The most contested Senate races
Though Democrats had dreams of flipping the Senate, the odds were long, and Republicans held on to their Senate majority on Tuesday. Ten Democrats were up for reelection in states that Donald Trump won in 2016.
Dems picked up a few seats — they flipped Republican Dean Heller’s seat in Nevada and Jeff Flake’s seat in Arizona.
But Democrats also lost a few seats — incumbents Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Claire McCaskill of Missouri all lost their races in to Republican challengers in red states.
Two races are still outstanding: The Florida Senate race between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson as the state undergoes a recount, and the Mississippi Senate Seat, which went to a runoff election between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and former Rep. Mike Espy that will be held on November 27.
A record amount of campaign dollars has been spent on some of these races. In Nevada, a state of just 4 million people, $75 million has been spent on the race between Dean Heller and Jacky Rosen. Florida, between Nelson and Scott, is the leader with more than $80 million spent there.
Arizona US Senate
A Republican combat vet faces a moderate Democrat for Sen. Jeff Flake's open seat
DEM | Kyrsten Sinema | 1,180,820 | 50% | |
GOP | Martha McSally | 1,127,144 | 48% | |
GRN | Angela Green | 56,871 | 2% |
Florida US Senate
A three-term incumbent senator goes up against a popular Republican governor
GOP | Rick Scott | 4,097,689 | 50% | |
DEM | Bill Nelson | 4,085,086 | 50% |
Indiana US Senate
One of the most conservative Democrats runs in Mike Pence's home state
GOP | Mike Braun | 1,156,914 | 51% | |
DEM | Joe Donnelly | 1,022,635 | 45% | |
LIB | Lucy Brenton | 91,334 | 4% |
Michigan US Senate
The Republican brand is tarnished in Michigan, and Democrats hope for a blue wave
DEM | Debbie Stabenow | 2,207,507 | 52% | |
GOP | John James | 1,935,054 | 46% | |
GRN | Marcia Squier | 40,267 | 1% | |
OTH | George Huffman (US Taxpayers Party) | 27,417 | 1% | |
OTH | John Wilhelm (Natural Law Party) | 16,619 | 0% |
Minnesota US Senate
Tina Smith is in her first election after replacing former Sen. Al Franken
DEM | Tina Smith | 1,370,435 | 53% | |
GOP | Karin Housley | 1,095,827 | 42% | |
OTH | Sarah Wellington (Legal Marijuana Now Party) | 95,643 | 4% | |
OTH | Jerry Trooien (Unaffiliated Party) | 24,370 | 1% |
Mississippi US Senate
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith wants to hold Thad Cochran's seat for the GOP — and avoid a runoff
DEM | Mike Espy | 341,020 | 41% | |
GOP | Cindy Hyde-Smith | 337,512 | 41% | |
GOP | Chris McDaniel | 136,116 | 16% | |
IND | Tobey Bartee | 11,696 | 1% |
Missouri US Senate
Sen. Claire McCaskill may be facing her toughest reelection battle yet
GOP | Josh Hawley | 1,245,746 | 51% | |
DEM | Claire McCaskill | 1,101,377 | 45% | |
IND | Craig O'Dear | 34,645 | 1% | |
LIB | Japheth Campbell | 28,300 | 1% | |
GRN | Jo Crain | 15,344 | 1% |
Montana US Senate
Sen. Jon Tester quashed Trump's Veterans Affairs pick, and now Trump really wants to take him down
DEM | Jon Tester | 246,291 | 50% | |
GOP | Matt Rosendale | 230,973 | 47% | |
LIB | Rick Breckenridge | 13,981 | 3% |
Nevada US Senate
Democrats' best bet to pick up a GOP seat: beat Sen. Dean Heller in a state Hillary Clinton won
DEM | Jacky Rosen | 475,125 | 51% | |
GOP | Dean Heller | 425,599 | 46% | |
IND | Barry Michaels | 9,380 | 1% | |
LIB | Tim Hagan | 9,107 | 1% | |
OTH | Kamau A. Bakari (Independent American Party) | 5,400 | 1% |
New Jersey US Senate
A cloud of corruption puts an otherwise safe Democratic seat at risk
DEM | Robert Menendez | 1,582,428 | 54% | |
GOP | Bob Hugin | 1,278,442 | 43% | |
LIB | Murray Sabrin | 19,781 | 1% | |
OTH | Natalie Rivera (For The People Party) | 17,913 | 1% | |
OTH | Tricia Flanagan (New Day NJ Party) | 14,982 | 1% | |
GRN | Madelyn Hoffman | 10,018 | 0% | |
OTH | Kevin Kimple (Make It Simple Party) | 8,523 | 0% | |
OTH | Hank Schroeder (Economic Growth Party) | 8,180 | 0% |
North Dakota US Senate
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp seems like the most endangered Democrat this year
GOP | Kevin Cramer | 178,875 | 55% | |
DEM | Heidi Heitkamp | 143,744 | 45% |
Ohio US Senate
A populist Ohio Democrat looks like a good bet for reelection
DEM | Sherrod Brown | 2,279,547 | 53% | |
GOP | Jim Renacci | 2,008,630 | 47% |
Tennessee US Senate
A hugely popular Democratic ex-governor tries to take a seat in deep-red Tennessee
GOP | Marsha Blackburn | 1,225,568 | 55% | |
DEM | Phil Bredesen | 982,685 | 44% | |
IND | Trudy Austin | 9,438 | 0% | |
IND | Dean Hill | 8,699 | 0% | |
IND | Kris Todd | 5,078 | 0% | |
IND | John "Jae" Carico | 3,384 | 0% | |
IND | Breton Phillips | 2,208 | 0% | |
IND | Kevin Lee McCants | 1,916 | 0% |
Texas US Senate
The hottest Senate race of the year — Beto O'Rourke stokes dreams of a purple Texas
GOP | Ted Cruz | 4,244,473 | 51% | |
DEM | Beto O'Rourke | 4,026,648 | 48% | |
LIB | Neal Dikeman | 65,263 | 1% |
West Virginia US Senate
Incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin is still the overwhelming favorite in Trump country
DEM | Joe Manchin | 291,586 | 50% | |
GOP | Patrick Morrisey | 272,148 | 46% | |
LIB | Rusty Hollen | 24,488 | 4% |
Wisconsin US Senate
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a top Republican target, tries to put away reelection
DEM | Tammy Baldwin | 1,423,795 | 55% | |
GOP | Leah Vukmir | 1,168,412 | 45% |