U.S. Senate 2010 Initial Predictions

With the 2008 elections just over and President Obama inaugurated, it’s never to early to turn our attention to the next big electoral cycle in U.S. politics – the 2010 congressional midterms.  Democrats currently have a majority of 56 seats, Republicans hold 41 seats, two seats are held by Independents (Lieberman and Sanders), and one seat – the Class II seat from Minnesota – remains vacant.  

2010 will be a Class III cycle featuring 14 incumbent Republicans seeking reelection along with 13 Democrats.  Six seats will be open (Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Florida, and New Hampshire).  One Senator (Michael Bennet of Colorado) will be seeking his first full term after having been appointed to an unexpired term in 2009.  Two seats for unexpired terms (a Class I seat in New York and a Class II seat in Delaware) will also be on the ballot.  

Solid Democratic Senators, I am predicting, include: Patty Murray in Washington and Harry Reid in Nevada.  Likely Democratic Senators, I am predicting, include: Boxer, Dorgan, Lincoln, Feingold, Bayh, Mikulski, Schumer, Dodd, Leahy, and Inouye.  Solid Republican Senators, I am predicting include: Crapo, Bennett, Shelby, and Isakson.  Likely Republican Senators, I am predicting, include Murkowski, McCain, Thune, Coburn, Grassley, and Graham.  My only lean Republican prediction is Specter.  

My tossups among Senate incumbents include Vitter, Bunning, and Burr.