Monday, 1 November 2010

Backdated - US Senate Predictions for 2010 Midterms

Is anyone out there? Hello? Oh well.

It has technically been Election Day for about an hour and a quarter in Washington D.C. – Seattle has to wait another couple of hours though. And being just after 1 AM, there have obviously not been any votes cast – ignoring postal votes, of course.

So, before any exit poll data is announced, here is my US Senate pre-poll predictions for the 2010 Midterm Elections:

  1. Alabama (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  2. Alaska (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  3. Arizona (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  4. Arkansas (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Republican seat
  5. California (Formerly Democrat) – Possible Democrat seat
  6. Colorado (Formerly Democrat) – Tossup
  7. Connecticut (Retiring Democrat) – Possible Democrat seat
  8. Delaware (Retiring Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  9. Florida (Retiring Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  10. Georgia (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  11. Hawaii (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  12. Idaho (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  13. Illinois (Retiring Democrat) – Tossup
  14. Indiana (Retiring Democrat) – Likely Republican seat
  15. Iowa (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  16. Kansas (Retiring Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  17. Kentucky (Retiring Republican) – Possible Republican seat
  18. Louisiana (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  19. Maryland (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  20. Missouri (Retiring Republican) – Possible Republican seat
  21. Nevada (Formerly Democrat) – Tossup
  22. New Hampshire (Retiring Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  23. New York (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  24. New York* (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  25. North Carolina (Formerly Republican) – Tossup
  26. North Dakota (Retiring Democrat) – Likely Republican seat
  27. Ohio (Retiring Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  28. Oklahoma (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  29. Oregon (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  30. Pennsylvania (Retiring Democrat) – Tossup
  31. South Carolina (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  32. South Dakota (Formerly Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  33. Utah (Retiring Republican) – Likely Republican seat
  34. Vermont (Formerly Democrat) – Likely Democrat seat
  35. Washington (Formerly Democrat) – Possible Democrat seat
  36. West Virginia (Retiring Democrat) – Tossup
  37. Wisconsin (Formerly Democrat) – Possible Republican seat

*New York has both Senate seats up for Election in 2010

Remember that the last time most of these people faced election was the 2004 Presidential Elections, which saw a slight swing to the Republicans. 2010 promises bigger Republican support, however, so it would not be surprising to see North Carolina return to the Republicans with several formerly Democratic Tossups. However, with 40 Democrat seats carrying over and only 23 republicans, the Democrats have a distinct advantage in known seats – a lead of 17.

If the Likely seats fall as predicted, this will reduce the Democrats’ lead to 6, with 47 seats against the Republicans’ 41. Factoring in Possible seats as well, both sides gain 3 leaving the tally at 50 to 44 in favour of the Democrats. Allowing for the Dems to pick up a few Tossups, and expecting any likely or possible seats lost to be compensated by gains in the Tossups would give the Democrats a strong enough lead to govern the Senate until 2012.

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