 |
| U.S. Senate Seats Up For Reelection 2014 courtesy of rasmussenreports.com |
In times where the majority of Americans are screaming for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, investigations into White House scandals, and for a simple budget, the calls for action are seemingly unheard in Congress. With a Republican controlled House and Democrat controlled Senate, as well as a president who bitterly divides the nation; it is difficult to pass anything, including a simple federal budget. The GOP had an opportunity to take control of the Senate in 2012 but failed to do so. However, 2014 looks to be a promising year for conservatives. The GOP is not only set for Senate gains, but also a Senate majority.
Despite efforts by the Republicans, the lack of success in taking the Senate in 2012 was not a party failure. The Senate seats up for reelection were largely in solid red or blue states.
 |
| 113th Senate Party Affiliation courtesy of Wikipedia |
The 2012 Senate elections, by default, presented little opportunity for either party to make gains; which assured the status quo. Yet Republicans kept a strong majority in the House, which is a promising sign for the 2014 Senate elections; since only 1/3 Senate seats are up for reelection every 2 years, whereas all House terms are up in the same time frame. In 2014, there are 33 Senate seats up for reelection; 13 Republicans and 20 Democrats. Democrats are more vulnerable to lose seats simply because more of them are up for reelection. Most Republican seats are in solidly red states. Many Democrat Senators up for reelection in 2014 were ushered in with the overwhelming Obama support in 2008; many of whom are in swing states or even right-leaning states. As in most non-presidential election cycles, conservative voters tend to overwhelmingly out-vote liberals. It is the perfect storm for conservatives.
 |
| Senator Max Baucus (D-MA) |
Taking a look Senate seats up for reelection in 2014, there are many states in which Democrat Senate seats are not only threatened, but have a high probability of loss to the GOP. In Montana, generally a red state, Democrat Senator Max Baucus, cosponsor of the unpopular Affordable Care Act, is retiring. If he were to seek reelection, he would most likely lose because he called Obamacare a 'train wreck,' despite his apt sponsorship of the bill in 2009.
 |
| Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) | |
|
In Louisiana, Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu has a 47% approval rating. While her approval is not terrible, it is also not good. The incumbent Senator has faced declining approval rating since her last reelection in 2008, not to mention she is in a red Southern state. She has been in Congress since 1997. This would work to her advantage if she did not have stiff competition from the right.
 |
| Representative Dr. Bill Cassidy (R- LA) |
Dr. Bill Cassidy, currently representing Louisiana's 6th House District of greater Baton Rouge, is wildly popular in Louisiana, and won reelection with nearly 80% of the general election vote in 2012. Should he cruise to an assumed primary victory, he will most likely beat Senator Landrieu.
Even Democrat Senator Dick Durbin's seat is in danger. The Illinois Senator won reelection in 2008, and like Louisiana's Landrieu, has been battling declining approval ratings. One might say Illinois is 'too blue'; however Illinois has a tendency to elect Republican Senators like Mark Kirk or Peter Fitzgerald in non-presidential election years. And there are many other Democrat Senators in strikingly similar reelection situations.
With the current party affiliation of the Senate, Republicans would need to keep the current 13 seats as well as pick up only 6 of the 20 Senate seats currently held by Democrats.
 |
| U.S. Senate Party Affiliation courtesy of Wikipedia |
This would result in a slim 51-47 Republican majority with 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats. But because most GOP Senate seats are relatively safe, and because many Democrat Senate seats are threatened, it would come as no surprise if the GOP picks up a larger senate majority in 2014. This possibility will enable Republicans to attempt to fix the mess President Obama has created. Repeal of the Affordable Care Act, sincere and effective federal budget cuts, and even a possible full impeachment of the president, as scandals continue to mount. With a Republican controlled Senate in 2014, the voice of the majority of Americans may finally be heard loud and clear.
See also:
U.S. Senate Conservatives Fund
