The 2014 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, 2014. The Republicans gained control of the Senate, winning a net gain of nine seats. Prior to the election, the Democrats controlled the Senate with a 53-45 majority (including two independents who caucused with the Democrats) and the Republicans controlled the House of Representatives with a 234-201 majority.
Key Races to Watch
Some of the key races to watch in the 2014 Senate elections included Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia.
In Alaska, incumbent Democrat Mark Begich faced a tough challenge from Republican Dan Sullivan. In Arkansas, incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor faced a challenge from Republican Tom Cotton. In Colorado, incumbent Democrat Mark Udall faced a challenge from Republican Cory Gardner. In Georgia, an open seat was up for grabs with Republican David Perdue facing Democrat Michelle Nunn.
In Iowa, Democrat Bruce Braley faced Republican Joni Ernst for an open seat. In Kansas, incumbent Republican Pat Roberts faced an independent candidate, Greg Orman. In Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell faced a challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. In Louisiana, incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu faced a challenge from Republican Bill Cassidy.
In Michigan, an open seat was up for grabs with Democrat Gary Peters facing Republican Terri Lynn Land. In Minnesota, incumbent Democrat Al Franken faced a challenge from Republican Mike McFadden. In Montana, Democrat John Walsh faced Republican Steve Daines for an open seat. In New Hampshire, incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen faced a challenge from Republican Scott Brown.
In North Carolina, incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan faced a challenge from Republican Thom Tillis. In Oregon, incumbent Democrat Jeff Merkley faced a challenge from Republican Monica Wehby. In South Dakota, an open seat was up for grabs with Republican Mike Rounds facing Democrat Rick Weiland. In Virginia, incumbent Democrat Mark Warner faced a challenge from Republican Ed Gillespie. In West Virginia, an open seat was up for grabs with Republican Shelley Moore Capito facing Democrat Natalie Tennant.
Polls and Predictions
Polls leading up to the election showed a tight race in many of these key races. The website RealClearPolitics provided an average of the polls in each race, with many of them showing a margin of error within the polling results.
On election night, the Republicans were able to gain the majority in the Senate, winning a net gain of nine seats. This was largely due to their success in many of the key races mentioned above.
Conclusion
The 2014 Senate elections were an important event in American politics, as they resulted in a shift in power in the Senate. The Republicans were able to gain control of the Senate and set the agenda for the next two years. The key races mentioned above were closely watched and heavily contested, with many of them being decided by a small margin. Overall, the 2014 Senate elections were a significant moment in American political history.