Key Senate Races

There are 33 Senate races this year, with Democrats defending 18 seats and Republicans defending 15. Republicans currently hold 55 seats and Democrats hold 44. One seat is held by an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of six seats to take control of the Senate with a bare voting majority of 51. A 50-50 tie would preserve the Republican majority in the chamber because Vice President Cheney would cast tie-breaking votes.

• Graphic: Pre-Election Party Standings

» Key Results: Governor Races | U.S. House Races | U.S. Senate Races

Results: Key Senate Races

Ariz. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Jon Kyl * (R)	607,778	53
Jim Pederson (D)	506,759	44
Richard Mack (Lib.)	37,319	3
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:18 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Conn. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Joe Lieberman * (I)	563,725	50
Ned Lamont (D)	448,077	40
Alan Schlesinger (R)	109,329	10
Other	10,561	1
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:30 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Md. U.S. Senate
Candidate	Votes	%
Ben Cardin (D)	894,830	54
Michael Steele (R)	723,089	44
Kevin Zeese (Green)	25,405	2
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 2:29 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Mich. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Debbie Stabenow * (D)	2,148,637	57
Michael Bouchard (R)	1,559,761	41
Other	69,227	2
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:31 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Minn. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Amy Klobuchar (D)	1,279,515	58
Mark Kennedy (R)	839,173	38
Other	87,378	4
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:31 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Mo. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Claire McCaskill (D)	1,047,049	50
Jim Talent * (R)	1,001,238	47
Other	65,778	3
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:28 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Mont. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Jon Tester (D)	198,302	49
Conrad Burns * (R)	195,455	48
Stan Jones (Lib.)	10,324	3
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:29 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Neb. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Ben Nelson * (D)	371,777	64
Pete Ricketts (R)	211,111	36
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:32 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

N.J. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Bob Menendez * (D)	1,165,596	53
Thomas Kean Jr. (R)	976,904	45
Other	50,256	2
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:32 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

N.Y. U.S. Senate
Candidate	Votes	%
Hillary Rodham Clinton * (D)	2,811,981	67
John Spencer (R)	1,320,571	31
Other	87,217	2
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:31 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Ohio U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Sherrod Brown (D)	2,133,705	56
Mike DeWine * (R)	1,681,015	44
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:30 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Penn. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Bob Casey (D)	2,357,058	59
Rick Santorum * (R)	1,658,853	41
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:29 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

R.I. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Sheldon Whitehouse (D)	205,274	53
Lincoln Chafee * (R)	178,548	47
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:32 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Tenn. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Bob Corker (R)	928,407	51
Harold Ford (D)	878,373	48
Other	23,692	1
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100% \| Updated: 1:29 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Va. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Jim Webb (D)	1,172,671	49.6
George Allen * (R)	1,165,440	49.3
Glenda Parker (IG)	26,106	1.1
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 100.0% \| Updated: 5:04 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »

Wash. U.S. Senate (KEY RACE)
Candidate	Votes	%
Maria Cantwell * (D)	864,955	57
Mike McGavick (R)	600,823	40
Other	46,676	3
Key: * Incumbent \| Winner Precincts: 69% \| Updated: 1:33 PM ET \| Source: AP More About This Race »