2010 United States Senate elections (Blue Decade)

The 2010 United States Senate elections were held on November 2, 2010, from among the United States Senate's 100 seats. A special election was held on January 19, 2010, for a mid-term vacancy in Massachusetts. Thirty-four of the November elections were for six-year terms to the Senate's Class 3, while other three were special elections to finish incomplete terms. Those 37 November elections featured 19 incumbent Democrats (seven of whom retired or were defeated in the primary) and 18 incumbent Republicans (eight of whom retired or were defeated in the primary).

After the 2008 elections, the Senate was composed of 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 2 independents who caucused with the Democrats. Despite losing the popular vote, Democrats retained control of the Senate after the election.

Republicans won four seats held by retiring Democrats and also defeated two incumbent Democrats, for a Republican net gain of six seats. This was the first time since 1994 that Republicans successfully defended all of their own seats. This was also the fourth consecutive election of Class 3 senators where Democrats failed to gain seats, and the third consecutive midterm election held in a president's first term where Republicans picked up seats. Despite the Republican gains, the Democrats retained a majority of the Senate with 51 seats plus the two independents who caucused with them, compared to the 47 Republican seats.

, this was the last time Republicans won U.S. Senate seats in Illinois and New Hampshire.

Retirements
Five Democrats and five Republicans (includes two interim appointees to finish the current 6-year term) retired rather than seek re-election. Additionally, two Democrats retired rather than seek election to finish the unexpired term.

Defeats
Three Democrats and one Republican sought re-election but lost in either the primary or general election.

Special elections during the 111th Congress
In these special elections, the winner was seated in the fall of 2010 (excluding Massachusetts), once they qualified and their elections were certified. Sorted by election date, then state, then class.

Elections leading to the next Congress
Source:

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 2011; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

Closest races
Seven November races, as well as the Massachusetts special election in January, had margins less than 10%: {| class="wikitable sortable"

! District ! Winner ! Margin


 * Illinois
 * data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip)
 * 1.6%
 * 1.6%


 * Colorado
 * data-sort-value=-0.5 | Democratic
 * 1.7%
 * 1.7%


 * Pennsylvania
 * data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip)
 * 2.0%
 * 2.0%


 * Alaska
 * data-sort-value=0.5 | Republican
 * 4.0%
 * 4.0%


 * Washington
 * data-sort-value=-0.5 | Democratic
 * 4.7%
 * 4.7%


 * Massachusetts
 * data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip)
 * 4.8%
 * 4.8%