2020 United States Senate elections

2020 United States Senate elections

← 2018 November 3, 2020
January 5, 2021 (Georgia runoffs)
2022 →

35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate
51[a] seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Chuck Schumer Mitch McConnell
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 3, 2017 January 3, 2007
Leader's seat New York Kentucky
Seats before 45 53
Seats after 48 + VP [b][c] 50[c]
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3
Popular vote 38,011,916 [d] 39,834,647[d]
Percentage 47.0% 49.3%
Seats up 12 23
Races won 15 20

  Third party
 
Party Independent
Seats before 2[e]
Seats after 2
Seat change Steady
Popular vote 255,768[f]
Percentage 0.3%
Seats up 0
Races won 0

2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia2020 United States Senate special election in Arizona2020 United States Senate election in Alabama2020 United States Senate election in Alaska2020 United States Senate election in Arkansas2020 United States Senate election in Colorado2020 United States Senate election in Delaware2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia2020 United States Senate election in Idaho2020 United States Senate election in Illinois2020 United States Senate election in Iowa2020 United States Senate election in Kansas2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky2020 United States Senate election in Louisiana2020 United States Senate election in Maine2020 United States Senate election in Massachusetts2020 United States Senate election in Michigan2020 United States Senate election in Minnesota2020 United States Senate election in Mississippi2020 United States Senate election in Montana2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska2020 United States Senate election in New Hampshire2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey2020 United States Senate election in New Mexico2020 United States Senate election in North Carolina2020 United States Senate election in Oklahoma2020 United States Senate election in Oregon2020 United States Senate election in Rhode Island2020 United States Senate election in South Carolina2020 United States Senate election in South Dakota2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee2020 United States Senate election in Texas2020 United States Senate election in Virginia2020 United States Senate election in West Virginia2020 United States Senate election in Wyoming
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     No election
Rectangular inset (Georgia): both seats up for election

Majority Leader before election

Mitch McConnell
Republican

Elected Majority Leader

Chuck Schumer[g]
Democratic

The 2020 United States Senate elections were held on November 3, 2020,[1] with the 33 class 2 seats of the Senate contested in regular elections.[2] Of these, 21 were held by Republicans, and 12 by Democrats. The winners were elected to 6-year terms from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2027.[3] Two special elections for seats held by Republicans were also held in conjunction with the general elections: one in Arizona, to fill the vacancy created by John McCain's death in 2018; and one in Georgia, following Johnny Isakson's resignation in 2019.[4][5][6][7] These elections ran concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election in which incumbent president Donald Trump lost to Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

In the 2014 United States Senate elections, the last regularly scheduled elections for Class 2 Senate seats, the Republicans won 9 seats from the Democrats and gained a majority,[8] which they continued to hold after the 2016 and 2018 elections.[9][10] Before the elections, Republicans held 53 seats, Democrats held 45 seats, and Independents caucusing with the Democrats held 2 seats, which weren't up for re-election.[11] Including the special elections in Arizona and Georgia, Republicans defended 23 seats and the Democrats 12.[12]

In this election, the Democratic Party made a net gain of 3 Senate seats and the vice presidency, giving them a majority for the first time since 2014, albeit by a narrow 50–50 margin.[a][13] Democrats unseated 4 Republicans – in Arizona, in Colorado, and in 2 elections in Georgia – while Republicans flipped a seat in Alabama; however, Democrats under-performed expectations overall; despite record-breaking turnout and fund-raising efforts, they failed to flip several seats that were considered competitive, and lost many races by much larger margins than expected.[6][14] Except in Maine, the winning party in every Senate election was the winning party in the state's presidential election.[15]

Due to election laws in Georgia that require candidates to win at least 50% of the vote in the general election, the state's regularly-scheduled and special Senate elections were decided in run-off elections on January 5, 2021.[16] After the November general election, Republicans held 50 seats, while Democrats held 48 and the vice presidency, so sweeping both races was crucial for Democrats to attain a majority. They succeeded in doing so,[7] and the partisan balance in the Senate became tied for the third time in history, after the results in the 1880 elections and the 2000 elections.[17][18] Vice President Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote gave Democrats control of the chamber by the smallest margin possible after the new administration took office.[19]

This marked the first time since 1980 that either chamber of Congress flipped partisan control in a presidential election year, and the first time Democrats did so since 1948.[20]

Election summary[edit]

Seats[edit]

Parties Total
Democratic Independent Republican
Last elections (2018) 45 2 53 100
Before these elections 45 2 53 100
Not up 33 2 30 65
Class 1 (20182024) 21 2 10 33
Class 3 (20162022) 12 20 32
Up 12 23 35
Class 2 (2014→2020) 12 21 33
Special: Class 3 2 2
Regular elections
Incumbent retired 1 3 4
Held by same party 1 3 4
Replaced by other party 0
Result 1 3 4
Incumbent ran 11 18 29
Won re-election 10 16 26
Lost re-election Decrease 1 Democrat replaced by Increase 1 Republican
Decrease 2 Republicans replaced by Increase 2 Democrats
3
Special elections
Appointee ran 2 2
Appointee elected 0 0
Result Decrease 2 Republicans replaced by Increase 2 Democrats 2
Result 48[c] 2[e] 50[c] 100

Votes[edit]

National results[21]
Parties Votes % Seats
Total
before
Up Won Total
after
+/-
Republican 39,834,647 49.29 53 23 20 50 3
Democratic 38,011,916 47.03 45 12 15 48 3
Libertarian 1,454,128 1.80 0 0 0 0
Green 258,348 0.32 0 0 0 0
Constitution 110,851 0.14 0 0 0 0
Independent 255,768 0.32 2 0 0 2
Other parties 794,479 0.98 0 0 0 0
Write-in 100,946 0.12 0 0 0 0
Total 80,821,083 100.00 100 35 35 100

Change in composition[edit]

Republicans defended 23 seats, while Democrats defended 12.[12] Each block represents one of the 100 Senate seats. "D#" is a Democratic senator, "I#" is an independent senator, and "R#" is a Republican senator. They are arranged so that the parties are separated, and a majority is clear by crossing the middle.

Before the elections[edit]

Each block indicates an incumbent senator's actions going into the election. Both Independents caucus with the Democrats.

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40
N.H.
Ran
D39
Minn.
Ran
D38
Mich.
Ran
D37
Mass.
Ran
D36
Ill.
Ran
D35
Del.
Ran
D34
Ala.
Ran
D33 D32 D31
D41
N.J.
Ran
D42
N.M.
Retired
D43
Ore.
Ran
D44
R.I.
Ran
D45
Va.
Ran
I1 I2 R53
Wyo.
Retired
R52
W.Va.
Ran
R51
Texas
Ran
Majority → R50
Tenn.
Retired
R41
La.
Ran
R42
Maine
Ran
R43
Miss.
Ran
R44
Mont.
Ran
R45
Neb.
Ran
R46
N.C.
Ran
R47
Okla.
Ran
R48
S.C.
Ran
R49
S.D.
Ran
R40
Ky.
Ran
R39
Kan.
Retired
R38
Iowa
Ran
R37
Idaho
Ran
R36
Ga. (sp)
Ran
R35
Ga. (reg)
Ran
R34
Colo.
Ran
R33
Ark.
Ran
R32
Ariz. (sp)
Ran
R31
Alaska
Ran
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

After the elections[edit]

After the January 5, 2021 runoff elections in Georgia.

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40
N.J.
Re-elected
D39
N.H.
Re-elected
D38
Minn.
Re-elected
D37
Mich.
Re-elected
D36
Mass.
Re-elected
D35
Ill.
Re-elected
D34
Del.
Re-elected
D33 D32 D31
D41
N.M.
Hold
D42
Ore.
Re-elected
D43
R.I.
Re-elected
D44
Va.
Re-elected
D45
Ariz. (sp)
Gain[h]
D46
Colo.
Gain
D47
Ga. (reg).
Gain
D48
Ga. (sp).
Gain[h]
I1 I2
Majority (with independents and vice president)[c]
R41
Neb.
Re-elected
R42
N.C.
Re-elected
R43
Okla.
Re-elected
R44
S.C.
Re-elected
R45
S.D.
Re-elected
R46
Tenn.
Hold
R47
Texas
Re-elected
R48
W.Va.
Re-elected
R49
Wyo.
Hold
R50
Ala.
Gain
R40
Mont.
Re-elected
R39
Miss.
Re-elected
R38
Maine
Re-elected
R37
La.
Re-elected
R36
Ky.
Re-elected
R35
Kan.
Hold
R34
Iowa
Re-elected
R33
Idaho
Re-elected
R32
Ark.
Re-elected
R31
Alaska
Re-elected
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican
I# Independent, caucusing with Democrats

Final pre-election predictions[edit]

Several sites and individuals published predictions of competitive seats. These predictions looked at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent was running for re-election) and the other candidates, and the state's partisan lean (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assigned ratings to each seat, indicating the predicted advantage that a party had in winning that seat. Most election predictors used:

  • "tossup": no advantage
  • "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
  • "lean": slight advantage
  • "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage
  • "safe" or "solid": near-certain chance of victory
Constituency Incumbent 2020 election ratings
State PVI[22] Senator Last
election[i]
Cook
Oct 29,
2020
[23]
IE
Oct 28,
2020
[24]
Sabato
Nov 2,
2020
[25]
Daily Kos
Nov 2,
2020
[26]
Politico
Nov 2,
2020
[27]
RCP
Oct 23,
2020
[28]
DDHQ
Nov 3,
2020
[29]
538[j][k]
Nov 3,
2020
[30]
Economist
Nov 3,
2020
[31]
Result[32]
Alabama R+14 Doug Jones 50.0% D
(2017 special)[l]
Lean R (flip) Lean R (flip) Likely R (flip) Likely R (flip) Lean R (flip) Likely R (flip) Safe R (flip) Likely R (flip) Safe R (flip) Tuberville
(60.1%) (flip)
Alaska R+9 Dan Sullivan 48.0% R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Likely R Lean R Sullivan
(54.3%)
Arizona
(special)
R+5 Martha McSally Appointed
(2019)[m]
Lean D (flip) Tilt D (flip) Lean D (flip) Lean D (flip) Lean D (flip) Tossup Likely D (flip) Likely D (flip) Lean D (flip) Kelly
(51.2%) (flip)
Arkansas R+15 Tom Cotton 56.5% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Cotton
(66.6%)
Colorado D+1 Cory Gardner 48.2% R Lean D (flip) Lean D (flip) Likely D (flip) Likely D (flip) Lean D (flip) Lean D (flip) Likely D (flip) Likely D (flip) Likely D (flip) Hickenlooper
(53.5%) (flip)
Delaware D+6 Chris Coons 55.8% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Coons
(59.4%)
Georgia
(regular)
R+5 David Perdue 52.9% R Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Ossoff
(50.6%) (flip)[n]
Georgia
(special)
R+5 Kelly Loeffler Appointed
(2020)[o]
Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Lean R Lean R Tossup Lean D (flip) Tossup Warnock
(51.0%) (flip)[n]
Idaho R+19 Jim Risch 65.3% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Risch
(62.6%)
Illinois D+7 Dick Durbin 53.5% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Durbin
(54.6%)
Iowa R+3 Joni Ernst 52.1% R Tossup Tossup Lean R Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Tossup Ernst
(51.8%)
Kansas R+13 Pat Roberts
(retiring)
53.1% R Lean R Tilt R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Likely R Lean R Marshall
(53.5%)
Kentucky R+15 Mitch McConnell 56.2% R Likely R Safe R Likely R Safe R Likely R Likely R Safe R Solid R Likely R McConnell
(57.8%)
Louisiana R+11 Bill Cassidy 55.9% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Likely R Cassidy
(59.3%)
Maine D+3 Susan Collins 68.5% R Tossup Tilt D (flip) Lean D (flip) Tossup Tossup Tossup Lean D (flip) Tossup Lean D (flip) Collins
(51.0%)
Massachusetts D+12 Ed Markey 61.9% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Markey
(65.8%)
Michigan D+1 Gary Peters 54.6% D Lean D Lean D Lean D Lean D Lean D Tossup Likely D Likely D Likely D Peters
(49.9%)
Minnesota D+1 Tina Smith 53.0% D
(2018 special)[p]
Safe D Safe D Likely D Likely D Likely D Tossup Likely D Solid D Likely D Smith
(48.8%)
Mississippi R+9 Cindy Hyde-Smith 53.6% R
(2018 special)[q]
Likely R Safe R Likely R Safe R Likely R Lean R Likely R Likely R Likely R Hyde-Smith
(55.3%)
Montana R+11 Steve Daines 57.9% R Tossup Tossup Lean R Lean R Tossup Tossup Lean R Lean R Lean R Daines
(55.0%)
Nebraska R+14 Ben Sasse 64.5% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Sasse
(64.7%)
New Hampshire D+1 Jeanne Shaheen 51.5% D Safe D Safe D Likely D Safe D Likely D Lean D Safe D Solid D Safe D Shaheen
(56.7%)
New Jersey D+7 Cory Booker 55.8% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Likely D Safe D Solid D Safe D Booker
(56.9%)
New Mexico D+3 Tom Udall
(retiring)
55.6% D Safe D Safe D Likely D Safe D Likely D Lean D Safe D Likely D Likely D Luján
(51.7%)
North Carolina R+3 Thom Tillis 48.8% R Tossup Tilt D (flip) Lean D (flip) Tossup Tossup Tossup Lean D (flip) Lean D (flip) Lean D (flip) Tillis
(48.7%)
Oklahoma R+20 Jim Inhofe 68.0% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Inhofe
(62.9%)
Oregon D+5 Jeff Merkley 55.7% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Merkley
(57.0%)
Rhode Island D+10 Jack Reed 70.6% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Safe D Solid D Safe D Reed
(66.5%)
South Carolina R+8 Lindsey Graham 55.3% R Tossup Tilt R Lean R Lean R Lean R Tossup Lean R Likely R Lean R Graham
(54.5%)
South Dakota R+14 Mike Rounds 50.4% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Rounds
(65.7%)
Tennessee R+14 Lamar Alexander
(retiring)
61.9% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Likely R Safe R Solid R Safe R Hagerty
(62.1%)
Texas R+8 John Cornyn 61.6% R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Lean R Likely R Likely R Lean R Cornyn
(53.6%)
Virginia D+1 Mark Warner 49.1% D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Solid D Likely D Safe D Solid D Safe D Warner
(56.0%)
West Virginia R+19 Shelley Moore Capito 62.1% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Capito
(70.3%)
Wyoming R+25 Mike Enzi
(retiring)
72.2% R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Safe R Solid R Safe R Lummis
(73.1%)
Overall[r] D – 48
R – 45
7 tossups
D – 50[s]
R – 47
3 tossups
D – 50[s]
R – 48
2 tossups
D – 48
R – 47
5 tossups
D – 48
R – 47
5 tossups
D – 45
R – 46
9 tossups
D – 50[s]
R – 47
3 tossups
D – 50[s]
R – 47
3 tossups
D – 50[s]
R – 47
3 tossups
Results:
D – 50[c]
R – 50

Election dates[edit]

State Filing deadline for
major party candidates[33][34]
Filing deadline for
write-in candidates in major party primaries[t]
Primary
election[33]
Primary
run-off
(if necessary)[33]
Filing deadline for minor
party and unaffiliated candidates[34]
Filing deadline for minor party
and unaffiliated write-in candidates[u]
General
election
Poll closing
(EST)[35]
Alabama November 8, 2019 Ineligible[36] March 3, 2020 July 14, 2020 March 3, 2020 November 3, 2020[36] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Alaska June 1, 2020 Ineligible[37] August 18, 2020 N/A August 18, 2020 October 29, 2020[38] November 3, 2020 1:00am[v]
Arizona (special) April 6, 2020 June 25, 2020[39] August 4, 2020 N/A April 6, 2020 September 24, 2020[39] November 3, 2020 9:00pm
Arkansas November 11, 2019 Ineligible[40] March 3, 2020 Not necessary May 1, 2020 August 5, 2020[40] November 3, 2020 8:30pm
Colorado March 17, 2020 April 24, 2020[41] June 30, 2020 N/A July 9, 2020 July 16, 2020[41] November 3, 2020 9:00pm
Delaware July 14, 2020 Ineligible[42] September 15, 2020 N/A September 1, 2020 September 20, 2020[43] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Georgia (regular) March 6, 2020 Ineligible[44] June 9, 2020 Not necessary August 14, 2020 September 7, 2020[45] November 3, 2020[w] 7:00pm
Georgia (special) March 6, 2020 Ineligible[44] November 3, 2020 N/A August 14, 2020 September 7, 2020[45] January 5, 2021[x] 9:00pm
Idaho March 13, 2020 May 5, 2020[46] June 2, 2020 N/A March 13, 2020 October 6, 2020[46] November 3, 2020 10:00pm
Illinois December 2, 2019 January 2, 2020[47] March 17, 2020 N/A July 20, 2020 September 3, 2020[47] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Iowa March 13, 2020 June 2, 2020[48] June 2, 2020 Not necessary March 13, 2020 November 3, 2020[48] November 3, 2020 10:00pm
Kansas June 1, 2020 Not necessary[y][49] August 4, 2020 N/A August 3, 2020 November 3, 2020[50] November 3, 2020 9:00pm
Kentucky January 10, 2020 Ineligible[51] June 23, 2020 N/A June 2, 2020 October 23, 2020[52] November 3, 2020 7:00pm
Louisiana July 24, 2020 Ineligible[53] November 3, 2020 N/A July 24, 2020 Ineligible[54] Not necessary 9:00pm
Maine March 16, 2020 April 10, 2020[55] July 14, 2020 N/A June 1, 2020 September 4, 2020[55] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Massachusetts May 5, 2020 September 1, 2020[56] September 1, 2020 N/A August 25, 2020 November 3, 2020[56] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Michigan May 8, 2020 July 24, 2020[57] August 4, 2020 N/A August 4, 2020 October 23, 2020[57] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Minnesota June 2, 2020 May 19, 2020[58] August 11, 2020 N/A June 2, 2020 October 27, 2020[58] November 3, 2020 9:00pm
Mississippi January 10, 2020 Not necessary[z][59] March 10, 2020 Not necessary January 10, 2020 November 3, 2020[aa][59] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Montana March 9, 2020 April 8, 2020[60] June 2, 2020 N/A June 1, 2020 September 9, 2020[60] November 3, 2020 10:00pm
Nebraska March 2, 2020 May 1, 2020[61] May 12, 2020 N/A August 3, 2020 October 23, 2020[61] November 3, 2020 9:00pm
New Hampshire June 12, 2020 September 8, 2020[62] September 8, 2020 N/A September 2, 2020 November 3, 2020[63] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
New Jersey March 30, 2020 July 7, 2020[64] July 7, 2020 N/A July 7, 2020 November 3, 2020[64] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
New Mexico March 10, 2020 March 17, 2020[65] June 2, 2020 N/A June 25, 2020 June 26, 2020[66] November 3, 2020 9:00pm
North Carolina December 20, 2019 Ineligible[67] March 3, 2020 Not necessary March 3, 2020 July 21, 2020[68] November 3, 2020 7:30pm
Oklahoma April 10, 2020 Ineligible[69] June 30, 2020 Not necessary April 10, 2020 Ineligible[54] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Oregon March 10, 2020 May 19, 2020[70] May 19, 2020 N/A August 25, 2020 November 3, 2020[70] November 3, 2020 10:00pm
Rhode Island June 24, 2020 September 8, 2020[71] September 8, 2020 N/A June 24, 2020 November 3, 2020[71] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
South Carolina March 30, 2020 Ineligible[72] June 9, 2020 Not necessary July 20, 2020 November 3, 2020[73] November 3, 2020 7:00pm
South Dakota March 31, 2020 Ineligible[54] June 2, 2020 Not necessary April 28, 2020 Ineligible[54] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Tennessee April 2, 2020 June 17, 2020[74] August 6, 2020 N/A April 2, 2020 September 14, 2020[75] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Texas December 9, 2019 Ineligible[76] March 3, 2020 July 14, 2020 August 13, 2020[ab] August 17, 2020[77] November 3, 2020 8:00pm
Virginia March 26, 2020 Ineligible[78] June 23, 2020 N/A June 23, 2020 November 3, 2020[79] November 3, 2020 7:00pm
West Virginia January 25, 2020 Ineligible[80] June 9, 2020 N/A July 31, 2020 September 15, 2020[81] November 3, 2020 7:30pm
Wyoming May 29, 2020 August 18, 2020[ac][82] August 18, 2020 N/A August 25, 2020 November 3, 2020[83] November 3, 2020 9:00pm

Gains, losses and holds[edit]

Retirements[edit]

One Democrat and three Republicans retired instead of seeking re-election.

State Senator Replaced by Ref
Kansas Pat Roberts Roger Marshall [84]
New Mexico Tom Udall Ben Ray Luján [85]
Tennessee Lamar Alexander Bill Hagerty [86]
Wyoming Mike Enzi Cynthia Lummis [87]

Defeats[edit]

One Democrat and four Republicans sought re-election but lost in the general election, that included two interim appointees who also sought elections to finish the terms.

State Senator Replaced by
Alabama Doug Jones Tommy Tuberville
Arizona (special) Martha McSally Mark Kelly
Colorado Cory Gardner John Hickenlooper
Georgia (regular) David Perdue Jon Ossoff
Georgia (special) Kelly Loeffler Raphael Warnock

Post-election changes[edit]

One Democrat resigned shortly after the start of the 117th Congress and was replaced by Democratic appointee.

State Senator Replaced by
California
(Class 3)
Kamala Harris Alex Padilla

Race summary[edit]

Special elections during the preceding Congress[edit]

In each special election, the winner's term begins immediately after their election is certified by their state's government.

Elections are sorted by date then state.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Arizona
(Class 3)
Martha McSally Republican 2019 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected November 3, 2020.
Democratic gain.
Winner seated December 2, 2020.
Georgia
(Class 3)
Kelly Loeffler Republican 2020 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected January 5, 2021.
Democratic gain.
Winner delayed term until January 20, 2021, to the start of Biden administration.

Elections leading to the next Congress[edit]

In each general election, the winner is elected for the term beginning January 3, 2021.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Alabama Doug Jones Democratic 2017 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Alaska Dan Sullivan Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas Tom Cotton Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Tom Cotton (Republican) 66.5%
  • Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (Libertarian) 33.5%
Colorado Cory Gardner Republican 2014 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green tickY John Hickenlooper (Democratic) 53.5%
  • Cory Gardner (Republican) 44.2%
  • Raymon Doane (Libertarian) 1.7%
  • Daniel Doyle (Approval Voting) 0.3%
  • Stephan "Seku" Evans (Unity) 0.3%
Delaware Chris Coons Democratic 2010 (special)
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Chris Coons (Democratic) 59.4%
  • Lauren Witzke (Republican) 37.9%
  • Mark Turley (Delaware Independent) 1.6%
  • Nadine Frost (Libertarian) 1.1%
Georgia David Perdue Republican 2014 Incumbent term expired but lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Winner delayed term until January 20, 2021, to the start of Biden administration.
Idaho Jim Risch Republican 2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Jim Risch (Republican) 62.6%
  • Paulette Jordan (Democratic) 33.3%
  • Natalie Fleming (Independent) 2.9%
  • Ray Writz (Constitution) 1.2%
Illinois Dick Durbin Democratic 1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Dick Durbin (Democratic) 54.9%
  • Mark Curran (Republican) 38.9%
  • Willie Wilson (Willie Wilson Party) 4%
  • Danny Malouf (Libertarian) 1.3%
  • David F. Black (Green) 0.9%
Iowa Joni Ernst Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Joni Ernst (Republican) 51.8%
  • Theresa Greenfield (Democratic) 45.2%
  • Rick Stewart (Libertarian) 2.2%
  • Suzanne Herzog (Independent) 0.8%
Kansas Pat Roberts Republican 1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Kentucky Mitch McConnell Republican 1984
1990
1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
Louisiana Bill Cassidy Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Bill Cassidy (Republican) 59.3%
  • Adrian Perkins (Democratic) 19%
  • Champ Edwards (Democratic) 11.1%
  • Antoine Pierce (Democratic) 2.7%
  • Dustin Murphy (Republican) 1.9%
  • Drew David Knight (Democratic) 1.8%
Others
  • Beryl Billiot (Independent) 0.8%
  • John Paul Bourgeois (Independent) 0.8%
  • Peter Wenstrup (Democratic) 0.7%
  • Aaron Sigler (Libertarian) 0.5%
  • Vinny Mendoza (Independent) 0.4%
  • Melinda Mary Price (Independent) 0.4%
  • Jamar Montgomery (Independent) 0.3%
  • Reno Daret III (Independent) 0.2%
  • Xan John (Independent) 0.1%
Maine Susan Collins Republican 1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Susan Collins (Republican) 51%
  • Sara Gideon (Democratic) 42.4%
  • Lisa Savage (Independent) 5%
  • Max Linn (Independent) 1.6%
Massachusetts Ed Markey Democratic 2013 (special)
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
Michigan Gary Peters Democratic 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Gary Peters (Democratic) 49.9%
  • John James (Republican) 48.2%
  • Valerie Willis (U.S. Taxpayers) 0.9%
  • Marcia Squier (Green) 0.7%
  • Doug Dern (Natural Law) 0.2%
Minnesota Tina Smith DFL 2018 (Appointed)
2018 (special)
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Tina Smith (DFL) 48.8%
  • Jason Lewis (Republican) 43.5%
  • Kevin O'Connor (Legal Marijuana Now) 5.9%
  • Oliver Steinberg (Legalize Cannabis) 1.8%
Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith Republican 2018 (Appointed)
2018 (special)
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) 54.1%
  • Mike Espy (Democratic) 44.1%
  • Jimmy Edwards (Libertarian) 1.8%
  • Write-ins 0.1%
Montana Steve Daines Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
Nebraska Ben Sasse Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Ben Sasse (Republican) 62.7%
  • Chris Janicek (Democratic) 24.4%
  • Preston Love Jr. (Democratic) (write-in) 6.3%
  • Gene Siadek (Libertarian) 5.0%
New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen Democratic 2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic) 56.7%
  • Corky Messner (Republican) 41%
  • Justin O'Donnell (Libertarian) 2.3%
New Jersey Cory Booker Democratic 2013 (special)
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Cory Booker (Democratic) 57.2%
  • Rik Mehta (Republican) 40.9%
  • Madelyn R. Hoffman (Green) 0.9%
  • Veronica Fernandez (Of, By, For!) 0.7%
  • Daniel Burke (LaRouche was Right) 0.3%
New Mexico Tom Udall Democratic 2008
2014
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
North Carolina Thom Tillis Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Thom Tillis (Republican) 48.7%
  • Cal Cunningham (Democratic) 46.9%
  • Shannon Bray (Libertarian) 3.1%
  • Kevin Hayes (Constitution) 1.2%
Oklahoma Jim Inhofe Republican 1994 (special)
1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Jim Inhofe (Republican) 62.9%
  • Abby Broyles (Democratic) 32.8%
  • Robert Murphy (Libertarian) 2.2%
  • Joan Farr (Independent) 1.4%
  • A. D. Nesbit (Independent) 0.7%
Oregon Jeff Merkley Democratic 2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Jeff Merkley (Democratic) 56.9%
  • Jo Rae Perkins (Republican) 39.3%
  • Gary Dye (Libertarian) 1.8%
  • Ibrahim Taher (Pacific Green) 1.8%
  • Write-ins 0.1%
Rhode Island Jack Reed Democratic 1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Jack Reed (Democratic) 66.6%
  • Allen Waters (Republican) 33.4%
South Carolina Lindsey Graham Republican 2002
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
South Dakota Mike Rounds Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee Lamar Alexander Republican 2002
2008
2014
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Others
  • Elizabeth McLeod (Independent) 0.6%
  • Yomi Faparusi (Independent) 0.4%
  • Steven Hooper (Independent) 0.3%
  • Kacey Morgan (Independent) 0.3%
  • Ronnie Henley (Independent) 0.3%
  • Aaron James (Independent) 0.2%
  • Eric Stansberry (Independent) 0.2%
  • Dean Hill (Independent) 0.2%
  • Jeffrey Grunau (Independent) 0.1%
Texas John Cornyn Republican 2002
2002 (Appointed)
2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Cornyn (Republican) 53.5%
  • MJ Hegar (Democratic) 43.9%
  • Kerry McKennon (Libertarian) 1.9%
  • David B. Collins (Green) 0.7%
Virginia Mark Warner Democratic 2008
2014
Incumbent re-elected.
West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
Wyoming Mike Enzi Republican 1996
2002
2008
2014
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.

Closest races[edit]

12 races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin
Georgia (regular) Democratic (flip) 1.23%[ad][ae]
Michigan Democratic 1.68%
North Carolina Republican 1.75%
Georgia (special) Democratic (flip) 2.08%
Arizona (special) Democratic (flip) 2.35%
Minnesota Democratic 5.24%
New Mexico Democratic 6.11%
Iowa Republican 6.59%
Maine Republican 8.59%
Colorado Democratic (flip) 9.32%
Texas Republican 9.64%
Mississippi Republican 9.97%

Alabama[edit]

Alabama election

 
Nominee Tommy Tuberville Doug Jones
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,392,076 920,478
Percentage 60.1% 39.7%

Tuberville:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%
Jones:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Doug Jones
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Tommy Tuberville
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Doug Jones was elected in a special election in 2017, narrowly defeating Republican nominee Roy Moore.[91][92] He ran for a full term in 2020, losing to Republican Tommy Tuberville in a landslide.

Tuberville is a former football head coach for Auburn University. He defeated former senator and attorney general Jeff Sessions in a July 14 run-off to secure the Republican nomination, after securing President Donald Trump's endorsement. Sessions occupied the seat until 2017 when he resigned to become attorney general in the Trump administration.

Alabama is one of the country's most Republican states, and Jones's win was in part due to sexual assault allegations against nominee Roy Moore during the special election; most analysts expected the seat to flip back to GOP control. Tuberville defeated Jones by more than 20 percentage points.[93]

Alabama Republican primary[94]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tommy Tuberville 239,616 33.39
Republican Jeff Sessions 227,088 31.64
Republican Bradley Byrne 178,627 24.89
Republican Roy Moore 51,377 7.16
Republican Ruth Page Nelson 7,200 1.00
Republican Arnold Mooney 7,149 1.00
Republican Stanley Adair 6,608 0.92
Total votes 717,665 100.00
Alabama Republican primary runoff[94]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tommy Tuberville 334,675 60.73
Republican Jeff Sessions 216,452 39.27
Total votes 551,127 100.00
Alabama general election[95]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tommy Tuberville 1,392,076 60.10% +11.76
Democratic Doug Jones (incumbent) 920,478 39.74% –10.23
Write-in 3,891 0.17% –1.52
Total votes 2,316,445 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Alaska[edit]

Alaska election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Dan Sullivan Al Gross[af]
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote 191,112 146,068
Percentage 53.90% 41.19%

Borough and census area results
Sullivan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Gross:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election

Dan Sullivan
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Dan Sullivan
Republican

One-term Republican Dan Sullivan was elected in 2014, defeating incumbent Democrat Mark Begich. He defeated independent challenger Al Gross to win a second term in office.[96]

Potential Democratic candidates included Begich, who was the Democratic nominee for governor of Alaska in 2018, and Anchorage mayor Ethan Berkowitz, who was the Democratic nominee for governor of Alaska in 2010. One Democrat, Edgar Blatchford, filed to run by the June 1 filing deadline.[97]

Gross, an orthopedic surgeon and fisherman, declared his candidacy on July 2, 2019, as an independent.[98] He participated in a joint primary for the Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska Libertarian Party and Alaskan Independence Party, winning the nomination as an independent supported by the Democratic Party.

Despite predictions of a close race, Sullivan defeated Gross by 12.7 percentage points.[99]

Alaska Republican primary[100]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Sullivan (incumbent) 65,257 100.00
Total votes 65,257 100.00
Alaska Democratic–Libertarian–Independence primary[100]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Al Gross 50,047 79.87
Democratic Edgar Blatchford 5,463 8.72
Independence John Howe 4,165 6.65
Independent Christopher Cumings 2,989 4.77
Total votes 62,664 100.00
Alaska general election[101]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Sullivan (incumbent) 191,112 53.90% +5.94
Independent Al Gross 146,068 41.19% –4.64
Independence John Howe 16,806 4.74% +1.02
Write-in 601 0.17% –0.32
Total votes 354,587 100.00%
Republican hold

Arizona (special)[edit]

Arizona special election

← 2016
2022 →
 
Nominee Mark Kelly Martha McSally
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,716,467 1,637,661
Percentage 51.2% 48.8%

County results
Kelly:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McSally:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Martha McSally
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Mark Kelly
Democratic

Six-term Republican John McCain was re-elected in 2016, but died in office on August 25, 2018, after a battle with brain cancer.[102] Republican governor Doug Ducey appointed former senator Jon Kyl to fill the seat temporarily.[103] After Kyl stepped down at the end of the year, Ducey appointed outgoing U.S. Representative Martha McSally to replace him after she lost the election to the other Arizona senate seat.[104] McSally ran in the 2020 special election to fill the remaining two years of the term,[105] losing to Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut.

Once a solidly Republican state, Arizona trended more purple in the late 2010s. Incumbent Republican Martha McSally was appointed to the late John McCain's seat two months after losing the 2018 Arizona U.S. Senate election to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. Her Democratic opponent, astronaut Mark Kelly, raised significantly more money and generally led her by 5 to 15 points in the polling. McSally also suffered from low approval ratings due to her strong allegiance to Trump, who was unpopular in Arizona despite having won the state by 3.5 points in 2016.[106]

Arizona Republican primary[107]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Martha McSally (incumbent) 551,119 75.20
Republican Daniel McCarthy 181,551 24.77
Write-in 210 0.03
Total votes 732,880 100.00
Arizona Democratic primary[107]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Kelly 665,620 99.93
Write-in 451 0.07
Total votes 666,071 100.00
Arizona special election[108]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Kelly 1,716,467 51.16% +10.41
Republican Martha McSally (incumbent) 1,637,661 48.81% –4.90
Write-in 1,189 0.03% –0.03
Total votes 3,355,317 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

Arkansas[edit]

Arkansas election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Tom Cotton Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.
Party Republican Libertarian
Popular vote 793,871 399,390
Percentage 66.5% 33.5%

County results
Cotton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Harrington:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Tom Cotton
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Tom Cotton
Republican

One-term Republican Tom Cotton was elected in 2014, after serving two years in the United States House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Democratic senator Mark Pryor by a comfortable margin. Cotton was re-elected to a second term by a 33-point margin, defeating Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.[109][110][111]

Joshua Mahony, a non-profit executive and 2018 Democratic nominee for Congress in Arkansas's 3rd congressional district, filed to run for the Democratic nomination,[112] but dropped out just after the filing deadline.[113] No other Democrats filed within the filing deadline. Progressive activist Dan Whitfield ran as an independent, but suspended his campaign on October 1, 2020, after failing to qualify for the ballot.[114]

Arkansas general election[115]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tom Cotton (incumbent) 793,871 66.53% +10.03
Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. 399,390 33.47% +31.44
Total votes 1,193,261 100.00%
Republican hold

Colorado[edit]

Colorado election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee John Hickenlooper Cory Gardner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,731,114 1,429,492
Percentage 53.5% 44.2%

County results
Hickenlooper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Gardner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Cory Gardner
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

John Hickenlooper
Democratic

One-term Republican Cory Gardner was elected in 2014 after serving four years in the United States House of Representatives, narrowly defeating one-term Democrat Mark Udall. Gardner sought a second term but lost to Democrat John Hickenlooper by 9.3 percentage points.[116]

Hickenlooper is a popular former governor of Colorado, and led Gardner by as much as 20 percentage points in polls, with most pundits considering him a heavy favorite. Gardner was Colorado's only Republican statewide officeholder, and the once purple state has trended increasingly Democratic since his narrow win in 2014. Gardner also had low approval ratings due to his strong allegiance to Trump, who lost Colorado in 2016 to Hillary Clinton by 4.9%, and in 2020 to Joe Biden by 13.5%.[117][118] Hickenlooper also raised significantly more money than Gardner.[119]

Colorado Republican primary[120]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cory Gardner (incumbent) 554,806 100.00
Total votes 554,806 100.00
Colorado Democratic primary[121]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Hickenlooper 585,826 58.65
Democratic Andrew Romanoff 412,955 41.35
Total votes 998,781 100.00
Colorado general election[122]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Hickenlooper 1,731,114 53.50% +7.24
Republican Cory Gardner (incumbent) 1,429,492 44.18% –4.03
Libertarian Raymon Doane 56,262 1.74% –0.85
Approval Voting Daniel Doyle 9,820 0.30% N/A
Unity Stephen Evans 8,971 0.28% –0.04
Total votes 3,235,659 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

Delaware[edit]

Delaware election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Chris Coons Lauren Witzke
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 291,804 186,054
Percentage 59.4% 37.9%

County results
Coons:      50–60%      60–70%
Witzke:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Chris Coons
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Chris Coons
Democratic

One-term Democrat Chris Coons was re-elected in 2014; he first took office after winning a 2010 special election, which occurred after long-time senator Joe Biden resigned to become vice president of the United States (Biden also won the 2020 presidential election and became president). He faced an unsuccessful primary challenge from technology executive Jessica Scarane. Conservative activist Lauren Witzke and attorney Jim DeMartino ran for the Republican nomination.

The Delaware primary was held on September 15, 2020.[123]

Delaware Democratic primary[124]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Coons (incumbent) 87,332 72.85
Democratic Jessica Scarane 32,547 27.15
Total votes 119,879 100.00
Republican primary results[124]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauren Witzke 30,702 56.89
Republican James DeMartino 23,266 43.11
Total votes 53,968 100.00
Delaware general election[125]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Chris Coons (incumbent) 291,804 59.44% +3.61
Republican Lauren Witzke 186,054 37.90% –4.33
Independent Mark Turley 7,833 1.59% N/A
Libertarian Nadine Frost 5,244 1.07% N/A
Total votes 490,935 100.00%
Democratic hold

Georgia[edit]

Due to Republican senator Johnny Isakson's resignation from office for health reasons in 2019, both of Georgia's Senate seats were up for election in November 2020.[126] The state had tilted Republican in Senate races since the mid-1990s, but increased support for Democrats in populous suburbs has made office elections more competitive; a close governor's race, multiple close U.S. House races, and many other close local office races resulted in Democratic gains in 2018 elections. Both the regular and special election were considered highly competitive toss-ups.[127] Both of these elections received national attention, as if Republicans won at least one of these seats, they would maintain a Senate majority, but if the Democrats won both, the Senate would be split 50/50 with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie.

Georgia (regular)[edit]

2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia

← 2014 November 3, 2020 (first round)
January 5, 2021 (runoff)
2026 →
Turnout65.4% Increase (first round)
61.5% Decrease (runoff)
 
Candidate Jon Ossoff David Perdue
Party Democratic Republican
First round 2,374,519
47.95%
2,462,617
49.73%
Runoff 2,269,923
50.61%
2,214,979
49.39%

County results
Ossoff:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Perdue:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election

David Perdue
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Jon Ossoff
Democratic

One-term Republican David Perdue was elected in 2014, and sought a second term.[128]

Jon Ossoff, a former congressional candidate, documentary film producer, and investigative journalist, defeated former Columbus mayor Teresa Tomlinson and 2018 lieutenant governor nominee Sarah Riggs Amico in the Democratic primary to secure nomination.[129][130] He faced incumbent Republican David Perdue in the November 3 election.

In the November election, no candidate received 50% or more of the total vote; per Georgia law, the election advanced to a run-off between the top two finishers, Ossoff and Perdue, on January 5, 2021. Ossoff was projected the winner on January 6,[131] and Perdue conceded on January 8.[132]

Georgia Republican primary[133]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Perdue (incumbent) 992,555 100.00
Total votes 992,555 100.00
Georgia Democratic primary[134]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jon Ossoff 626,819 52.82
Democratic Teresa Tomlinson 187,416 15.79
Democratic Sarah Riggs Amico 139,574 11.76
Democratic Maya Dillard-Smith 105,000 8.85
Democratic James Knox 49,452 4.17
Democratic Marckeith DeJesus 45,936 3.87
Democratic Tricia Carpenter McCracken 32,463 2.74
Total votes 1,186,660 100.00
Georgia general election[89]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Perdue (incumbent) 2,462,617 49.73% –3.16
Democratic Jon Ossoff 2,374,519 47.95% +2.74
Libertarian Shane T. Hazel 115,039 2.32% +0.42
Total votes 4,952,175 100.00%
Georgia general election runoff[135]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jon Ossoff 2,269,923 50.61% +5.40
Republican David Perdue (incumbent) 2,214,979 49.39% –3.50
Total votes 4,484,902 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

Georgia (special)[edit]

2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia

← 2016 November 3, 2020 (first round)
January 5, 2021 (runoff)
2022 →
Turnout65.3% Increase (first round)
59.7% Decrease (runoff)
 
Candidate Raphael Warnock Kelly Loeffler
Party Democratic Republican
First round 1,617,035
32.90%
1,273,214
25.91%
Runoff 2,289,113
51.04%
2,195,841
48.96%

 
Candidate Doug Collins Deborah Jackson
Party Republican Democratic
First round 980,454
19.95%
324,118
6.59%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Warnock:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Loeffler:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Collins:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Kelly Loeffler
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Raphael Warnock
Democratic

Three-term senator Johnny Isakson announced on August 28, 2019, that he would resign from the Senate on December 31, 2019, citing health concerns.[136] Georgia governor Brian Kemp appointed Republican Kelly Loeffler to replace Isakson until a special election could be held; Loeffler took office on January 6, 2020, and competed in the November 2020 election to retain her seat.[137]

Other Republicans who ran for the seat included Wayne Johnson, former chief operating officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid,[138] and four-term U.S. representative Doug Collins.[139]

A "jungle primary" was held November 3, 2020, but no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, so a run-off election between the top two finishers, Loeffler and Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock, was held on January 5, 2021.[140] Warnock defeated Loeffler, who initially refused to concede and vowed to challenge the outcome,[141] but conceded on January 7, after the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[142]

Georgia special election[143]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raphael Warnock 1,617,035 32.90
Republican Kelly Loeffler (incumbent) 1,273,214 25.91
Republican Doug Collins 980,454 19.95
Democratic Deborah Jackson 324,118 6.59
Democratic Matt Lieberman 136,021 2.77
Democratic Tamara Johnson-Shealey 106,767 2.17
Democratic Jamesia James 94,406 1.92
Republican Derrick Grayson 51,592 1.05
Democratic Joy Felicia Slade 44,945 0.91
Republican Annette Davis Jackson 44,335 0.90
Republican Kandiss Taylor 40,349 0.82
Republican Wayne Johnson (withdrawn) 36,176 0.74
Libertarian Brian Slowinski 35,431 0.72
Democratic Richard Dien Winfield 28,687 0.58
Democratic Ed Tarver 26,333 0.54
Independent Allen Buckley 17,954 0.36
Green John Fortuin 15,293 0.31
Independent Al Bartell 14,640 0.30
Independent Valencia Stovall 13,318 0.27
Independent Michael Todd Greene 13,293 0.27
Total votes 4,914,361 100.00
Georgia special election runoff[144]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Raphael Warnock 2,289,113 51.04% +10.00
Republican Kelly Loeffler (incumbent) 2,195,841 48.96% –5.84
Total votes 4,484,954 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

Idaho[edit]

Idaho election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Jim Risch Paulette Jordan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 537,446 285,864
Percentage 62.6% 33.3%

County results
Risch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Jordan:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Jim Risch
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Jim Risch
Republican

Two-term republican Jim Risch successfully ran for a third term in 2020, defeating Democrat Paulette Jordan in a landslide. Jordan is a former gubernatorial nominee and former Coeur d'Alene Tribal Councilwoman.

Idaho Republican primary[145]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Risch (incumbent) 200,184 100.00
Total votes 200,184 100.00
Idaho Democratic primary[145]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paulette Jordan 72,778 85.70
Democratic James Vandermaas 12,145 14.30
Total votes 84,923 100.00
Idaho general election[146]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Risch (incumbent) 538,446 62.62% –2.71
Democratic Paulette Jordan 285,864 33.25% –1.42
Independent Natalie Fleming 25,329 2.95% N/A
Constitution Ray Writz 10,188 1.18% N/A
Total votes 859,827 100.00%
Republican hold

Illinois[edit]

Illinois election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Dick Durbin Mark Curran
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 3,278,930 2,319,870
Percentage 54.9% 38.9%

County results
Durbin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Curran:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Dick Durbin
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Dick Durbin
Democratic

Four-term democrat and Senate minority whip Dick Durbin, easily won a fifth term in office, defeating Republican Mark Curran by a 16-point margin.[147]

Curran served as sheriff of Lake County from 2006 to 2018 and won the Republican primary with 41.55% of the vote.[148]

Antiwar activist Marilyn Jordan Lawlor[149] and state representative Anne Stava-Murray[150] briefly challenged Durbin in the Democratic primary, but both ended up withdrawing.[151][152]

2019 Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, a businessman and perennial candidate, ran as a member of the "Willie Wilson Party," with the backing of a handful of Chicago aldermen and the Chicago Police Union.

Illinois Democratic primary[153]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dick Durbin (incumbent) 1,446,118 100.00
Total votes 1,446,118 100.00
Illinois Republican primary[153]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Curran 205,747 41.55
Republican Peggy Hubbard 113,189 22.86
Republican Robert Marshall 75,561 15.26
Republican Tom Tarter 73,009 14.74
Republican Casey Chlebek 27,655 5.58
Write-in 7 0.00
Total votes 495,168 100.00
Illinois general election[154]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dick Durbin (incumbent) 3,278,930 54.93% +1.38
Republican Mark Curran 2,319,870 38.87% –3.82
Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 237,699 3.98% N/A
Libertarian Danny Malouf 75,673 1.27% –2.49
Green David Black 55,711 0.95% N/A
Write-in 18 0.00% ±0.00
Total votes 5,967,901 100.00%
Democratic hold

Iowa[edit]

Iowa election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Joni Ernst Theresa Greenfield
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 864,997 754,859
Percentage 51.7% 45.2%

County results
Ernst:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Greenfield:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Joni Ernst
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Joni Ernst
Republican

One-term republican Joni Ernst, first elected to the Senate in 2014, won a second term in office, defeating Democrat Theresa Greenfield.[155]

Greenfield won the Democratic nomination, defeating former vice-admiral Michael T. Franken, attorney Kimberly Graham, and businessman Eddie Mauro in the primary.

Ernst's popularity had dropped in polls, and many considered this seat a possible Democratic pick-up, but Ernst was re-elected by a larger-than-expected 6.5 points.

Iowa Republican primary[156]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joni Ernst (incumbent) 226,589 98.64
Write-in 3,132 1.36
Total votes 229,721 100.00
Democratic primary results[156]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Theresa Greenfield 132,001 47.71
Democratic Michael T. Franken 68,851 24.88
Democratic Kimberly Graham 41,554 15.02
Democratic Eddie Mauro 30,400 10.99
Democratic Cal Woods (withdrawn) 3,372 1.21
Write-in 514 0.19
Total votes 276,692 100.00
Iowa general election[157]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joni Ernst (incumbent) 864,997 51.74% –0.36
Democratic Theresa Greenfield 754,859 45.15% +1.39
Libertarian Rick Stewart 36,961 2.21% +1.48
Independent Suzanne Herzog 13,800 0.83% N/A
Write-in 1,211 0.07% –0.03
Total votes 1,671,828 100.00%
Republican hold

Kansas[edit]

Kansas election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Roger Marshall Barbara Bollier
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 727,962 571,530
Percentage 53.2% 41.8%

County results
Marshall:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bollier:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Pat Roberts
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Roger Marshall
Republican

Four-term Republican Pat Roberts, was re-elected in 2014 with 53.15% of the vote, and announced on January 4, 2019, that he would not be running for re-election in 2020.

In the Republican primary, United States representative Roger Marshall defeated former Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach,[158] state Turnpike Authority chairman Dave Lindstrom,[159] state senate president Susan Wagle, and others.[160]

There was considerable speculation about a Senate bid by Mike Pompeo (the United States secretary of state, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and former U.S. representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district), but he did not run.[161][162]

Barbara Bollier, a state senator and former Republican,[163] defeated former congressional candidate Robert Tillman[164] for the Democratic nomination, but lost to Marshall with a more than expected 11.4 point margin.

Kansas Republican primary[165]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roger Marshall 167,800 40.28
Republican Kris Kobach 108,726 26.10
Republican Bob Hamilton 77,952 18.71
Republican Dave Lindstrom 27,451 6.59
Republican Steve Roberts 8,141 1.95
Republican Brian Matlock 7,083 1.70
Republican Lance Berland 6,404 1.54
Republican John Miller 4,431 1.06
Republican Derek Ellis 3,970 0.95
Republican Gabriel Robles 3,744 0.90
Republican John Berman 861 0.21
Total votes 416,563 100.00
Kansas Democratic primary[165]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Bollier 168,759 85.34
Democratic Robert Tillman 28,997 14.66
Total votes 197,756 100.00
Kansas general election[166]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roger Marshall 727,962 53.22% +0.07
Democratic Barbara Bollier 571,530 41.79% N/A
Libertarian Jason Buckley 68,263 4.99% +0.67
Total votes 1,367,755 100.00%
Republican hold

Kentucky[edit]

Kentucky election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Mitch McConnell Amy McGrath
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,233,315 816,257
Percentage 57.8% 38.2%

County results
McConnell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%
McGrath:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Mitch McConnell
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Mitch McConnell
Republican

Republican Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader, defeated Democrat Amy McGrath by 19.6 percentage points, winning a 7th term in office.

Kentucky Republican primary[167]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mitch McConnell (incumbent) 342,660 82.80
Republican Wesley Morgan 25,588 6.18
Republican Louis Grider 13,771 3.33
Republican Paul John Frangedakis 11,957 2.89
Republican Neren James 10,693 2.58
Republican Kenneth Lowndes 5,548 1.34
Republican Nicholas Alsager 3,603 0.87
Total votes 413,820 100.00
Kentucky Democratic primary[167]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Amy McGrath 247,037 45.41
Democratic Charles Booker 231,888 42.62
Democratic Mike Broihier 27,175 4.99
Democratic Mary Ann Tobin 11,108 2.04
Democratic Maggie Joe Hilliard 6,224 1.14
Democratic Andrew Maynard 5,974 1.10
Democratic Bennie J. Smith 5,040 0.93
Democratic Jimmy Ausbrooks (withdrawn) 3,629 0.67
Democratic Eric Rothmuller 2,995 0.55
Democratic John R. Sharpensteen 2,992 0.55
Total votes 544,062 100.00
Kentucky general election[168]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mitch McConnell (incumbent) 1,233,315 57.76% +1.57
Democratic Amy McGrath 816,257 38.23% –2.49
Libertarian Brad Barron 85,386 4.00% +0.92
Write-in 99 0.01% ±0.00
Total votes 2,135,057 100.00%
Republican hold

Louisiana[edit]

Louisiana election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Bill Cassidy Adrian Perkins Derrick Edwards
Party Republican Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 1,228,908 394,049 229,814
Percentage 59.3% 19.0% 11.1%

County results
Cassidy:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Perkins:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election

Bill Cassidy
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Bill Cassidy
Republican

Republican Bill Cassidy won a second term in office, defeating Democrat Adrian Perkins and others.[169]

A Louisiana primary (a form of jungle primary) was held on November 3. Had no candidate won a majority of the vote in the primary, a run-off election would have been held, but Cassidy won in the first round.

Louisiana blanket primary[170]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Cassidy (incumbent) 1,228,908 59.32
Democratic Adrian Perkins 394,049 19.02
Democratic Derrick Edwards 229,814 11.09
Democratic Antoine Pierce 55,710 2.69
Republican Dustin Murphy 38,383 1.85
Democratic Drew Knight 36,962 1.78
Independent Beryl Billiot 17,362 0.84
Independent John Paul Bourgeois 16,518 0.80
Democratic Peter Wenstrup 14,454 0.70
Libertarian Aaron Sigler 11,321 0.55
Independent M.V. "Vinny" Mendoza 7,811 0.38
Independent Melinda Mary Price 7,680 0.37
Independent Jamar Montgomery 5,804 0.28
Independent Reno Jean Daret III 3,954 0.19
Independent Alexander "Xan" John 2,813 0.14
Total votes 2,071,543 100.00
Republican hold

Maine[edit]

Maine election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Susan Collins Sara Gideon
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 417,645[ag] 347,223[ag]
Percentage 50.98% 42.39%

Collins:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Gideon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Tie:      

U.S. senator before election

Susan Collins
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Susan Collins
Republican

Republican Susan Collins won a fifth term in office, defeating Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Sara Gideon.[171]

Gideon consistently led Collins in polls for almost the entire election cycle. Collins is considered one of the most moderate Republicans in the Senate and had never faced a competitive re-election campaign, even though Maine leans Democratic. But she faced growing unpopularity due to her increasingly conservative voting record, and her votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and to acquit Trump in his impeachment trial. Despite almost all polling and Gideon's formidable funding,[172] Collins was re-elected by a surprising 8.6-point margin.

Educator and activist Lisa Savage also ran as a candidate for the Green party.[173]

Maine Republican primary[174]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Collins (incumbent) 87,375 98.79
Write-in 1,073 1.21
Total votes 88,448 100.00
Maine Democratic primary[175]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon 116,264 71.47
Democratic Betsy Sweet 37,327 22.94
Democratic Bre Kidman 9,090 5.59
Total votes 162,681 100.00
Maine general election[176]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Susan Collins (incumbent) 417,645 50.98% –17.48
Democratic Sara Gideon 347,223 42.39% +10.89
Independent Lisa Savage 40,579 4.95% N/A
Independent Max Linn 13,508 1.65% N/A
Write-in 228 0.03% –0.01
Total votes 819,183 100.00%
Republican hold

Massachusetts[edit]

Massachusetts election

← 2014
2026 →
 
Nominee Ed Markey Kevin O'Connor
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,357,809 1,177,765
Percentage 66.15% 33.05%


Markey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
O'Connor:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Tie:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election

Ed Markey
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Ed Markey
Democratic

Democrat Ed Markey was re-elected in 2014, having won a 2013 special election to replace long-time incumbent John Kerry, who resigned to become U.S. secretary of state. He easily won a second full term in 2020, defeating Republican Kevin O'Connor by more than 33 percentage points.[177]

Markey fended off a primary challenge from Joe Kennedy III, four-term U.S. representative for Massachusetts's Fourth District and grandson of former U.S. senator and U.S. attorney general Robert F. Kennedy. This marked the first time a member of the Kennedy family lost an election in Massachusetts.[178]

O'Connor defeated Shiva Ayyadurai, a former independent senate candidate, in the Republican primary.[179][180]

On August 24, 2020, perennial candidate Vermin Supreme launched a write-in campaign for the Libertarian nomination,[181] but received too few votes to qualify for the general election ballot.[182]

Massachusetts Democratic primary[183]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ed Markey (incumbent) 782,694 55.35
Democratic Joe Kennedy III 629,359 44.51
Write-in 1,935 0.14
Total votes 1,413,988 100.00
Massachusetts Republican primary[183]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kevin O'Connor 158,590 59.71
Republican Shiva Ayyadurai 104,782 39.45
Write-in 2,245 0.84
Total votes 265,617 100.00
Massachusetts general election[184]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ed Markey (incumbent) 2,357,809 66.15% +4.28
Republican Kevin O'Connor 1,177,765 33.05% –4.93
Write-in Shiva Ayyadurai 21,134 0.59% N/A
Write-in 7,428 0.21% +0.06
Total votes 3,564,136 100.00%
Democratic hold