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Open Seats and Special Elections


Normally the winner of the Senate seat in 2006 would be running for reelection in 2012. This page lists races where that is not the case, either because the 2006 winner is retiring in 2012 or because he or she has resigned or died and a special election is being held in 2012 or was held in 2008 or 2010. Seats like these tend to be more competitive than usual. The colors represent the incumbent party.

Also check out the page discussing the All Senate races.

State Incumbent Party Open? Notes
AZ Jon Kyl GOP Yes He could have easily won but decided against it
CT Joe Lieberman Ind Yes He had almost no change of winning so he retired
HI Daniel Akaka Dem Yes He retired due to old age
MA Scott Brown GOP No He won a special election after Ted Kennedy died
MS Roger Wicker GOP No Wicker won a special election in 2008 after Trent Lott resigned mid-term
NM Jeff Bingaman Dem Yes He could have won but chose to retire
NY Kirsten Gillibrand   Dem No Appointed after Hillary Clinton resigned and won a special election in 2010
ND Kent Conrad Dem Yes North Dakota is tough for a Democrat, but he has won before
TX Kay Hutchison GOP Yes She was embarrassed by her gubernatorial defeat
VA Jim Webb Dem Yes He apparently had enough of politics
WV Joe Manchin Dem No Won a special election in 2010 after Robert Byrd died
WI Herb Kohl Dem Yes Age probably played the biggest role here
WY John Barrasso GOP No He won a special election in 2008 after being appointed to fill a vacancy

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