U.S. Senate Races

Open seats

Delaware (Biden-D) - Biden announced in June of 2005 that he's going to run for president in 2008. But watch for Biden to back away from that in the shadow of Hillary and Obama.

Retirement watch

Alaska (Stevens-R) - Senator Ted Stevens is old, my friend. Born Nov. 18, 1923, Stevens will be nearly 85 years old on Election Day in 2008. Somewhat of a crybaby, Stevens frequently threatens to retire if he doesn't get his way on various votes. And given the Democratic take-over of the Senate and House, Stevens isn't going to be getting his way too much in the next couple of years.

Iowa (Harkin-D) - Born Nov. 19, 1939, Harkin will be nearly 69 on Election Day in 2008. Even though we've placed him on the retirement watch list in recognition of his age, it's 2008. It's Iowa. There's no way Harkin announces retirement in the middle of all the action.

Kansas (Roberts-R) - Born April 20, 1936, Roberts will be 72 on Election Day in 2008. If he runs again, he's safe.

Massachusetts (Kerry-D) - Born Dec. 11, 1943, Kerry appears to be preparing to run for president again in 2008. If he does retire, there are no shortage of Democrats to take his place. However, given the strength of the Obama and Clinton campaigns, plus his recent gaffe about the intelligence of soldiers, it's doubtful that Kerry will jump in. Dec. 28

Michigan (Levin-D) - Born June 28, 1934, Levin will be 74 on election day in 2008. Levin announced that he is running again, but may change his mind. Dec. 28

Mississippi (Cochrane-R) - Born Dec. 7, 1937, Cochrane will be nearly 71 years old on Election Day in 2008.

Nebraska (Hagel-R) - Hagel may decide to seek the presidency in 2008. He was born Oct. 4, 1946. If he runs again, it's no contest.

New Jersey (Lautenberg-D) - Born Jan. 23, 1924, Lautenberg will be 84 on Election Day in 2008. He had reluctantly come out of retirement in 2002 as a replacement candidate for the Democrats. Following the 2006 election, he announced that he will run again in 2008, although he still has time to change his mind. Dec. 28

New Mexico (Domenici-R) - Born May 7, 1932, Domenici will be 76 on Election Day in 2008. Domenici said he will run again. Dec. 28

North Carolina (Dole-R) - Born July 29, 1936, Dole will be 72 on Election Day in 2008. As head of the NRSC, Dole did an abysmal job of recruiting challengers to potentially vulnerable Democratic senate seats (esp. in Michigan and Washington) and, thus, exposed more Republican incumbents to strong Democratic challenges. It's likely she will receive much of the blame for the GOP losing control of the Senate. Will she get fed up with Washington in the next two years? Nov. 13

Oklahoma (Inhofe-R) - Born Nov. 17, 1934, Inhofe will be nearly 74 on Election Day in 2008. Recently, retired Gen. Barney Franks reportedly sold his home in Florida and moved to Oklahoma to run for public office. Could this be a sign Inhofe plans to retire? Dec. 28

South Dakota (Johnson-D) - Johnson, born Dec. 28, 1946, will likely be a top GOP target in 2008, considering his close victory in 2002 over John Thune (R), who later toppled Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D) in 2004. Johnson recently underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage. He is now in recovery. However, whether he will want to run for re-election is still up in the air. Dec. 28

Tennessee (Alexander-R) - Born July 3, 1940, Alexander will be 68 on Election Day in 2008.

Virginia (Warner-R) - Born Feb. 18, 1927, Warner will be 81 years old on Election Day in 2008. In a recent letter to the incoming Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnnell, Warner indicated he is strongly considering re-election. Dec. 29

West Virginia (Rockefeller-D) - Born June 18, 1937, Rockefeller will be 71 years old on Election Day in 2008.

In Trouble???

Colorado (Allard-R) - Allard is probably the most vulnerable incumbent and already has a high-profile challenger in Rep. Mark Udall (D). Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) may also make a challenge. If Allard does not run, Gov. Bill Owens, who could not seek re-election due to term limits in 2006, may run for the Republican nomination. Dec. 28

Georgia (Chambliss-R) - Georgia Democrats will no doubt give Sen. Saxby Chambliss a run for his money, considering the nasty 2002 campaign ads he ran against Max Cleland. The ads compared Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm in the Viet Nam War, to bin Laden for not supporting President Bush's agenda. Watch for the ironic twish of fate, when in a political attack ad mounted by the Democrats, Chambliss' picture will no doubt be damningly placed beside the now unpopular President Bush's. The problem for the Democrats will be keeping soon-to-be former Rep. Cynthia McKinney OUT of the race and finding a credible challenger to Chambliss. Nov. 13

Minnesota (Coleman-R) - If Air America radio talk show host Al Franken lives up to his promise to run for this seat, it could get interesting. If not, Coleman is pretty safe. Franken is reportedly considering a run over the holidays. Nov. 28

South Carolina (Graham-R) - Moderate Sen. Lindsay Graham may see a primary challenge from the right, possibly Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel, who has criticized Graham for brokering a deal with Democrats on President Bush's judicial nomination.

Safe seats (for now!)

Arkansas (Pryor-D) - Born Jan. 10, 1963

Alabama (Sessions-R) - Born Dec. 24, 1946

Idaho (Craig-R) - Born July 20, 1945

Illinois (Durbin-D) - Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin was born Nov. 21, 1944. Congressman Mark Kirk, a moderate Republican, is considering a bid against Durbin. If Kirk runs, it will be more of a convenient bailout from his increasingly Democratic district than a true challenge on Durbin, who enjoys a great deal of popularity in Illinois. Nov. 13

Kentucky (McConnell-R) - Born Feb 20, 1942

Louisiana (Landrieu-D) - Born Nov. 23, 1955

Maine (Collins-R) - Born Dec. 7, 1952

Montana (Baucus-D) - A five-term senator, Baucus was born Dec. 11, 1941.

New Hampshire (Sununu-R) - Born Sept. 10, 1964

Oregon (Smith-R) - Born May 25, 1952

Rhode Island (Reed-D) - Born Nov. 12, 1949

Texas (Cornyn-R) - Born Feb. 2, 1952

Wyoming (Enzi-R) - Born Feb. 1, 1944

Not up for re-election, but may retire

Hawaii (Inouye-D) - Inouye recently coasted to re-election. Born Sept. 7, 1924, he'll be 82 years old on election day in 2006. He's up for re-election in 2010.

Iowa (Grassley-R) - Born Sept. 17, 1933, Grassley will be 73 on election day in 2006. Grassley is up for re-election in 2010.

Kentucky (Bunning-R) - Born Oct. 23, 1931, Bunning will be 77 on election day in 2008. He is up for re-election in 2010.

Maryland (Mikulski-D) - Born July 20, 1936, Mikulski will be 72 on election day in 2008. She is up for re-election in 2010.

Pennsylvania (Specter-R) - Born Feb. 12, 1930, Specter will be 78 in 2008. He's up for re-election in 2010. In Feb. 2005, Specter announced that he had Hodgkin's lympoma and underwent 26 weeks of chemotherapy. Specter appears to be doing well, but he may want to retire before his term is up.

Utah (Bennett-R) - Born Sept. 18, 1933, Bennett will be 75 on election day in 2008. He is up for re-election in 2010.

Wyoming (Thomas-R) - Sen. Thomas was diagnosed with leukemia in Nov. '06. He will continue to serve while undergoing treatment.