Looking beyond 2006, we're going to have a number of big races in 2008 and 2010, and its always fun to dream and look ahead.
Covered:
Alaska (2008), Colorado(2008), Michigan (2008), Minnesota (2008), New Hampshire (2008), New Mexico (2008), Oregon(2008), and Pennsylvania (2010-possibly sooner if Specter's health deteriorates).
Details below the jump.
Alaska (Stevens): Ted Stevens is an incredible asshole. I find it hard to imagine that Alaska could send anyone worse to the Senate. No, wait, they could: Don Young. That said, Stevens is going to retire, so the seat will be open, but I don't know who would run for us here.
Colorado (Allard): In 2008, in increasingly Democratic Colorado, Senator Wayne Allard (aka Senator Dullard) will be up for re-election. US Rep Mark Udall has already announced that he's running, but our strongest candidate (by far) would be Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who is also one of the coolest pols around (he's a brewery owner and he once jumped out of a plane for a political commercial).
Michigan (Levin): Carl Levin is irreplacable. He's probably my favorite Senator, tough but an absolute gentleman. His eventual retirement will leave big shoes to fill. However, when I look at our bench in Michigan, it scares me. Michigan's Democratic delegation has to be the oldest in the nation (which John Dingell is a member of). To me, our best candidate would probably be one of three people: Gov. Jennifer Granholm (if her popularity inches up), former Governor Jim Blanchard, or US House Rep. Bart Stupak (who represents a key swing district in Northern Michigan).
Minnesota (Coleman): I don't think I've ever seen a person who is as crassly out for himself as Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Norm Coleman) (aka Senator I, Me, and Myself). He won election in a fluke after the Wellstone plane crash. His asswhipping in 2008 will be anything other than a fluke. Assuming Amy Klobuchar wins in 2006 (a pretty decent wager that she will), the full wrath of the DFL will focus on Smilin' Norm (who's smile is as fake as he is). I don't know who our strongest candidate would be against him; possibly State Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, possibly US House Rep. Betty McCollum (D-St. Paul) who could cut off Coleman's popularity in St. Paul; possibly Al Franken.
New Hampshire (Sununu): Sununu barely squeaked over the line, and had to rely in part on a phone jamming scheme for which a Republican is currently being prosecuted. That said, he is vulnerable, and our strongest candidate would be Gov. John Lynch. Beyond that, I don't know much.
New Mexico (Domenici): I think Domenici is going to retire, which would leave us in great position to pick up this seat. NM is the most Democratic of the mountain states (Gore won it in 2000), and we have at least two top tier candidates. The first (and best IMHO) is Patricia Madrid, who is currently running against Heather Wilson in NM-1. She looks like a very good bet to win this swing Albequerque district. If his Presidential bid were to fizzle, Gov. Bill Richardson could concievablely run for the set as well.
Oregon (Smith): Gordon Smith is an endngered species. He's the last surviving West Coast Republican Senator. Dems control all the House seats with the exception of Walden's rural, eastern Oregon seat. I would have to think that Peter Defazio or Darlene Hooley could be strong candidates for us, along with former Gov. John Kitzhaber, who is still wildly popular.
Pennsylvania (Specter): Traditionally, Pennsylvania has always had one Senator from Philadelphia and one from outstate. Casey will be taking the "outstate seat" currently held by right-wing Rickie this fall. That's not much in doubt. That leaves Specter's "Philadelphia" seat. I think our best choice to replace him would be Rep. Allyson Schwartz, who currently represents PA-13. She's turned what has always been a foxhole of a competitive district into a stranglehold Democratic seat. That's impressive, and she's an even more impressive pol.