The Green Papers: 2012 General Election
 
Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm 112th Congress
Senate Seats by State

This is a list of the current Senate seats and the incumbents occupying them. 33 Senate Seats are up for election on 6 November 2012.

There have been 1 death, 1 resignation, and 0 changes re: party breakdown in the 112th Senate.

  • Senator John Eric Ensign (Republican, Nevada Class 1) resigned on 3 May 2011 following an ethics violation.
  • Congressman Dean Heller (Republican, Nevada CD 2) was appointed to Nevada's Class 1 U.S. Senate Seat on 3 May 2011.
  • Senator Daniel K. Inouye (Democratic, Hawaii Class 3) passed away on 17 December 2012 due to a respiratory illness.
  • Lieutenant Governor Brian E. Schatz (Democratic) was appointed to Hawaii's Class 3 U.S. Senate Seat on 26 December 2012.

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Legislative Links     Senate Electoral Classes

           

Alabama  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Alaska  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Mark Begich
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Arizona  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Arkansas  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Mark Lunsford Pryor
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

California  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
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; 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
on General Election ballot - won one of "Top Two" positions in 5 June 2012 Primary.

Class 3 Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004, 2010.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Colorado  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 2 Democratic Senator Mark E. Udall
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Class 3 Democratic Senator Michael F. Bennet
Appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ken Salazar on 21 January 2009 after entering upon his duties as Secretary of the Interior; appointed 21 January 2009 and sworn 22 January 2009. First elected: 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Connecticut  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Independent Democrat, 1 Democratic

Class 3 Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal
First elected: 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Delaware  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Thomas R. "Tom" Carper
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990;
elected Governor: 1992; re-elected: 1996]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 11 September 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator Christopher A. "Chris" Coons
First elected in a special election: 2010 (to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Joe Biden [Democrat] in January 2009 in order to accede to the Vice-Presidency of the United States; he replaces Senator Edward E. "Ted" Kaufman [Democrat] who had been appointed by the Governor of DELAWARE to temporarily fill the vacancy.)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Florida  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Bill Nelson
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary

Georgia  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Hawaii  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Senator Daniel Kahikina 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, 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 2 March 2011: Announced retirement.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Class 3 Democratic Senator Brian E. Schatz
Appointed: 26 December 2012 (re 17 December 2012 death of Senator Daniel K. Inouye [Democratic])
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Idaho  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Illinois  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Richard J. "Dick" Durbin
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Indiana  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Iowa  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996; 2002, 2008
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Kansas  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Kentucky  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Louisiana  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Mary L. Landrieu
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Maine  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Maryland  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Benjamin L. "Ben" Cardin
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 3 April 2012 Primary

Class 3 Democratic Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Massachusetts  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democratic

Class 2 Democratic Senator John F. Kerry
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Open Seat - 15 December 2012: Media reports state that President Obama will nominate Senator John F. Kerry for Secretary of State.
21 December 2012: Officially nominated.

Michigan  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1996, 1998]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 7 August 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator Carl Levin
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Minnesota  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Amy J. Klobuchar
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator Al Franken
First elected: 2008 in a contested election resolved 30 June 2009 by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Sworn 7 July 2009.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Mississippi  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Missouri  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Claire C. McCaskill
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 7 August 2012 Primary

Montana  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Jon Tester
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator Max Baucus
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
2 April 2012: Announced that he will seek re-election in 2014.

Nebraska  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Senator E. Benjamin "Ben" Nelson
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 27 December 2011: Media reports indicate that Senator Nelson will announce his retirement from the Senate at the end of his current term (which ends at Noon, 3 January 2013)
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Nevada  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democratic

Class 3 Democratic Senator Harry Mason Reid
First elected: 1986; re-elected: 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

New Hampshire  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

New Jersey  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Robert "Bob" Menendez
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
Appointed by Governor Jon S. Corzine to fill the vacancy caused by Corzine having resigned this seat 17 January 2006 upon taking the Oath of Office as Governor of the State; first elected: 2006.
[Previously served in the U.S. House to which he was first elected in 1992: subsequently re-elected in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008.
Previously served in the Class 1 NJ Senate seat to which he was first elected: 1982 and re-elected: 1988, 1994-- was not a candidate for his Party's nomination for the Class 1 seat in 2000.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

New Mexico  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Senator Jesse F. "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr.
First elected: 1982; re-elected: 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 18 February 2011: Announced retirement.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Class 2 Democratic Senator Tom Udall
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

New York  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
23 January 2009: Appointed by Governor David Paterson to fill the vacancy caused by the 21 January 2009 resignation of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in order to enter upon her duties as U.S. Secretary of State. Sworn 27 January 2009 to serve until a Special Election was held in November 2010 for the remainder of the term ending 3 January 2013. First elected in a special election: 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 26 June 2012 Primary

Class 3 Democratic Senator Charles E. "Chuck" Schumer
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004, 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

North Carolina  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Kay R. Hagan
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

North Dakota  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Senator Gaylord Kent "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, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 18 January 2011: Announced retirement.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Ohio  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 6 March 2012 Primary

Oklahoma  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Oregon  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 2 Democratic Senator Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Merkley
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Class 3 Democratic Senator Ronald Lee "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; re-elected: 2004, 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Pennsylvania  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Robert P. "Bob" Casey, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 24 April 2012 Primary

Rhode Island  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, II
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 11 September 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator John F. "Jack" Reed
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

South Carolina  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

South Dakota  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 2 Democratic Senator Tim Johnson
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002; re-elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Tennessee  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Texas  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Utah  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Vermont  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Independent, 1 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Independent Senator Bernard "Bernie" Sanders
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006 (ran as a Democrat in the primary and as an Independent in the General Election)
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 28 August 2012 Primary

Class 3 Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy
First elected: 1974; re-elected: 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Virginia  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Senator James H. "Jim" Webb, Jr.
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 9 February 2011: "...after much thought and consideration I have decided to return to the private sector ... and will not seek re-election in 2012."
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Class 2 Democratic Senator Mark Robert Warner
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Washington  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Maria E. Cantwell
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
on General Election ballot - 7 August 2012 Primary

Class 3 Democratic Senator Patty Murray
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004, 2010.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

West Virginia  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Democratic

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, III
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected in a special election to a partial term to fill the vacancy caused by the 28 June 2010 death of Senator Robert C. Byrd (Democratic): 2 November 2010. He replaces Senator Carte P. Goodwin (Democrat) who had been appointed by Governor Joe Manchin (Democratic) to temporarily fill the vacancy until the special election.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 8 May 2012 Primary

Class 2 Democratic Senator John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller, IV
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Wisconsin  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Senator Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl
First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000, 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Open Seat - 13 May 2011: Media reports say Senator Kohl will not seek re-election in 2012.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **

Wyoming  6-year term. No Term Limit. Senate Electoral Classes
Partisan Composition: 2 Republican

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
  Democratic
  Democratic-Farmer Labor
  Democratic-Nonpartisan League
  Republican
Major Third Parties
  Constitution
  Green
  Libertarian
  Reform
Other Third Parties
  America First
  Common Sense
  Conservative
  Democratic/Republican
  Grassroots
  Independence
  Independent American
  Independent Party of Connecticut
  Independent Party Of Delaware
  Justice Party
  Liberty Union
  Marijuana
  Mountain
  Natural Law
  Progressive
  Socialist Party USA
  Socialist Workers Party
  U.S. Taxpayers
  Workers World
  Working Families
  Wyoming Country
Independents
  Independent
  Independent Democrat
  No Party Affiliation
  Nonpartisan
  Unaffiliated
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  None of these candidates
  Scattering
  Write-in
 

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.


"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


Senate Class

Class 1 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2013... next regular election for these seats is in 6 November 2012.
Class 2 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2015... next regular election for these seats is 4 November 2014.
Class 3 seats begin their current terms at noon on 3 January 2011... next regular election for these seats is 8 November 2016.

For more information on Senate Classes refer to 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.


 


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