Political Experts Rate the 2012 Senate Contests
Each election cycle, in addition to our own analyses, we compile predictions by other political race experts on the most competitive races in the country. Below, find forecasts** for 2012 Senate elections from The Cook Political Report, Stuart Rothenberg’s Political Report, Congressional Quarterly, and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball. In the past month or so, 11 of the changes of assessment have moved toward the Democrats and 3 to the Republicans, an indication of a slight trend to the Democrats.
Arizona
Sen. Jon Kyl (R) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Toss Up/Tilt Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up
California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
Connecticut
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Toss Up/Tilt Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up
Delaware
Sen. Tom Carper (D)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson (D)
The Cook Political Report - Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Lean Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat
Hawaii
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Democrat Favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat
Indiana
Sen. Dick Lugar (R)
The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Toss Up/Tilt Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up
Maine
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R)
The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Lean Democrat/Independent
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Leans Democrat/Independent
Maryland
Sen. Ben Cardin (D)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
Massachusetts
Sen. Scott Brown (R)
The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Leans Democrat
Michigan
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D)
The Cook Political Report - Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Favored Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat
Minnesota
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
Mississippi
Sen. Roger Wicker (R)
The Cook Political Report - Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican
Missouri
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D)
The Cook Political Report – Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Lean Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat
Montana
Sen. Jon Tester (D)
The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Republican
Nebraska
Sen. Ben Nelson (D)
The Cook Political Report – Likely Republican
The Rothenberg Report – Republican Favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Republican
Nevada
Sen. John Ensign (R) - retiring
The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up
New Jersey
Sen. Robert Menendez (D)
The Cook Political Report – Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat
New Mexico
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Democrat Favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat
New York
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
North Dakota
Sen. Kent Conrad (D) - retiring
The Cook Political Report - Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report – Pure Toss-Up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up
Ohio
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D)
The Cook Political Report - Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Lean Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat
Pennsylvania
Sen. Robert P. Casey (D)
The Cook Political Report - Lean Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Likely Democrat
Rhode Island
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
Tennessee
Sen. Bob Corker (R)
The Cook Political Report- Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican
Texas
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican
Utah
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R)
The Cook Political Report - Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican
Vermont
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – SafeDemocrat
Virginia
Sen. Jim Webb (D) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Pure Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Lean Democrat
Washington
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D)
The Cook Political Report –Solid Democrat
The Rothenberg Report – Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
West Virginia
Sen. Joe Manchin (D)
The Cook Political Report – Likely Democrat
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Democrat
Wisconsin
Sen. Herb Kohl (D) - retiring
The Cook Political Report – Toss Up
The Rothenberg Report - Pure Toss Up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Toss Up
Wyoming
Sen. John Barrasso (R)
The Cook Political Report – Solid Republican
The Rothenberg Report - Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball – Safe Republican
**Last Update: October 26, 2012
