I read Senate 2008 Guru's 2010 Senate Races Quick Glance and was starting to write a comment on possible 2010 contenders. It just turned out to be way too big for a regular comment, so I turned it into a diary.
I'm no expert, just your regular blogger with a few thoughts. So, take all the possibilities below witha a grain of salt or two.
That said, it's good to see what a bench of strong candidates we have in most states (Alaska, Idaho, and South Carolina were the only ones where I had to look hard and long) and how diverse the Senate could be after the 2010 elections.
Remember the odds of the 2006 Senate elections and then look at the names below. In my opinion the goal of having 60 Democratic Senators is not that far off.
I looked for candidates for all Republican held seats and for those Democratic seats where a retirement might be possible. I ignored all other Democratic seats up in 2010.
Okay, here we go:
Alabama:
Rep. Artur Davis
Lt. Gov Jim Folsom, Jr. (might choose to run for Gov instead
Alaska:
Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich
Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho
State House Min. Leader Beth Kerttula
Arizona:
Gov. Janet Napolitano
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
Connecticut: (should Chriss Dodd end up in the administration after 08)
SoS Susan Bysiewicz
Treas. Denise Nappier
Rep. Chris Murphy
Florida:
State CFO Alex Sink
Rep. Kathy Castor
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Georgia:
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin
AG Thurbert Baker
Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond
Hawaii: (should Inouye retire)
Rep. Neil Abercrombie
Rep. Mazie Hirono
Idaho:
Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase
State Senate Min Leader Clint Stennett
State House Min Leader Wendy Jaquet
Illinois: (should Obama win Presidency or become VP)
AG Lisa Madigan
SoS Jesse White
Treas Alexi Giannoulias
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel
Rep. Melissa Bean
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Iowa:
Lt. Gov Patty Judge
Rep. Bruce Braley
Rep. Dave Loebsack
Kansas:
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
Kentucky:
State Auditor Crit Luallen
Rep. Ben Chandler
Louisiana:
Lt. Gov Mitch Landrieu
Treas John Kennedy
Rep. Charles Melancon
Missouri:
SoS Robin Carnahan
New Hampshire:
Gov. John Lynch
North Carolina:
Gov. Mike Easley
SoS Elaine Marshall
Education Superintendent June Atkinson
Rep. Heath Shuler
Ohio:
SoS Jennifer Brunner
AG Marc Dann
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Rep. Betty Sutton
Rep. Tim Ryan
Rep. Zach Space
Oklahoma:
Gov Brad Henry
Pennsylvania:
Rep. Jason Altmire
Rep. Joe Sestak
Rep. Patrick Murphy
Rep. Chris Carney
Rep. Allyson Schwartz
South Carolina:
former Education SI Inez Tenenbaum
State House Min. Leader Harry L. Ott, Jr.
South Dakota:
Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Utah
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson
Rep. Jim Matheson
Interested in the Nevada Caucus? Check out my blog: Nevada Caucus 2008