The Green Papers: Off Year Election 2001
107th Congress Senate Seats by State |
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Alaska 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Ted Stevens Appointed by Governor Walter J. Hickel (Republican) on 24 December 1968, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator E. L. Bartlett (Democrat): 11 December 1968; elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1970; elected to first full term: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Frank H. Murkowski First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. 22 October 2001: Senator Murkowski announced that he would run for governor of Alaska in 2002. | |||
Alabama 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Jeff Sessions First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Richard Shelby First elected as a Democrat: 1986; re-elected: 1992; Changed Party affiliation to Republican: 9 November 1994; re-elected as a Republican: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Arkansas 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Tim Hutchinson First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Arizona 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Jon Kyl First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator John McCain First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
California 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Dianne Feinstein First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1992 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Pete Wilson (Republican): 7 January 1991- which John Seymour (Republican) had been appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (Republican) to fill, 10 January 1991]; Elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Barbara Boxer First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Colorado 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Wayne Allard First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell First elected as a Democrat: 1992; Changed Party affiliation to Republican: 3 March 1995; re-elected as a Republican: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Connecticut 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Joe Lieberman First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Christopher J. Dodd First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Delaware 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Thomas R. Carper First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Florida 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Bill Nelson First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Bob Graham First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Georgia 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Max Cleland First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Zell Miller Appointed by Governor Roy E. Barnes (Democrat) on 27 July 2000, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Paul Coverdell (Republican): 24 July 2000; elected to serve the remainder of Senator Coverdell's term: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Hawaii 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Daniel K. Akaka Appointed by Governor John Waihee (Democrat) 16 May 1990, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Spark M. Matsunaga (Democrat): 15 April 1990; elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1990; elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Daniel K. Inouye First elected: 1962; re-elected: 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Iowa 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Tom Harkin First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Charles Grassley First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Idaho 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Larry E. Craig First elected: 1990; re-elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Mike Crapo First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Illinois 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Richard J. Durbin First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Peter G. Fitzgerald First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Indiana 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Richard G. Lugar First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Evan Bayh First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. 2001 June 15: Senator Bayh states that he will not seek the White House in 2004. | |||
Kansas 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Pat Roberts First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Sam Brownback First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1996 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Robert J. Dole: 11 June 1996- which Sheila Frahm (Republican) had been appointed by Governor Bill Graves (Republican) to fill, 11 June 1996]; elected to a full term: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Kentucky 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Mitch McConnell First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Jim Bunning First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Louisiana 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Mary L. Landrieu First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator John B. Breaux First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Massachusetts 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Edward M. Kennedy First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1962 [held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator John F. Kennedy (Democrat): 22 December 1960- which Benjamin A. Smith II (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor Foster Furcolo (Democrat) to fill, 27 December 1960]; elected to first full term: 1964; re-elected: 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator John F. Kerry First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Maryland 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Paul Sarbanes First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Barbara A. Mikulski First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Maine 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Olympia J. Snowe First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Susan M. Collins First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Michigan 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Debbie Stabenow First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Carl Levin First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Minnesota 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Mark Dayton First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Paul D. Wellstone First elected: 1990; re-elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Missouri 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Jean Carnahan Jean Carahan was appointed by Democatic Governor Roger Wilson to fill the seat of her deceased husband, Governor Mel Carnahan, who was posthumously relected on 7 November 2000. She was sworn in on 3 January 2001. Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Mississippi 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Trent Lott First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Thad Cochran First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Montana 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Conrad Burns First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Max Baucus First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
North Carolina 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Jesse Helms First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator John Edwards First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
North Dakota 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Kent Conrad First elected to the "Class 3" seat from the state: 1986; was not a candidate for re-election in the 3 November 1992 General Election; Elected to finish out the "Class 1" term in a Special Election: 4 December 1992 [held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Quentin N. Burdick (Democrat): 8 September 1992- which Jocelyn B. Burdick (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor George Sinner (Democrat) to fill, 12 September 1992]; elected to a full term: 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Byron L. Dorgan First elected: 1992; was induced to take the oath of office: 5 December 1992 when the seat became vacant upon outgoing Senator Kent Conrad (Democrat) having taken the oath of office for the "Class 1" seat from the state; re-elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Nebraska 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Ben Nelson First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Chuck Hagel First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
New Hampshire 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Robert C. "Bob" Smith First elected: 1990; re-elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Judd Gregg First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
New Jersey 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Jon Corzine First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Robert G. Torricelli First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
New Mexico 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Jeff Bingaman First elected: 1982; re-elected: 1988, 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Pete V. Domenici First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Nevada 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator John Ensign First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Harry Reid First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
New York 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Chuck Schumer First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Ohio 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Mike DeWine First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator George V. Voinovich First elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Oklahoma 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator James M. Inhofe First elected to fill out the term in a Special Election: 1994 [held to fill the impending vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator David L. Boren (Democrat): effective, 15 November 1994 but announced before the 1994 Oklahoma state/local Primary in August 1994, allowing for this Special Election to take place; elected to a full term: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Don Nickles First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Oregon 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Gordon Smith First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Ron Wyden First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 30 January 1996 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Robert Packwood (Republican): 1 October 1995 (Oregon state law does not permit the state's Governor to make temporary appointments to fill vacancies in the United States Senate)]; elected to a full term: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Pennsylvania 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Rick Santorum First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Arlen Specter First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Rhode Island 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Lincoln D. Chafee Appointed by Governor Lincoln C. Almond (Republican) on 2 November 1999, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator John H. Chafee (Republican): 24 October 1999; elected to first full term 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator John F. "Jack" Reed First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
South Carolina 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator J. Strom Thurmond First elected as an Independent candidate to this seat: 1954 (the only United States Senator ever elected solely by write-in vote: the write-in campaign was caused by Thurmond's failure to win endorsement by the state Democratic Party [Senator Burnet R. Maybank (Democrat) had died: 1 September 1954 but had been previously renominated for re-election to the seat in the 13 July 1954 primary; Thurmond's campaign was a protest against the Party hierarchy, and not the Party rank-and-file, replacing Maybank as the Democrat nominee]); resigned 4 April 1956 in order to contest for the Democrat nomination for the Senate in a Special Primary that Summer; elected as a Democrat to finish out the term in a Special Election held to fill vacancy caused by his own resignation: 1956; re-elected as a Democrat: 1960; changed Party affiliation to Republican: 16 September 1964; re-elected as a Republican: 1966, 1972, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. February 2001: Congressman Thurmond, 98, has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1966 [held to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Olin D. Johnston (Democrat): 18 April 1965- which Donald S. Russell (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor Robert E. McNair (Democrat) to fill, 22 April 1965 (Russell had resigned as Governor on 22 April 1965 allowing Lieutenant Governor McNair to succeed to the office of Governor, after which McNair appointed Russell to the Senate)]; elected to full term: 1968; re-elected: 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
South Dakota 6-year term | |||||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator Tim Johnson First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Tom Daschle First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Tennessee 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Bill Frist First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Fred Thompson First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1994 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Albert A. Gore, Jr. (Democrat): 1 January 1993- which Harlan Mathews (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor Ned R. McWherter (Democrat) to fill, 2 January 1993]; elected to a full term: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. 2001 September 24: Senator Thompson announces he will run for re-election in 2002. | |||
Texas 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison First elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1 May 1993- and necessary subsequent Runoff: 5 June 1993 [held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. (Democrat): 20 January 1993- which Robert Krueger had been appointed by Governor Ann W. Richards (Democrat) to fill, 21 January 1993]; elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Phil Gramm First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Utah 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Orrin G. Hatch First elected: 1976; re-elected: 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Republican | Senator Robert F. Bennett First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Virginia 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator George F. Allen First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator John W. Warner First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Vermont 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Independent | Senator Jim Jeffords First elected (as a Republican): 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000. Switched to Independent 24 May 2001. Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Patrick Leahy First elected: 1974; re-elected: 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Washington 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Maria Cantwell First elected: 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Patty Murray First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
Wisconsin 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Herbert H. Kohl First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 3 | Democrat | Senator Russ Feingold First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 2, 2004. | |||
West Virginia 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Democrat | Senator Robert C. Byrd First elected: 1958; re-elected: 1964, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Democrat | Senator John D. Rockefeller, 4th First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. | |||
Wyoming 6-year term | |||||
Class 1 | Republican | Senator Craig Thomas First elected: 1994; re-elected 2000 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006. | |||
Class 2 | Republican | Senator Michael B. Enzi First elected: 1996 Seat up for election: Tuesday, November 5, 2002. |
Notes | |||
Senate ClassClass 1 seats begin their new terms at noon on 3 January 2001... next regular election for these seats is in 2006. For more information review UNITED STATES SENATE: Electoral "Classes" Article I, Section 3, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States reads as follows: "Immediately after [the Senate of the United States] shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year..." Pursuant to this Constitutional provision, a three-Senator Committee was appointed by the Senate on 11 May 1789 to come up with a plan to carry out the requirements of that provision; this Committee reported to the Senate on 14 May 1789 a plan to divide the then 20 Senators (there were 10 of the 13 original States represented in the Senate at the time- each having 2 Senators: North Carolina and Rhode Island had yet to ratify the U.S. Constitution, while New York had so ratified but had failed to elect Senators as of that date) into the requisite three electoral Classes: under this plan, three groups of Senators (set up in such a way so as no State had its two Senators in the same group) were to be listed and the first Senator on each list (a list which was set up geographically north-to-south in the manner in which the Electoral Vote for President was counted before Congress at that time, so that two of the first Senators on these lists were from New Hampshire and the third was the first Senator in alphabetical order from Massachusetts) was to each blindly draw a piece of paper numbered either "1", "2" or "3" out of a box in the possession of the Secretary of the Senate. This plan being agreeable to the Senate and so approved, the drawing of lots in this manner was carried out the following day (15 May 1789)- such lot drawing ultimately determining that, to start with, Classes 1 and 2 were to have 7 Senators each and Class 3 was to have only 6 Senators. When New York finally seated its two Senators during the ensuing Summer, there was another lot drawing (actually a double-lot drawing) on 28 July 1789 to determine the Classes for these seats: since one of the seats had to be Class 3 to make it equal in number to that of the other two Classes so far, the two New York Senators each blindly drew between two pieces of paper, one marked "3", the other which was blank- after this, there was a second lot drawing in which the New York Senator who had drawn the blank paper blindly drew again between two pieces of paper marked "1" and "2": he drew "1" so that New York would henceforth have Senators of electoral Classes 1 and 3. When North Carolina seated its two Senators after ratifying the Constitution on 21 November 1789, there was yet another lot drawing (on 29 January 1790) in which North Carolina's two Senators each blindly drew between pieces of paper marked "2" and "3" (since there were now 12 States and, thus, 24 Senators: 24 being equally divisible by 3, there would now have to be 8 Senators in each of the three Classes to fulfill the Constitutional provision that, as nearly as was practicable, one third of the Senate be elected every second year). After Rhode Island- the last of the 13 original States- finally ratified the Constitution on 29 May 1790 and subsequently seated its two Senators that Summer, there was yet one more lot drawing in the First Congress (on 25 June 1790) in which Rhode Island's two Senators blindly drew between pieces of paper marked "1", "2" and "3": one Senator drew "2", the other drew "1"- thereby determining electoral Classes 1 and 2 as those for the Senators from this State. When Vermont was admitted to the Union as the 14th state on 4 March 1791, there was again a double lot drawing as there had been for New York. From that day until this, whenever a new State has been admitted to the Union, these types of lot drawings (the type determined by the necessity of keeping the number of Senators in each electoral Class as close to one third as possible at the time of said lot drawing) between the new State's first Senators is held before the Senate to determine in just which of the three electoral Classes that State's Senate seats will be placed from then on. |