2014 United States Senate elections

For a majority, Republicans needed at least 51 seats. Democrats could have retained a majority with 48 seats (assuming the two Independents continued to caucus with them) because the Democratic Vice President Joe Biden would become the tie-breaker. From 1915 to 2013, control of the U.S. Senate flipped in 10 of 50 cycles, or 20% of the time.^[5] Republicans had lost ground in the 2012 elections, leading to an internal fight among the Republican leadership over the best strategies and tactics for the 2014 Senate races.^[6] By December 2013, eight of the twelve incumbent Republicans running for re-election saw Tea Party challenges.^[7] However, Republican incumbents won every primary challenge.^[8] Although Democrats saw some opportunities for pickups, the combination of Democratic retirements and numerous Democratic seats up for election in swing states and red states gave Republicans hopes of taking control of the Senate.^[9] 7 of the 21 states with Democratic seats up for election in 2014 had voted for Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election compared to just 1 state with a Republican senator that voted for Barack Obama. Democrats also faced the lower voter turnout that accompanies mid-term elections.^[10]

Poll aggregation website FiveThirtyEight gave the Republican Party a 60% chance of taking control of the Senate as of September 28.^[11] Another poll aggregation website, RealClearPolitics, gave the Republican Party a net gain of 7 seats.^[12] Due to the closeness of several races, it was initially believed that Senate control might not be decided on election night.^[13] Both Louisiana and Georgia were seen as competitive, and both states require a run-off election if no candidate takes a majority of the vote.

Two independent candidates (in Kansas and South Dakota^[14]) refused to commit to caucusing with either party.^[13] In the final months of the race, polls showed them with viable chances of winning, leading some analysts to speculate on the possibility of an "Independent caucus" that could also include Maine Senator Angus King and possibly Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.^[15][16] However, no Independent won a Senate race in 2014, and King and Sanders continue to caucus with the Democratic Party following the 2014 election cycle.

By midnight ET, most major networks projected that the Republicans would take control of the Senate. The party held all three competitive Republican-held seats (Kentucky, Kansas, and Georgia), and defeated incumbent Democrats in North Carolina, Colorado, and Arkansas. Combined with the pick-ups of open seats in Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, and West Virginia, the Republicans made a net gain of 7 seats before the end of the night. Republicans defeated three incumbent Democrats, a task the party had not accomplished since the 1980 election cycle.^[17] Five of the seven confirmed pickups were in states that voted for Mitt Romney in 2012, but two of the seats that Republicans won represent states that voted for Barack Obama in 2012 (Colorado and Iowa). Of the three races that were not called by the end of election night, Alaska and Virginia were still too close to call, while Louisiana held a December 6 run-off election. Virginia declared Democrat Mark Warner the winner of his race by a narrow margin over Republican Ed Gillespie on November 7, and Alaska declared Dan Sullivan the winner against Democratic incumbent Mark Begich a week later, on November 12. Republican Bill Cassidy defeated Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu in the Louisiana runoff on December 6.

Altogether, at least $3.67 billion was spent by candidates, parties, committees and outside groups in the 2014 election cycle.^[18][19] Spending on the 2014 Senate elections by outside groups (i.e., organizations other than a candidate's campaign, such as super PACs and "dark money" nonprofit groups) more than doubled from 2010. In the 10 competitive races for which data was available, outside groups accounted for 47% of spending, candidates accounted for 41% of spending, and parties accounted for 12% of spending.^[20] The Senate race with the most outside spending was in North Carolina, at $80 million, a new record.^[20]

The top outside spenders in the 11 most competitive Senate races were the following:

• On the Republican side, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Crossroads GPS, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ending Spending Action Fund, Freedom Partners Action Fund, American Crossroads, and the NRA Political Victory Fund.^[20]
• On the Democratic side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senate Majority PAC, and NextGen Climate Action Committee.^[20]

The Republican Party made a net gain of nine U.S. Senate seats in the 2014 elections.^[21]

Going into the elections, there were 53 Democratic, 45 Republican and 2 independent senators (both of whom caucus with the Democrats). In all, there were 36 elections: 33 senators were up for election this year as class 2 senators, and 3 faced special elections (all from Class 3). Of all these seats, 21 were held by Democrats and 15 were held by Republicans.

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties								Total
		Democratic	Republican	Independent	Libertarian	Green	Other
Before these elections		53	45	2	—	—	—	100
Not up		32	30	2	—	—	—	64
	Class 1 (2012→2018)	23	8	2	—	—	—	33
	Class 3 (2010→2016)	9	22	—	—	—	—	31
Up		21	15	—	—	—	—	36
	General: Class 2	20	13	—	—	—	—	33
	Special: Class 3	1	2	—	—	—	—	3
Incumbent retired		4	3[b]	—	—	—	—	7
	Held by same party	1	3	—	—	—	—	4
	Replaced by other party	3 Democrats replaced by   3 Republicans		—	—	—	—	3
	Result	1	6	—	—	—	—	7
Incumbent ran		17[c][d]	12[c]	—	—	—	—	29
	Won election	11[e]	12[e]	—	—	—	—	23
	Lost re-election	5 Democrats replaced by   5 Republicans		—	—	—	—	5
	Lost renomination but held by same party	—	—	—	—	—	—	0
	Withdrew from nomination and party lost	1 Democrat replaced by   1 Republican		—	—	—	—	1
	Result	11	18	—	—	—	—	29
Total elected		12	24	0	—	—	—	36
Net gain/loss		9	9	—	—	—	—	9
Nationwide vote		19,786,883	23,253,636	698,161	879,722	152,703	394,075	45,165,180
	Share	43.81%	51.49%	1.55%	1.95%	0.34%	0.87%	100%
Result		44	54	2	—	—	—	100

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives^[1]

 

Four Democrats and two Republicans retired instead of seeking re-election. Max Baucus of Montana announced his intent to retire at the end of his term, but he resigned on February 6, 2014, after being appointed as the United States Ambassador to China. John Walsh, who was appointed by Montana governor Steve Bullock to finish Baucus's term, later withdrew to run for a full term (see Nomination withdrawn section below).

One Republican resigned four years into his six-year term.

One Democrat was originally to seek election for a full 6-year term in office but withdrew.

Five Democrats sought re-election but lost in the general election.

In these special elections, the winners were elected during 2014 and seated before January 3, 2015 — except that one was seated on January 3, 2015, the effective date of the predecessor's resignation.

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 2015; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

In seven races the margin of victory was under 10%.

 

Several websites used poll aggregation and psephology to estimate the probability that the Republican Party would gain enough seats to take control of the Senate.

Republicans needed to win at least six in order to gain a majority of 51 seats and Democrats needed to win at least seven in order to hold a majority of 50 seats (including the two independents who currently caucus with the Democrats) and the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Joe Biden.

Alabama election

← 2008  () 2017 (special) →

Nominee Jeff Sessions Party Republican Popular vote 795,606 Percentage 97.3%

County results Sessions:      80–90%      90–100%

U.S. senator before election Jeff Sessions Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions Republican

Three-term incumbent Republican Jeff Sessions had been re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2008. Sessions sought re-election. Democrat Victor Sanchez Williams ran against Sessions as a write-in candidate.^[48] Sessions won with 97.3 percent of the vote^[49] against assorted write-in candidates.^[50]

Alaska election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Dan Sullivan Mark Begich Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 135,445 129,431 Percentage 48.0% 45.8%

Sullivan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Begich:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Mark Begich Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan Republican

One-term incumbent Democrat Mark Begich had been first elected with 48% of the vote in 2008, defeating six-term senator Ted Stevens by 3,953 votes (a margin of 1.25%).^[52] Begich was 52 years old in 2014 and was seeking re-election to a second term.^[53] Stevens, who would have been almost 91 years old at the time of the election, had already filed for a rematch back in 2009,^[53] but was killed in a plane crash the following year.

Republican lieutenant governor Mead Treadwell,^[54] 2010 nominee Joe Miller,^[55] State Natural Resources Commissioner Daniel S. Sullivan,^[56] and Air Force veteran John Jaramillo ran for the GOP nomination. In the August 19 primary, Sullivan won the Republican nomination with 40% and defeated Begich in the general election.^[57]

Arkansas election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Tom Cotton Mark Pryor Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 478,819 334,174 Percentage 56.5% 39.4%

County results Cotton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Pryor:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Mark Pryor Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tom Cotton Republican

Two-term incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor had been re-elected with 80% of the vote without Republican opposition in 2008.^[58] Pryor was running for a third term.^[59]

Freshman Representative Tom Cotton of Arkansas's 4th congressional district was the Republican nominee.^[60] In the general election, Cotton defeated Pryor.

Colorado election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Cory Gardner Mark Udall Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 983,891 944,203 Percentage 48.2% 46.3%

Gardner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Udall:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Mark Udall Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Cory Gardner Republican

One-term incumbent Democrat Mark Udall had been elected with 53% of the vote in 2008. Udall was running for re-election.^[62]

Congressman Cory Gardner of Colorado's 4th congressional district was the Republican nominee; his late entry into the race caused numerous Republicans to withdraw their candidacies.^[63] Gaylon Kent was the Libertarian Party nominee. Unity Party of America founder and National Chairman Bill Hammons was the Unity Party nominee.

Delaware election

← 2010 (special) 2020 →

Nominee Chris Coons Kevin Wade Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 130,655 98,823 Percentage 55.8% 42.2%

County results Coons:      60–70% Wade:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Chris Coons Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chris Coons Democratic

Democrat Chris Coons won in the 2010 United States Senate special election in Delaware caused by Joe Biden's election as Vice President, winning by a 57% to 41% margin. Coons sought re-election. His Republican opponent was engineer Kevin Wade,^[66] whom Coons went on to defeat in the general election.

Georgia election

← 2008 2020–21 →

Nominee David Perdue Michelle Nunn Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,358,088 1,160,811 Percentage 52.9% 45.2%

Perdue:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Nunn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Saxby Chambliss Republican Elected U.S. Senator David Perdue Republican

Two-term incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss had been re-elected with 57% of the vote in 2008 in a runoff election with former state Representative Jim Martin; Georgia requires run-off elections when no Senate candidate wins over 50% of the vote. Chambliss did not seek a third term.^[25]

Political activist Derrick Grayson,^[69] Representatives Jack Kingston of Georgia's 1st congressional district,^[70] Paul Broun of Georgia's 10th congressional district,^[71] and Phil Gingrey of Georgia's 11th congressional district^[72] all declared their candidacy for the Republican nomination, as did former secretary of state Karen Handel.^[73] In the May 20 primary, no candidate received a majority of votes, so the top two candidates faced each other in a runoff; Perdue narrowly won against Kingston in the runoff primary election on July 22 with 50.9% of the vote.^[74]

Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light and the daughter of former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, won the Democratic nomination.^[75][76] Other declared Democratic candidates included former state senator Steen Miles, psychiatrist Branko Radulovacki, and former US Army Ranger Todd Robinson. Amanda Swafford, a former Flowery Branch, Georgia, city councilwoman, received the Libertarian Party of Georgia nomination.^[77]

Hawaii special election

← 2010 2016 →

Nominee Brian Schatz Campbell Cavasso Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 246,827 98,006 Percentage 69.8% 27.8%

County results Schatz:      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Brian Schatz Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Brian Schatz Democratic

Daniel Inouye, the second longest serving United States Senator in U.S. history, died on December 17, 2012, after respiratory complications.^[80] Hawaii law allows the Governor of Hawaii, to appoint an interim Senator "who serves until the next regularly-scheduled general election, chosen from a list of three prospective appointees that the prior incumbent's political party submits". Governor Neil Abercrombie did so,^[81] selecting Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz to fill the Senate seat.^[82] Inouye had been re-elected in 2010 with 72% of the vote.^[83] Schatz was challenged in the Democratic primary by Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii's 1st congressional district, who Inouye had hoped would be his successor.^[84] Schatz defeated Hanabusa in the primary with 48.5% to 47.8%.^[85]

Campbell Cavasso, former state representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2010, was the Republican nominee.^[86]

Idaho election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Jim Risch Nels Mitchell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 285,596 151,574 Percentage 65.3% 34.7%

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

U.S. senator before election Jim Risch Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jim Risch Republican

One-term incumbent Republican Jim Risch had been elected with 58% of the vote in 2008. Risch sought a second term.^[89]

Boise attorney Nels Mitchell was the Democratic nominee.^[90]

Illinois election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Dick Durbin Jim Oberweis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,929,637 1,538,522 Percentage 53.5% 42.7%

County results Durbin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Oberweis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Dick Durbin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Democratic

Three-term incumbent and Senate Majority Whip Democrat Dick Durbin had been re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2008. Durbin ran for a fourth term.^[93]

State Senator Jim Oberweis was the Republican nominee.^[94] He defeated primary challenger Doug Truax with 56% of the vote.

Iowa election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Joni Ernst Bruce Braley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 588,575 494,370 Percentage 52.1% 43.8%

Ernst:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Braley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Tom Harkin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joni Ernst Republican

Five-term incumbent Democrat Tom Harkin had been re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2008. Harkin announced on January 26, 2013, that he would not seek a sixth term.^[97] Congressman Bruce Braley was the Democratic nominee.^[98][99]

State Senator Joni Ernst was the Republican nominee.^[100]

Doug Butzier, who was the Libertarian Party's nominee, died in a plane crash on October 13, 2014, but still appeared on the ballot.^[101]

Kansas election

← 2008 2020 →

Nominee Pat Roberts Greg Orman Party Republican Independent Popular vote 460,350 368,372 Percentage 53.1% 42.5%

County results Roberts:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Orman:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Pat Roberts Republican Elected U.S. Senator Pat Roberts Republican

Three-term incumbent Republican Pat Roberts had been re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2008. Roberts sought a fourth term.^[104] He faced a primary challenge from radiologist Milton Wolf, a conservative Tea Party supporter.^[105] Roberts defeated Wolf in the Republican primary by 48% to 41%.^[106] Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor won the Democratic nomination.^[107] Randall Batson from Wichita was on the general election ballot as a Libertarian.^[108] Also, Greg Orman qualified for the ballot as an independent.^[109]

On September 3, Taylor announced he was dropping out of the election, leading to speculation that Democrats would support Orman's candidacy.^[110] On September 18, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that Taylor's name had to be removed from the ballot.^[111]

Kentucky election

← 2008 2020 →
Turnout	46.27%
Nominee Mitch McConnell Alison Lundergan Grimes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 806,787 584,698 Percentage 56.2% 40.7%
McConnell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Grimes:      40–50%      50–60%
U.S. senator before election Mitch McConnell Republican Elected U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell Republican

Five-term Republican incumbent and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had been re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2008. McConnell sought re-election to a sixth term.^[114] McConnell defeated businessman Matt Bevin in the Republican primary on May 20.^[115]

Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, with support from much of Kentucky's Democratic leadership, won the Democratic primary.^[115][116] Actress Ashley Judd publicly claimed to be considering a run for the Democratic nomination, but ultimately decided against it.^[117][118]

Ed Marksberry pursued an independent bid after dropping out of the Democratic field in September 2013.^[119][120]