2020 United States Senate elections
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| 2020 United States Senate elections | |
|---|---|
 Foghe. · Public domain · source | |
| Election name | 2020 United States Senate elections |
| Country | United States |
| Type | legislative |
| Previous election | 2018 United States Senate elections |
| Previous year | 2018 |
| Next election | 2022 United States Senate elections |
| Next year | 2022 |
| Election date | November 3, 2020 |
| Seats for election | 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate |
| Majority seats | 51 |
| Turnout | 66.9% |
| Leader1 | Mitch McConnell |
| Party1 | Republican Party (United States) |
| Leaders seat1 | Kentucky |
| Last election1 | 53 seats |
| Seats1 | 50 |
| Seat change1 | ▼ 3 |
| Popular vote1 | 38,048,078 |
| Percentage1 | 48.8% |
| Swing | ▼ 1.1% |
| Leader2 | Chuck Schumer |
| Party2 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Leaders seat2 | New York |
| Last election2 | 45 seats |
| Seats2 | 48 |
| Seat change2 | ▲ 3 |
| Popular vote2 | 39,834,647 |
| Percentage2 | 51.0% |
| Swing | ▲ 1.1% |
| Title | Majority Leader |
| Before election | Mitch McConnell |
| Before party | Republican Party (United States) |
| After election | Chuck Schumer |
| After party | Democratic Party (United States) |
2020 United States Senate elections were held on November 3, 2020, concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election. Thirty-five of the one hundred seats in the United States Senate were contested, with the outcomes determining partisan control of the chamber for the 117th United States Congress. The elections occurred against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and intense national political polarization. The Democratic Party gained a net of three seats, resulting in a 50–50 tie, with effective control secured by the election of Kamala Harris as Vice President.
Background and context
The elections were part of the 2020 United States elections, a major national contest that included the race for the White House. The Republican Party, led by Mitch McConnell, entered the cycle defending 23 seats, while Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party defended 12. The political climate was heavily influenced by the presidency of Donald Trump, the First impeachment of Donald Trump, and the public health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Record-breaking campaign spending, driven by organizations like the Senate Leadership Fund and the Senate Majority PAC, underscored the high stakes of the battle for the United States Capitol. Key issues debated included the Affordable Care Act, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and responses to George Floyd protests.
Election results
The Democratic Party achieved a net gain of three seats, flipping Arizona, Colorado, and Georgia. In Georgia, two runoff elections were held on January 5, 2021, after no candidate secured a majority in the general election, resulting in historic victories for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. The final composition of the 117th Congress was 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Nationally, Democratic candidates won approximately 51.0% of the aggregate popular vote, compared to 48.8% for Republican candidates. Notable holds included Susan Collins in Maine and Lindsey Graham in South Carolina, who both survived highly competitive challenges.
Key races and analysis
Several races were critical to the final outcome. In Arizona, astronaut Mark Kelly defeated incumbent Martha McSally, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of John McCain. The Colorado race saw former Governor John Hickenlooper unseat incumbent Cory Gardner. The twin Georgia runoffs were among the most expensive in history, with Raphael Warnock defeating appointed Senator Kelly Loeffler and Jon Ossoff defeating incumbent David Perdue. Other intensely watched contests included the failed challenge to Mitch McConnell in Kentucky by Amy McGrath and the victory of Tommy Tuberville over incumbent Doug Jones in Alabama.
Impact and aftermath
The results produced a 50–50 partisan split in the United States Senate, marking the first evenly divided chamber since 2001. With the inauguration of Kamala Harris as Vice President on January 20, 2021, the Democratic Party gained effective control, as the Vice President holds the tie-breaking vote. This shift allowed Chuck Schumer to become Majority Leader, ending the tenure of Mitch McConnell. The new majority enabled the confirmation of Joe Biden's cabinet nominees and judicial appointments, and facilitated the passage of major legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The elections also had significant implications for the January 6 United States Capitol attack and the Second impeachment of Donald Trump.
See also
* 2020 United States presidential election * 2020 United States House of Representatives elections * 117th United States Congress * Georgia Senate runoff elections, 2020–21 * United States Senate
Category:2020 United States Senate elections Category:2020 United States elections Category:November 2020 events in the United States