with information such as their positions on important issues, political history, backgrounds and twitter posts. USA onAir Hub members can also participate in forums about these candidates, ask them questions and make suggestions, and give endorsements.
Note: The selection of the states shown in the map were determined by ratings from the Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Inside Elections, Politico and other sources (summary details in this Wikipedia entry). We are open to including other state senate races based on input from our Hub members. Click on the map to see all the senate races in 2020.
Competitive
Alaska
For more information, go to the US Senate – AK 2020 Election post.
Al Gross
Current Position: Doctor and commercial fisherman
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
We can change Washington, and it starts by changing the people we send there. I’m not a politician. I’m a doctor, a commercial fisherman, a father of four, and a lifelong Alaskan. I don’t owe the outside special interests anything. For me, it’s always about Alaska and doing what’s right for working families.
In 2013 Dr. Al and Dr. Monica Gross left their medical practices and went back to school. They received master’s degrees in public health at UCLA and studied solutions that would make health care better and at a lower cost. After receiving his degree Al turned his focus to advocating for these solutions, including creating a public healthcare option that will give Alaskans the choice to buy less expensive insurance through the healthcare exchange. As a United States Senator, he’ll get it done.
For more information, see Al Gross’s post.
Dan Sullivan
Current Position: Candidate US Senator since 2020
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Recognized as one of the Senate’s most effective lawmakers, Senator Sullivan has focused on rebuilding and modernizing our country’s military, promoting responsible resource development, opening international and domestic markets to Alaska fishermen, cleaning up our oceans, spurring economic development, expanding benefits for our veterans and helping society’s most vulnerable, especially survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and those recovering from addiction.
Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Senator Sullivan served as Alaska’s Attorney General and Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
For more information, see this Dan Sullivan post.
Arizona (Special)
For more information, go to the US Senate – AZ 2020 Election post.
Martha McSally
Current Position: US Senator
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Before she was sworn in as a U.S. Senator in January 2019, Martha previously represented Arizona’s second congressional district for four years in the United States House of Representatives. Martha serves on the following Senate Committees: Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Indian Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging.
For more information about Martha McSally, see her post.
Mark Kelly
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Former Position(s): Retired U.S. Navy combat pilot, engineer, and NASA astronaut
I’m running for the United States Senate because Washington is broken and Arizonans deserve independent leadership focused on solving the problems we face.
Washington isn’t addressing these big problems in a way that helps working people in Arizona. Partisanship keeps politicians from finding solutions, and all of the money in our political system keeps politicians from being accountable to the people they’re supposed to represent.
I never expected to be here. Gabby was always the member of Congress in the family, and the person who taught me everything I know about how to use policy to improve people’s lives. I bring a different set of experiences to the table than most in Washington. Seeing the challenges that we face as a state and a country, I know I can put these experiences to use to make a difference in the lives of people here in Arizona.
For more information, see this Mark Kelly post.
Colorado
For more information, go to the US Senate – CO 2020 Election post.
Cory Gardner
Current Position: US Senator since 2014
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Cory Gardner began serving in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2005 where he spent time as the Minority Whip and became known for his expertise in natural resource and agriculture policy. Cory was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cory championed a true all-of-the-above energy strategy that promoted traditional resources as well as renewable energy. In addition, Cory is a national leader on energy efficiency initiatives and founded a bipartisan energy efficiency caucus in the House.
For more information about Cory Gardner, see his post.
John Hickenlooper
Current Position: Governor since 2010
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
John Hickenlooper is running for Senate to make Washington work for Coloradans. Just like he’s done throughout his career, he will use his independent perspective to bring people together to get things done — from lowering health care and prescription drug costs to keeping our families safe from gun violence, as well as protecting the state’s public lands while combating climate change.
In 2010, John ran for Governor and helped to move Colorado from ranking 40th in job creation to leading by example as the number one economy in the nation. John brought people together across the aisle and across the state to get things done, from passing pioneering anti-pollution climate change measures and landmark gun safety laws to expanding Medicaid to nearly 400,000 Coloradans.
For more information about John Hickenlooper, see his post.
Georgia (regular)
For more information, go to the US Senate – GA 2020 Election post.
David Perdue
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Prior to his decisive election to the U.S. Senate in 2014, David had never held public office and was inspired to shake up Washington and change the direction of our country.
David is a champion for term limits for politicians, reining in out-of-control spending, growing the economy, and tackling our nation’s debt crisis. In 2016, David was an early supporter of President Donald J. Trump and continues to be one of the President’s closest allies in the U.S. Senate.
For more information, see this David Perdue post.
Jon Ossoff
Current Position: Investigative Journalist & Media Executive
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
I’m running to ensure every Georgian has great health care, to deliver historic investments in clean energy and infrastructure, to rebuild this economy so working families and small businesses thrive, and to root out corruption so government serves the people — not private interests with legions of lobbyists.
For more information, see this Jon Ossoff post.
Georgia Special
For more information, go to the US Senate – GA 2020 Special Election post.
Kelly Loeffler
Current Position: US Senator since 2020
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
A senator from Georgia; born in Bloomington, Ill., November 27, 1970; graduated Olympia High School, Stanford, Ill., 1988; B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1992; M.B.A., DePaul University, Chicago, Ill., 1999; finance firm chief executive officer; co-owner of Atlanta Dream professional women’s basketball team; appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Johnny Isakson, and took the oath of office on January 6, 2020.
For more information about Kelly Loeffler, see her post.
Raphael Warnock
Current Position: Pastor
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Reverend Raphael Warnock grew up in Kayton Homes public housing in Savannah. The family was short on money, but long on faith, love and humor. Raphael and his eleven brothers and sisters were taught the meaning of hard work.
Reverend Raphael Warnock is running for Senate to fight for affordable health care, protect voting rights, and ensure the dignity of working people.
For more information, see this Raphael Warnock post.
Iowa
For more information, go to the US Senate – IA 2020 Election post.
Joni Ernst
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
In November 2014, Joni was elected as the first woman to serve in federal elected office from the State of Iowa and also became the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the United States Senate. In Washington, Joni serves on five Senate committees of major importance to Iowans: Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Environment and Public Works; Judiciary; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Joni is focused on growing a vibrant economy and ensuring the government runs effectively and efficiently which means cutting out-of-control spending, reducing taxes, eliminating harmful regulations and balancing the budget.
For more information, see Joni Ernst’s post.
Theresa Greenfield
Current Position: Urban planner
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Theresa Greenfield is a farm kid with farm kid values. She’s running for Senate because it’s time Iowans had a Senator who put us first – not the special interests. Growing up on a farm instilled in her a get-it-done attitude she will bring to the Senate to solve problems for our working families.
For more information, see Theresa Greenfield’s post.
Maine
For more information, go to the US Senate – AL 2020 Election post.
Susan Collins
Current Position: US Senator
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Senator Collins ranks twelfth in Senate seniority and is the most senior Republican woman. She chairs the Senate Aging Committee and the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee. She also serves on the Intelligence Committee as well as the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Known for her Maine work ethic, Senator Collins has never missed a vote in her 23 years in office. In June 2019, she cast her 7,000th consecutive roll call vote. She holds the longest perfect voting record in the history of the U.S. Senate.
For more information about Susan Collins, see her post.
Sara Gideon
Current Position: State Delegate since 2012
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Sara Gideon is a proud mom, wife, sister, daughter and Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
Throughout her time in public service, Sara has prioritized listening to Mainers and then working with others to get things done. And under Governors of both parties, Sara has shown an ability to deliver results while standing up for Democratic values.
Whether as a member of her local town council, as a State Representative and now Speaker of the House, Sara has focused on trying to use her office to improve the lives of Maine families.
For more information about Sara Gideon, see her post.
Michigan
For more information, go to the US Senate – MI 2020 Election post.
Gary Peters
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Throughout his career in public service, Gary has been a strong, independent voice for Michigan’s families and small businesses. He has focused on uniting our communities by fighting for the things that we all agree on — a stronger economy, good-paying jobs, affordable health care, a secure retirement and a fair chance for everyone to succeed.
In the 116th Congress, Gary serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.
For more information, see this Gary Peters post.
John James
Current Position: President of John James International
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Former Position(s): Ranger from 2004 – 2012
From the battlefield to the shop floor, John James has lived his life placing service before self. A husband, father, combat veteran, and businessman, John James believes Michigan deserves a U.S. Senator that can achieve tangible results.
While James was serving in Iraq, the recession was hitting Michigan hard and Detroit harder. He looked at his hometown area and there were parts of Michigan that looked worse than war-torn Baghdad. So, James came home to serve in a different way, as a job provider.
For more information, see this John James post.
Montana
For more information, go to the US Senate – MT 2020 Election post.
Steve Bullock
Current Position: Governor since 2012
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Steve Bullock has spent his life fighting for Montana families to make sure all Montanans have a fair shot at a better future. Before he entered public service, Steve worked as a consumer protection, small business, and labor lawyer and helped lead the fight to raise Montana’s minimum wage. Steve was elected Attorney General and fought the corrupting influence of money in politics by bringing the first legal challenge to the landmark campaign finance case known as Citizens United all the way to the Supreme Court. He also fought to protect access to public lands and streams.
For more information about Steve Bullock, see his post.
Steve Daines
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
In 2000, Steve took on the role of VP at RightNow Technologies, a Bozeman-based cloud computing start-up company. The company grew rapidly and became a publicly traded software company with 17 offices around the world, and products in over 30 languages. The company was acquired by Oracle in 2012 and remains one of Montana’s largest commercial employers.
In the U.S. Senate, Daines is working on issues of critical importance to growing good-paying Montana jobs, developing our state’s energy resources, managing and protecting our public lands and supporting the needs of Montana’s veterans and tribes. He serves on the Senate Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources, and Indian Affairs.
For more information about Steve Daines, see his post.
North Carolina
For more information, go to the US Senate – NC 2020 Election post.
Cal Cunningham
Current Position: Other
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator for North Carolina
Cal Cunningham is an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, business leader, and former legislator who served as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Crime Commission. He is running to serve as North Carolina’s next United States Senator.
At the age of 27, Cal was elected one of the state’s youngest State Senators, representing Davidson, Rowan, and Iredell Counties. Over the course of his term in the legislature, Cal fought for smaller class sizes, higher teacher pay, and investments in early childhood education and our university and community college system. Cal was also a leading advocate for landmark clean air legislation, land preservation, and campaign finance reform.
For more information, see Cal Cunningham’s post.
Thom Tillis
Current Position: US Senator for North Carolina
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis is committed to preserving the American Dream for younger generations and supports commonsense policies that will generate economic growth and opportunities for working families.
Public Service
Fueled by a desire to make a difference in his local community, Thom’s involvement in public service began by serving as the PTA president of his daughter’s high school and as a member of the Town of Cornelius Board of Commissioners. In 2006, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives and was selected by his peers to serve as Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2014. As Speaker, Thom played an instrumental role in enacting job-creating policies and reforming North Carolina’s tax and regulatory codes. Thom was elected as U.S. Senator in 2014 and he has focused on pragmatic solutions and delivering results for North Carolina.
For more information about Thom Tillis, see his post.
South Carolina
For more information, go to the US Senate – SC 2020 Election post.
Lindsey Graham
Current Position: US Senator since 2002
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Lindsey Graham has earned a reputation as a conservative problem-solver and one of the strongest proponents of a robust national defense.
Graham is also a leader in cutting spending, reforming entitlements, and getting government out of the way so businesses can create jobs.
Graham currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
For more information, see this Lindsey Graham post.
Current Position: chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party since 2013
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Jaime Harrison is running for U.S. Senate to fight for opportunity for all South Carolinians, and he’s willing to work with anyone to do it. Because when a rural hospital closes, or coverage for pre-existing conditions is threatened, the health of all South Carolinians is put at risk. These days, Wall Street is doing great, while middle class South Carolinians feel like they’re just barely hanging on. Jaime will fight to invest in schools and training, and to end the student loan debt crisis.
For more information, see this Jaimie Harrison post.
Lean Democrat
Delaware
For more information, go to the US Senate – DE 2020 Election post.
Chris Coons
Current Position: US Senator since 2010
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Chris Coons has spent his career in the Senate focused on working across the aisle to get things done for the people of Delaware. In March 2017, the Bipartisan Policy Center recognized Chris for his commitment to bipartisanship and awarded him its Legislative Action Award. In November 2016, the independent congressional tracking website GovTrack ranked Chris in the top three most productive Senators of both parties.
Putting pragmatism ahead of politics, Chris has partnered with Republicans and Democrats alike to address key issues facing Delaware and the country. Chris has worked relentlessly with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to provide resources for those struggling with drug addiction and to curb the impact of the opioid crisis.
For more information, see this Chris Coons post.
Illinois
For more information, go to the US Senate – IL 2020 Election post.
Dick Durbin
Current Position: US Senator since 1997
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Durbin serves as the Democratic Whip, the second highest ranking position among the Senate Democrats. Senator Durbin has been elected to this leadership post by his Democratic colleagues every two years since 2005.
Durbin sits on the Senate Judiciary, Appropriations, Agriculture, and Rules Committees. He is the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and the Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee.
For more information, see this Dick Durbin post.
Mark Curran
Current Position: US Senator
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Former Position(s): Lake County Sheriff
Mark Curran began his law enforcement career serving as an intern in the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office in 1988 and became an Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney’s in 1990. While serving as a Senior Felony Prosecutor, Curran was recruited by Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan. Curran was promoted to Chief of the Gang Crimes Bureau, charged with prosecuting street gangs, holding seminars on fighting gangs and serving as editor of a statewide law enforcement-focused newsletter. In addition, Curran represented the Director of the Illinois State Police in employment hearings and the Illinois Department of Corrections in civil lawsuits.
For more information, see this Mark Curran post.
Massachusetts
For more information, go to the US Senate – MA 2020 Election post.
Ed Markey
Current Position: US Senator since 1997
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Senator Edward J. Markey, a consumer champion and national leader on energy, environmental protection and telecommunications policy, has a prolific legislative record on major issues across the policy spectrum and a deep commitment to improving the lives of the people of Massachusetts and our country.
Whether the issue is climate change, clean energy, safeguarding privacy, nuclear non-proliferation, investor protection or preserving an open Internet that spurs competition and consumer choice, Senator Markey stands up for the priorities and values of Massachusetts.
For more information, see this Ed Markey’s post.
Kevin O’Connor
Current Position: Attorney
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Kevin O”Connor is running for U.S. Senate to bring much needed change to Washington. Unlike in Massachusetts, where a Republican governor collaborates with a largely Democratic legislature, Washington politicians focus incessantly on creating and exploiting partisan conflict. Kevin believes the dysfunction in Congress is fueled by professional politicians who feel entitled to power and will do just about anything to keep it. That’s why he supports term limits and pledges to serve no more than two terms in the Senate.
Kevin will focus on achievable solutions for the issues that matter most to Massachusetts. He will be a champion for education and our free enterprise system. He will stand up to the deficit spenders in both parties, promote affordable health care and a sustainable environment, and support a “peace through strength” foreign policy. And Kevin will always insist on the fair and impartial application of our Constitution and laws for all, regardless of station in life.
For more information, go to Kevin O’Connor’s post.
Minnessota
For more information, go to the US Senate – MN 2020 Election post.
Tina Smith
Current Position: US Senator since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Tina Smith serves as United States Senator for Minnesota. She’s a fierce advocate for Minnesotans and is focused on continuing the progressive legacy of the seat she holds.
Tina is proud to have worked on issues like tax fairness. In Minnesota, she helped push to make sure the wealthiest two percent to pay their fair share which resulted in lower income taxes for everyone else in the state—and all while balancing the state’s budget.
For more information, see this Tina Smith post.
Jason Lewis
Current Position: Other
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Former Position(s): US Representative for US House District 2 from 2016 – 2018
In Congress, Jason was honored to help pass historic tax cuts and regulatory reform to improve the nation’s economy and spur jobs and wages. While serving on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, he focused on robust infrastructure development while working to reform the Met Council to ensure they have locally elected members on their boards just like other planning agencies.
Congressman Lewis was integral in getting landmark Career and Technical Education (CTE) legislation passed with his amendment supporting dual-enrollment opportunities for students to get a jump start on their careers. On the Budget Committee, he prioritized tax and spending cuts with a return to fiscal responsibility by supporting budget resolutions that included across the board spending reductions and balanced within 10 years.
For more information, see this Jason Lewis post.
New Hampshire
For more information, go to the US Senate – NH 2020 Election post.
Jeanne Shaheen
Current Position: US Senator since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
The first woman in U.S. history to be elected both a Governor and a United States Senator, New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen is a trailblazer with a reputation for working across the aisle to get things done. She is committed to serving the citizens of New Hampshire and is known for her common-sense leadership, hard work and dedication to improving the lives of the middle class. She has served in the Senate since 2009 and is a member of the Senate Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Select Committee on Ethics.
As a former small business owner, Senator Shaheen knows how tough it can be for entrepreneurs, who often operate on razor thin profit margins. On the Small Business Committee, she’s expanded small businesses’ access to credit and markets. Her annual Experience New Hampshire event in Washington, D.C., gives New Hampshire businesses a forum to showcase their products and services to policymakers and government officials. Shaheen continues to lead efforts in the Senate to protect New Hampshire businesses from having to unfairly collect internet sales taxes for other states.
For more information, see this Jeanne Shaheen post.
Cory Messner
Current Position: Attorney 
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Successful businessman, veteran, proud father and patriot, Bryant “Corky” Messner is running to defeat career politician Jeanne Shaheen to represent New Hampshire in the United States Senate.
For more information, see this Cory Messner post.
New Jersey
For more information, go to the US Senate – NJ 2020 Election post.
Cory Booker
Current Position: US Senator since 2013
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Senator Booker has established himself as an innovative and bipartisan problem-solver committed to developing collaborative solutions that address some of our most complex challenges. Whether it’s advocating for more federal resources to modernize New Jersey’s transportation system, securing funds to continue the long recovery from Superstorm Sandy, or ensuring that our communities are safe from the effects of pollution and climate change, Booker has proven his steadfast commitment to standing up for what matters most to New Jerseyans.
Booker has also emerged as a national leader in the Congressional push for common sense criminal justice reform, advocating for front-end sentencing reforms, pushing for the banning of juvenile solitary confinement in federal facilities, and spearheading legislation to make the hiring process fairer for the formerly incarcerated.
For more information, see this Cory Booker post.
Rik Mehta
Current Position: biotech entrepreneur, innovator, healthcare policy expert and a licensed pharmacist and attorney
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
U.S. Senate hopeful Dr. Rik Mehta is a biotech entrepreneur, innovator, healthcare policy expert and a licensed pharmacist and attorney. Trained at world–renowned Rutgers University as a pharmacist and lawyer, Dr. Mehta has emerged as a top potential candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in 2020 because of his intimate knowledge of the issues that matter to New Jersey.
As a small business owner and a first generation American, he’s a staunch advocate for defending our Constitutional rights, fighting against illegal immigration and Sanctuary Cities, an affordable, accessible healthcare system that’s built for generations to come, and building New Jersey’s economy for the future.
For more information, see this Rik Mehta post.
New Mexico
For more information, go to the US Senate – NM 2020 Election post.
Ben Ray Luján
Current Position: US Representative for US House NM District 3 since 2008
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
A passionate supporter of the Equality Act, Ben Ray Lujan believes that all individuals, regardless of how they identify or who they love, should be protected from discrimination under the law. Ben Ray has also worked to combat the opioid epidemic in New Mexico by securing millions of dollars in treatment, education, and prevention funds for rural communities plagued by addiction.
A staunch advocate of campaign finance reform, Ben Ray has refused to accept corporate PAC money for his U.S. Senate campaign. He is proud to be endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, End Citizens United, and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence.
For more information, see this Ben Ray Luján post.
Mark Ronchetti
Current Position: Chief Meteorologist
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Mark Ronchetti is a conservative who also believes that taxes should be low and 2nd amendment rights should be protected. As a proud political outsider, he says New Mexico deserves a senator who has not been part of the problem in Washington, but a senator who will represent true New Mexican values.
Mark is ready to bring new leadership to Washington.
He supports all the President has done to energize America’s economy (driving unemployment to record lows), invest in our national laboratories and military bases, secure the border, and bring federal muscle into Albuquerque to tackle serious crime. And, he believes our state’s senators should work with the President – and with Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress – to build on these efforts, and stop obsessing over party politics.
or more information, see this Mark Ronchetti post.
Oregon
For more information, go to the US Senate – OR 2020 Election post.
Jeff Merkley
Current Position: US Senator since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Senator Jeff Merkley’s top priority in the Senate has been creating jobs and laying the foundation for economic growth that benefits working families, not just the stock market. He successfully led passage of the Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act to help local communities replace aging sewer and drinking water systems and save ratepayers money. He expanded Buy America programs so that taxpayer dollars are spent on American steel and other materials whenever possible, and wrote legislation to crack down on unfair and illegal trade practices that threaten Oregon jobs.
“The core place I come from is that ordinary people need a champion.”
For more information, see this Jeff Merkley post.
Jo Rae Perkins
Current Position: financial planning
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
You deserve a U.S. Senator in DC, who stands tall for their country and will deliver on their word; A “Main Street American” just like you. I am a hard-working, hard-hitting Oregonian with Heartland Values and I take my vows very, very seriously. I pledge to honor my Oath of Office and keep all of my promises.
For more information, see this Jo Rae Perkins post.
Rhode Island
For more information, go to the US Senate – RI 2020 Election post.
Jack Reed
Current Position: US Senator since 1997
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
In 1996, the people of Rhode Island elected Jack Reed to succeed Claiborne Pell as Rhode Island’s 46th United States Senator.
Today, Reed is a national leader on consumer protection, defense, education, and economic issues. He has led efforts to promote responsible budgets, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.
As one of just eight Senators in U.S. history to graduate from West Point, Time magazine noted: “Reed is a serious, intellectually honest veteran and an expert on defense issues in the Senate,” and the New York Times describes him as “a quiet dealmaker respected by colleagues in both part
For more information, see this Jack Reed post.
Allen Waters
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Allen Waters’ goal is to be your next U.S. Senator from Rhode Island. A middle class family man with blue-collar roots, Allen defines himself as a “People’s Candidate.”
He is fiscally responsible, socially conscious, believes in traditional American Values, follows the Constitution, and is a strong advocate for ordinary Americans like himself.
For more information, see this Allen Waters post.
Virginia
For more information, go to the US Senate – VA 2020 Election post.
Mark Warner
Current Position: US Senator since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): Governor from 2002 – 2006
Senator Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008 and reelected to a second term in November 2014. He serves on the Senate Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules Committees as well as the Select Committee on Intelligence, where he is the Vice Chairman.
During his time in the Senate, Senator Warner has established himself as a bipartisan leader who has worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to cut red tape, increase government performance and accountability, and promote private sector innovation and job creation. Senator Warner has been recognized as a national leader in fighting for our military men and women and veterans, and in working to find bipartisan, balanced solutions to address our country’s debt and deficit.
For more information, go to the Mark Warner post.
Daniel Gade
Current Position: Professor, American University
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator
Dr. Daniel Gade is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, professor, and public policy leader running to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia in the U.S. Senate. During more than 20 years of military service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. Daniel graduated from West Point in 1997 and served in multiple locations in the United States and Korea.
Gade has served in President George W. Bush’s administration, working on veteran issues and military healthcare, and has since served on several national-level policy councils, including the National Council on Disability and the VA Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation.
For more information, go to the Daniel Glade post.
