Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Candidates
    • House Candidates
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Analysis
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / Final Predictions on 2008 Senate Races

November 4, 2008

Final Predictions on 2008 Senate Races

The final predictions from our four outside election experts – Charlie Cook, Congressional Quarterly, Larry Sabato, and Stuart Rothenberg – are in.

These analysts only made slight modifications from their predictions a few weeks ago, and all but one (CQ’s shift of Missippi’s race into the “Leans Republican” category) in a direction beneficial for Democrats. Of particular note was a shift by Larry Sabato of Elizabeth Dole’s race in North Carolina from “Leans Republican” to “Leans Democrat.”

Read our analysis of these and other races here.

And find complete polling data here.

Top Tier Senate Races

Alaska

Incumbent Ted Stevens (R) vs. Mark Begich (D)
Cook Political Report: Leans Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Colorado

OPEN (Allard-R): Bob Schaffer (R) vs. Mark Udall (D) [Council endorsee]
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Democrat favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Likely Democrat

Georgia

Incumbent Saxby Chambliss (R) vs. Jim Martin (D)  [Council endorsee]
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: No clear favorite
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

Louisiana

Incumbent Mary Landrieu (D) vs. John Kennedy (R)
Cook Political Report: Leans Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

Maine

Incumbent Susan Collins (R) vs. Tom Allen (D) [Council endorsee]
Cook Political Report: Likely Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Clear Republican advantage

Minnesota

Incumbent Norm Coleman (R) vs. Al Franken (D) [Council endorsee] vs. Dean Barkley (I)
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: No clear favorite
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Toss-up

Mississippi

Incumbent Roger Wicker (R) vs. Ronnie Musgrove (D)
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Republican
Larry Sabato’;s Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

New Hampshire

Incumbent John Sununu (R) vs. Jeanne Shaheen (D) [Council endorsee]
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Likely Democrat

New Jersey

Incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) [Council endorsee] vs. Richard Zimmer (R)
Cook Political Report: Solid Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Democrat favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Democrat

New Mexico

OPEN (Domenici – R): Steve Pearce (R) vs. Tom Udall (D) [Council endorsee]
Cook Political Report: Leans Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Democrat Favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Likely Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Likely Democrat

Oregon

Incumbent Gordon Smith (R) vs. Jeff Merkley (D) [Council endorsee]
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: No clear favorite
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Virginia

OPEN (Warner – R): Jim Gilmore (R) vs. Mark Warner (D)
Cook Political Report: Likely Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Likely Democrat

Potentially Close Contests

Idaho

OPEN (Craig): Jim Risch (R) vs. Larry LaRocco (D)
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Safe Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

Kansas

Incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts (R) vs. Jim Slattery (D)
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

Kentucky

Incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) vs. Bruce Lunsford (D)
Cook Political Report: Leans Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Leans Republican
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Narrow Republican advantage

Nebraska

OPEN (Hagel): Mike Johanns (R) vs. Scott Kleeb (D)
Cook Political Report: Likely Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

North Carolina

Incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) vs. Kay Hagan (D)
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Congressional Quarterly: Toss-up
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Leans Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Leans Democrat

Oklahoma

Incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe (R) vs. Andy Rice (D)
Cook Political Report: Likely Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

South Dakota

Incumbent Tim Johnson (D) [Council endorsee] vs. Joel Dykstra (R)
Cook Political Report: Likely Democrat
Congressional Quarterly: Safe Democrat
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Solid Democrat
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Democrat

Texas

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R) vs. Rick Noriega (D)
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Congressional Quarterly: Republican favored
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Likely Republican
Rothenberg Political Report: Safe Republican

Last Updated

Cook Political Report: updated November 4, 2008
Congressional Quarterly: updated November 4, 2008
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: updated November 4, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report: updated November 4, 2008

Posted in: Blog

Tweets by Livable World

Recent Posts

  • Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder March 15, 2023
  • House Elections: Democratic and Republican Target Seats March 13, 2023
  • An early look at the 2024 House elections March 7, 2023
  • An early glimpse at 2024 Senate elections February 21, 2023
  • Press the Button: The Clock is Ticking February 14, 2023
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy