United States Senate elections, 2016

From Usgs

Republican holds in dark red
Republican pickups in light red
Democratic holds in dark blue
Democratic pickups in light blue

Elections for the United States Senate were held on November 8, 2016, with 16 of the 36 seats in the Senate being contested. 12 seats were regular elections; the winners serve six-year terms from 2017 until 2022 as members of Senate Class 1. There were also 3 special elections for a seats from Florida, the Midwest and New England to serve out the remaining 2 years of the term of those seats as members of Senate Class 2 and 1 special election for a seat from the Rocky Mountains to serve out the remaining 4 years of the term of that seat as a member of Senate Class 3.

The 2016 presidential election, gubernatorial elections, and House of Representatives elections occured on the same date, as well as many regional and local elections.

Background

The composition of the Senate, going into the 2016 election, consisted of 14 Republicans, 19 Democrats, and 3 vacancies (in Florida, the Midwest and New England). Counting the Senators who previously held those vacant Senate seats, the partisan make up was 20 Democrat and 16 Republican. Of the seats up for election in 2016, 5 had a Republican incumbent, 6 had a Democratic incumbent and 5 were open races.

The Republicans needed a net gain of 2 Senate seats in order to gain back control of the Senate. Any less than this would result in an evenly divided Senate, with Vice President Andrew Brockmeier casting the deciding vote, meaning control of the Senate would be retained by the Democrats. The possibility of Republican Senator Samuel Clay switching to the Democratic Party after the 2016 election meant that the Republicans may have needed an additional Senator in order to obtain a majority in the Senate.

Results summary

Democrats won 2 Senate seats previously held by Republicans (Gulf Coast and New England). Republicans won four Senate seats previously held by Democrats (both Florida seats, Midwest and Ohio Valley). This represented a net gain of two for the Republican Party and resulted in a split Senate, with a Democratic Vice President giving control of the Senate to the Democratic Party.

The Senate thus remained in Democratic control for a second Congressional session.

Races

Democratic gains

Gulf Coast

James MacGillicutty was defeated by Evelyn Breaux.

New England

Joseph Salazar-Portela resigned from the Senate 2 years before his term was up. A special election was held to fill the vacancy, pitting Democrat and House Majority Leader Bradley Abbott against Republican Cathy Franklin. Abbott soundly defeated Franklin 62.8% to 36.6%.

Democratic holds

Great Lakes

Andrew Brockmeier ran for Vice President and did not seek re-election for a full term to the Senate. Democrat Bryan Jennings and Republican Donald Wilcox ran for the seat. Jennings won easily with 64.3% of the vote. Wilcox, a strict constitutionalist, alienated many voters during the campaign (including traditional Republican voters) and received only 18.9% of the vote, with the remainder going to third parties and independents.

New England

Howell Kent, running against former Senator and Harvard professor John Heiligmann was re-elected in an unusually (for New England, considered a stronghold of the Democratic Party) close 4 percent margin, after a campaign where early predictions had predicted a greater lead for Howell Kent, appointed to replace popular Senator Esperanza Hall. Kent and Heiligmann ran on very similar platforms, being both liberals, though Heiligmann campaigned on the image of a technocratic, pragmatic academic, while Kent used the significant base that came from being the former Bishop of Massachusets.

New York

Zach Litchfield was re-elected.

Pacific Coast

William Rooke Clarke was re-elected unopposed. This was the only Senate race in the 2016 cycle where one major party failed to run a candidate.

Pennsylvania

Main article: Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2016

The most senior Democratic Senator, Kathryn Spencer was challenged by Hillam Warren, the Office of Management and Budget Director and son of outgoing President Elizabeth Warren. Spencer was re-elected with 54.8% of the vote, campaigning on populist and traditionally Democratic themes such as the provision of healthcare, keeping jobs in America and fighting against corporate welfare.

Republican gains

Florida

Republicans picked up both Florida Senate seats at this election at the expense of the Democrats, with a special election being held to co-incide with the regularly scheduled election in this region.

Jaime Elzar-Toledo was defeated by Steve Rayburn.

Following his failure to obtain the Democratic Presidential nomination, Justin Casanova-Davis resigned from the Senate 2 years before his term was up. A special election was held to fill the vacancy. Republican Constantine Gurlakis, a former Senator and the Republican nominee for Florida Senate in both 2012 and 2014 faced Democrat Alexander Magnus, defeating him 53.2% to 46.5%. After two narrow defeats, this made it the first time Gurlakis was elected to the Senate in his own right.

Midwest

James Dailey ran for Midwest Governor and did not seek re-election for a third Senate term. Republican Ron Casey, Lieutenant Governor of the Mississippi Valley, faced off against Democrat Johnny Green, former Governor of the Mississipi Valley. Casey defeated Green 51.8% to 48.2%.

Ohio Valley

Jax Jaxal was defeated by Peter Vandenberg.

Republican holds

Great Plains

Valeria Smith was re-elected.

Midwest

Joseph Cahill resigned from the Senate. A special election was held to fill the vacancy in which Republican Andrew Graham defeated Democrat Brian O'Shea 50.2% to 49.7%.

Southern Valley

Avery Passerday was re-elected.

Southwest

Canden Windsor was re-elected.

Summary table

See also

• United States general elections, 2016
• United States presidential election, 2016
• United States House elections, 2016
• United States gubernatorial elections, 2016