Senate leans Republican, but Roberts race a toss-up
November 04, 2014 | 03:43 PM
With Election Day underway, the Republicans appear poised to take control of the Senate, but the race for Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, to keep his seat remains a toss-up.
Roberts would become Senate Agriculture Committee chairman if the Republicans take control of the Senate and he wins.
But Gary Orman, an independent candidate, is running even with Roberts, the Cook Political Report said in its final analysis issued late Monday. Orman gave an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe show early today. (See links)
The calculation that Republicans may take control of the Senate is based on the fact that polls show their candidates are ahead or in toss-up positions in many states. But nine Senate races remain within the margin error in polls and the Democrats are believed to have a stronger get-out-the-vote effort in many states, the Cook Report said.
To control the Senate, the Republicans must have 51 seats. If the Senate is divided 50-50, Vice President Joe Biden would provide the 51st vote that would keep the chamber in Democratic control.
Republicans are expected to win the Democratic open seats in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. Assuming they do not lose any of the seats they now hold, they need to win three more. But if they should lose Kentucky, Georgia or Kansas, which are all rated as toss-ups, they would have to win additional states.
The nine seats that the Cook Report rates within the margin of error are Iowa, Colorado, Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire and North Carolina, Kansas and Georgia.
There also remains the strong possibility that the control of the Senate could be determined by runoffs in Louisiana in December and Georgia in January.
The first polls to close are at 7 p.m. EST in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia. The last polls to close will be Alaska at 1 a.m. EST on Wednesday.
On the House side, Republicans are expected to pick up five or six seats. But one of the most vulnerable House Republicans is Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., who led the campaign to make it more difficult for people to receive food stamp benefits.
There are also gubernatorial races in which a change of officeholder would likely lead to a change of appointed state agriculture commissioner and seven state agriculture commissioner races (see story below) as well as ballot initiatives on genetic modification and other issues.
The Hagstrom Report will send alerts throughout the evening as the races are decided.
▪ The Cook Political Report
▪ MSNBC “Morning Joe” — Orman: Kansas voters want end to gridlock
Roberts would become Senate Agriculture Committee chairman if the Republicans take control of the Senate and he wins.
But Gary Orman, an independent candidate, is running even with Roberts, the Cook Political Report said in its final analysis issued late Monday. Orman gave an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe show early today. (See links)
The calculation that Republicans may take control of the Senate is based on the fact that polls show their candidates are ahead or in toss-up positions in many states. But nine Senate races remain within the margin error in polls and the Democrats are believed to have a stronger get-out-the-vote effort in many states, the Cook Report said.
To control the Senate, the Republicans must have 51 seats. If the Senate is divided 50-50, Vice President Joe Biden would provide the 51st vote that would keep the chamber in Democratic control.
Republicans are expected to win the Democratic open seats in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. Assuming they do not lose any of the seats they now hold, they need to win three more. But if they should lose Kentucky, Georgia or Kansas, which are all rated as toss-ups, they would have to win additional states.
The nine seats that the Cook Report rates within the margin of error are Iowa, Colorado, Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire and North Carolina, Kansas and Georgia.
There also remains the strong possibility that the control of the Senate could be determined by runoffs in Louisiana in December and Georgia in January.
The first polls to close are at 7 p.m. EST in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia. The last polls to close will be Alaska at 1 a.m. EST on Wednesday.
On the House side, Republicans are expected to pick up five or six seats. But one of the most vulnerable House Republicans is Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., who led the campaign to make it more difficult for people to receive food stamp benefits.
There are also gubernatorial races in which a change of officeholder would likely lead to a change of appointed state agriculture commissioner and seven state agriculture commissioner races (see story below) as well as ballot initiatives on genetic modification and other issues.
The Hagstrom Report will send alerts throughout the evening as the races are decided.
▪ The Cook Political Report
▪ MSNBC “Morning Joe” — Orman: Kansas voters want end to gridlock
