CQ Politics

Senate: Races to Watch

The Democrats, even with their six-seat gain in 2006, have just 51 votes to run the Senate; that means the GOP would need a modest gain of two seats to reclaim a majority. But it appears more likely that the Republicans — defending 23 of the 35 seats up for election — will lose rather than gain seats. They have five "open" seats of retiring members (to none for the Democrats), and have more vulnerable incumbents than the Democrats do. While not taking their majority for granted, Democrats have hopes for a big gain that might produce a 60-vote "filibuster-proof" majority on key votes — though only with the help of a handful of moderate Republican senators. Rarely has a party been "so near, yet so far" as the Republicans are in the 2008 campaign for Senate control.

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View CQ Politics' race ratings chart for all Senate races here.