United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2022

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Elections to the U.S. Senate will be held on November 8, 2022, and 34 of the 100 seats are up for regular election. Those elected to the U.S. Senate in the 34 regular elections in 2022 will begin their six-year terms on January 3, 2023.

On this page, you will find:

• Partisan breakdown of the U.S. Senate
• List of Democratic primaries
• List of candidates in each state's Democratic Senate primary
• Map of states with seats up for election
• News and conflicts in these primaries
• Outside race ratings

This page focuses on the U.S. Senate Democratic primaries. For more in-depth information about the U.S. Senate Republican primaries, top-two primaries, top-four primaries, and general elections, see the following pages:

• United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2022
• United States Senate top-two primaries, 2022
• United States Senate top-four primaries, 2022
• United States Senate elections, 2022

Partisan breakdown[edit]

There are 34 U.S. Senate seats up for regular election in 2022—14 seats held by Democrats and 20 held by Republicans.

Democratic primaries[edit]

Louisiana is included in the list below even though the state uses a majority-vote system in which all candidates regardless of partisan affiliation are listed on the same first-round ballot.

Candidate lists[edit]

Seats up for election[edit]

The map below shows states with Senate seats up for election in 2022. Hover over states to see the incumbent heading into the election, whether each seat is open, recent Senate and presidential election margins of victory, and race ratings.

Battleground primaries[edit]

See also: Democratic Party battleground primaries, 2022

There are 6 U.S. Senate Democratic battleground primaries in 2022.

• United States Senate election in Iowa, 2022 (June 7 Democratic primary)
• United States Senate election in Missouri, 2022 (August 2 Democratic primary)
• United States Senate election in Ohio, 2022 (May 3 Democratic primary)
• United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2022 (May 17 Democratic primary)
• United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2022 (August 9 Democratic primary)
• United States Senate special election in Oklahoma, 2022 (June 28 Democratic primary)

The following map shows each state with a Democratic battleground primary for U.S. Senate in 2022. Hover over or tap a state to view the incumbent's name.

News and conflicts in the 2022 Democratic Senate primaries[edit]

The following are reprinted from Ballotpedia's The Heart of the Primaries newsletter, which captures stories related to conflicts within each major party.

April 14, 2022[edit]

Iowa judge rules Finkenauer can't appear on primary ballot[edit]

On April 10, Polk County District Judge Scott Beattie ruled that U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer didn't meet the state’s requirements to appear on the Democratic primary ballot.

The disqualification process began when two Iowa Republicans challenged Finkenauer's petitions with the State Objection Panel. The challenge said Finkenauer failed to submit valid signatures from at least 100 eligible voters in 19 different counties, a requirement for U.S. Senate candidates in Iowa, because some signatures were not properly dated.

On March 29, the panel—comprised of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate (R), Attorney General Tom Miller (D), and State Auditor Rob Sand (D)—dismissed the challenge in a 2-1 vote, ruling that the dates of the signatures could be inferred using the dates of the signatures before and after the ones in question. Pate voted against allowing Finkenauer on the ballot.

Polk County District Judge Scott Beattie said the panel incorrectly interpreted the regulations governing signature requirements. Beattie ruled that three signatures were invalid, which left Finkenauer with an insufficient number of signatures in two counties.

Finkenauer appealed the ruling to the Iowa Supreme Court. Finkenauer said, "In a massive gift to Washington Republicans, this partisan decision overrules both the Republican secretary of state’s office and the bipartisan panel, ignores decades of precedent, interferes in the electoral process, and makes a mockery of our democracy."

The state supreme court heard oral arguments on April 13 and is expected to issue a ruling this week. No ruling had been issued as of Thursday morning.

Finkenauer represented Iowa's 1st Congressional District from 2019 to 2021. Michael Franken and Glenn Hurst are running in the Senate Democratic primary, which is scheduled for June 7.

April 7, 2022[edit]

Recent polling and debates in the Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania[edit]

There've been a number of developments in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania since our last issue, including a new poll and the first debate.

Rep. Conor Lamb and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta participated in the April 3 debate at Muhlenberg College. The candidates disagreed on fracking policy.

Lamb said, "It is very, very widely supported by people all over the state because of the opportunities that it brings" and that it is the "single technology that has allowed us to reduce our carbon emissions in the United States the most." Lamb added that "it has to be done responsibly."

Kenyatta said pipeline developers have faced sanctions and lawsuits and, "If we’re going to get to a clean energy future, we have to stop approving new fracking permits."

The Associated Press' Marc Levy reported, "Pennsylvania is the nation's No. 2 natural gas-producing state."

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman did not participate in this debate, saying that he's committed to three others that will reach more viewers. Lamb and Kenyatta criticized Fetterman for not attending and brought up a 2013 incident in which Fetterman pulled a gun on an unarmed Black man.

Lamb said, "It was wrong when he did that. … And he skipped the debate today because he doesn’t think he has to answer."

Kenyatta said, “[Fetterman] was dead wrong. … And now he refuses to come here but expects you to vote for him."

Fetterman has said he heard what he believed were gunshots and saw a man running toward an elementary school. Fetterman said he called the police and followed the man in his truck. The man, Christopher Miyares, said Fetterman pointed a shotgun at his chest. Fetterman said the gun was not loaded and that he did not point it at Miyares. According to police reports, Miyares was unarmed.

Fetterman responded to Lamb's criticism, "Conor is in the middle of a meltdown because he saw his poll numbers at 10%. … So he is resorting to these desperate smears against fellow Democrats that I wouldn’t choose to make, but that’s the campaign he’s running."

A recent Emerson College poll showed Fetterman with 33% support among likely Democratic primary voters. Lamb received 10%, Kevin Baumlin (who withdrew from the race on March 31) received 9%, and Kenyatta, 8%. Thirty-seven percent were undecided. The poll was conducted between March 26 and March 28 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.

As we wrote last month, Lamb received the Philadelphia Democratic Party's endorsement. Lamb also received 61% support on the second ballot at the state Democratic Party’s meeting —short of the two-thirds required for an endorsement but ahead of Fetterman, who received 23%, and Kenyatta, who received 15%.

Incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey (R) is not running for re-election. Pennsylvania is one of two states holding a Senate election in 2022 with a GOP incumbent that Joe Biden (D) won in the 2020 presidential election. And it's one of three Senate election states with one Democratic and one Republican senator. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D) holds Pennsylvania's other Senate seat.

The primary is set for May 17.

Trudy Busch Valentine enters Senate primary in Missouri[edit]

On March 29, Trudy Busch Valentine announced her campaign for U.S. senator from Missouri. State Sen. Scott Sifton dropped out of the race on March 28 and endorsed Busch Valentine, a registered nurse and the daughter of August Busch, the former majority shareholder of beer company Anheuser-Busch.

In her campaign launch video, Busch Valentine says, "Too often, neighbors and families just stop talking to each other. And the politicians in Washington continue to divide us even further. Most Missouri families include Democrats, independents, and Republicans. Mine sure does. But it seems we've lost our ability to be understanding and compassionate for each other."

The Kansas City Star's Daniel Desrochers said that Busch Valentine’s campaign launch video "appears focused on the political middle-ground, drawing on an argument recently made by former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth that there’s room for a centrist candidate in the U.S. Senate race because of voter fatigue with the polarization of the two major parties."

Desrochers contrasted that to candidate Lucas Kunce's approach, saying Kunce "has been attempting to run a populist campaign to win back working-class voters who have fled the Democratic Party for the GOP."

Kunce is a former Marine and is the director of national security policy at the American Economic Liberties Project. His campaign representative said, "Missouri deserves a warrior for working people, a proven patriot who’s served his country, who has the courage to stand up to criminal politicians, corrupt elites running massive multinational corporations and billionaire heiresses who have been stripping our communities for parts."

As of Dec. 31, Kunce had raised $2.5 million. Sifton was second with $890,000.

The primary is set for Aug. 2.

Tim Ryan's first TV ad focuses on China, Morgan Harper responds[edit]

Tim Ryan's first TV ad in Ohio's U.S. Senate election focuses on China. Ryan says, "China is out-manufacturing us left and right. … America can never be dependent on Communist China. … We need to build things in Ohio, by Ohio workers."

Senate candidate Morgan Harper released an ad on social media calling Ryan "Trumpesque" and alternating footage of Ryan and former President Donald Trump saying "China." Harper wrote, "We will not win by trying to be Republicans. We can be honest about the threats we face while also energizing people towards a positive vision for the future."

The Asian American Midwest Progressives, which endorsed Harper, said the ad "builds upon long-standing racist and demonizing narratives about people of Chinese descent" and called on Ryan to take it down.

Ryan said the ad was directed at the Chinese government and, "I've spent my entire career sounding the alarm on China, who — thanks to a concerted strategy by their Communist government that has included currency manipulation, intellectual property theft, and artificially depressed wages, use of child labor, and brutal working conditions — has been our greatest economic adversary for 40 years."

Harper also released her first TV ad recently. She says in the ad, "I’m the only Democrat for Senate who’s always supported Medicare for All and a $15 living wage, who’s always been pro-choice and supports expanding the Supreme Court to protect women’s rights."

Ryan has served in the U.S. House since 2003. He was a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. Harper was a senior advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and challenged Rep. Joyce Beatty (D) in the 3rd Congressional District primary in 2020, losing 32% to 68%. Tech executive Traci Johnson is also running in the May 3 primary.

Incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R) isn't seeking re-election. Three election forecasters rate the general election either Lean, Likely, or Solid Republican.

March 31, 2022[edit]

Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Ohio meet for debate[edit]

The three Democratic primary candidates for U.S. Senate—Tim Ryan, Morgan Harper, and Traci Johnson—met for a debate at Central State University Monday.

Cleveland.com's Seth A. Richardson said Harper "squarely focused nearly all her answers on what she described as Ryan’s shortcomings during his two decades in Congress. Ryan was generally unapologetic about his record while shifting many of his answers to how the United States could compete with China."

Harper said Ryan accepted money from a political action committee associated with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who opposes the Build Back Better Act. Ryan said that he voted for Build Back Better and that he welcomed support from any source.

The candidates disagreed on the structure of the Supreme Court:

• Harper said she supports expanding the court: "We have an institution that has been radicalized by the GOP. We need to be honest about the fact it's happening. We need to balance it, especially when it comes to abortion access."
• Johnson said, "We need to tread lightly because if we expand the court as Democrats, then when Republicans come in, they'll expand the court, and then the court will lose its power."
• Ryan said, "I am not for stacking the court. We need to nominate justices like Judge Jackson. She is the epitome of who we want on the Supreme Court: A record of supporting working people and Roe vs. Wade."

Harper was a senior advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and challenged Rep. Joyce Beatty (D) in the 3rd Congressional District primary in 2020, losing 32% to 68%. Johnson is a tech executive. Ryan was first elected to the U.S. House in 2002.

No more debates between the three Democrats are currently scheduled. The primary is set for May 3.

Harper filled out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read her responses.

• Click here to see stories from previous editions.

  March 24, 2022[edit]

  Philadelphia Democratic Party endorses Conor Lamb for Senate[edit]

  The Democratic Party of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, endorsed Conor Lamb for U.S. Senate. Lamb faces four other candidates in the Democratic primary, including state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.

  Philadelphia Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady said Lamb "talked to every ward leader … he’s talked to a lot of committee people. He’s been in the city a lot, and he campaigned. Fetterman has done no campaigning whatsoever." Brady also said that "there are people who … didn’t think Malcolm could win. They didn’t think he had the money, and they don’t think he could win the primary or the general."

  Fetterman led in fundraising as of Dec. 31 with $12 million. Lamb was second with $4 million and Kenyatta third with $1.5 million.

  Fetterman's representative, Joe Calvello, told The Daily Beast, "We believe this campaign is not going to be won in hotel ballrooms and by backroom deals. … It’s going to be won by going to every county across the state and appealing to the actual voters."

  The Philadelphia Inquirer called the city party's endorsement, along with former Mayor John Street's and his son state Sen. Sharif Street's endorsements of Lamb, "a somewhat expected snub" to Kenyatta, one of Philadelphia's representatives in the state House.

  Kenyatta said that many committee people had endorsed his campaign and that he has "never been the candidate of the establishment— and that is not the path to winning this election."

  As we wrote before, the state Democratic Party did not endorse in the Senate race. Lamb received 61% support on the second ballot at the party's meeting—short of the two-thirds required for an endorsement. Fetterman got 23% and Kenyatta, 15%.

  See a summary of issue differences between these three candidates here.

  Incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey (R) is retiring. The primary is May 17.

  Tony Evers won't endorse in Wisconsin U.S. Senate primary; Marianne Williamson endorses Tom Nelson[edit]

  Here's a quick look at the latest developments in Wisconsin's Democratic Senate primary.

  • Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) said on March 17 it would not be appropriate for him to pick a favorite in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate as the state party's top elected official.

  • Former Democratic presidential primary candidate Marianne Williamson endorsed Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson on Monday. Williamson said Nelson is "a change agent in confronting the various crises facing our nation."

  • Both Nelson and Williamson said the economy and labor are key issues in their Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses. Nelson's answer to the question "What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?" included the following:

  “

  From Kellogg to Starbucks to John Deere to local nurses, workers are demanding their rights to be paid fairly and with humane working conditions. I am a longtime advocate of repealing Taft-Hartley, which limits the ability of workers to strike and allows for right-to-work laws.[3]

  ”

  Read Williamson's 2020 survey responses here.

  We've tracked 11 candidates in the Democratic primary so far, including Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, and Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry. Barnes' endorsers include Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), three U.S. representatives, and the Working Families Party. In addition to Williamson, Nelson has endorsements from Sunrise Wisconsin and several labor groups. Lasry also has labor group endorsers. EMILY's List and former Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) are among Godlewski's endorsers.

  Candidates have until June 1 to file for the Aug. 9 primary. Incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) is seeking re-election. Two election forecasters rate the general election Leans Republican and one rates it Toss-up.

  March 10, 2022[edit]

  U.S. Rep Matt Cartwright endorses Rep. Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate primary[edit]

  On March 5, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) endorsed fellow Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) in the Democratic Senate primary. Lamb also announced endorsements from several Democratic state representatives.

  Lamb is one of 12 candidates running in the primary. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D) have also received several endorsements.

  Fetterman served as mayor of Braddock from 2005 to 2019. His endorsers include current Braddock Mayor Delia Lennon-Winstead, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, the United Steelworkers District 10, and UFCW Local 1776.

  Kenyatta’s endorsers include the American Federation of Teachers, the Working Families Party, Brand New Congress, and U.S. Reps. Al Green (D-Texas) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.).

  In addition to Cartwright’s endorsement, Lamb’s other endorsers include the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee’s Latino Caucus, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, and several labor organizations.

  As we wrote last month, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party did not endorse in the primary at its Jan. 29 meeting. Lamb received 61% support on the final ballot and Fetterman received 23%. A candidate needed two-thirds of the vote to win the endorsement.

  The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Julia Terruso wrote that the three candidates disagree on federal marijuana legalization, fracking moratoriums, and the Electoral College.

  • Terruso said Kenyatta supports a moratorium on new fracking sites, while Fetterman and Lamb "both oppose any ban, favoring a more gradual transition from natural gas."
  • Fetterman and Kenyatta support federal recreational marijuana legalization—which Fetterman has made a top priority—while Lamb supports state and local decriminalization along with legalized medical marijuana.
  • Kenyatta supports, and Fetterman and Lamb oppose, abolishing the Electoral College.

  Sen. Pat Toomey (R) is not running for re-election. The primary is May 17.

  February 24, 2022[edit]

  Ohio Democratic Party endorses in Senate primary, stays neutral in gubernatorial primary[edit]

  The Ohio Democratic Party endorsed U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan for U.S. Senate over Morgan Harper and Traci Johnson on Feb. 17. The party also announced it would not endorse in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

  Ryan, whose other endorsers include U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the state AFL-CIO, and the United Auto Workers, has been a member of the U.S. House since 2003 and ran for president in 2020. Harper has endorsements from Brand New Congress and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Harper challenged U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty in the 2020 Democratic primary for Ohio's 3rd Congressional District, losing 68% to 32%.

  Before the party's endorsement meeting, Harper issued a request that it remain neutral in the Senate race. Following the announcement, Harper tweeted, "They will continue to tip the scales for our establishment opponent. It’s official: it’s us against the machine."

  Johnson tweeted, "ODP decision to endorse is disappointing but not unexpected. The Voters have the final say - Game On!"

  Ryan said, "If the party folks decide to endorse, we want the endorsement. We're not going to get into whether or not they should or shouldn't."

  The party's decision to not endorse a gubernatorial candidate came after both candidates—former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley—separately requested that the party not endorse a candidate.

  Both offices will be on the May 3 primary ballot.

  February 10, 2022[edit]

  Arkoosh exits Senate primary in Pennsylvania[edit]

  Montgomery County Commissioner Valerie Arkoosh suspended her U.S. Senate primary campaign in Pennsylvania.

  As we wrote last week, the state Democratic Party recently held an endorsement meeting where no candidate reached the two-thirds vote threshold for an endorsement. Arkoosh received less than 15% support on the first ballot, disqualifying her from the second round of voting. Arkoosh had raised the third-highest amount in the primary at $2.7 million through Dec. 31.

  Conor Lamb and John Fetterman received the highest and second-highest vote percentages from state party members at the endorsement meeting. Fetterman raised $12 million and Lamb, $4 million through Dec. 31.

  February 3, 2022[edit]

  Pennsylvania Democratic Party does not endorse in Senate primary[edit]

  No U.S. Senate primary candidate reached the two-thirds vote threshold required for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's endorsement at a meeting on Jan. 29. Conor Lamb received 61% support on the second and final ballot. John Fetterman received 23%.

  Politico's Holly Otterbein said: "The non-endorsement is a disappointment for Conor Lamb, who has been trailing behind primary frontrunner John Fetterman … The lack of an endorsement is also a small victory for the other candidates in the primary, who were not expected to win the party’s backing."

  Fetterman raised $12 million through Dec. 31. Lamb was second with $4 million, followed by Valerie Arkoosh with $2.7 million. Otterbein reported the following messaging from candidates to state party committee members:

  “

  In several mailers sent to state committee members, Lamb’s team argued that he "is the Only Senate Candidate to Beat the Trump Machine — Three Times." They also championed him as a proponent of ending the filibuster. Literature passed out by Fetterman’s campaign touted him as an "UNAPOLOGETIC POPULIST" with a "NO-BS STYLE" who is the "ONLY CANDIDATE, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, WHO HAS WON STATEWIDE."[3]

  ”

  Fetterman is the state's lieutenant governor, and Lamb represents the 17th Congressional District.

  At least 13 candidates are running in the May 17 primary. Incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey (R) is retiring.

  January 27, 2022[edit]

  Democratic fundraising up after Johnson (R) announces re-election bid, Lasry launches seven-figure ad buy[edit]

  Several Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin said they saw boosts in fundraising after incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) announced he would seek re-election on Jan. 9. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes’ campaign said it raised almost $150,000 in the 72 hours following Johnson's announcement. According to the Wisconsin State Journal’s Alexander Shur, the campaigns of state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, and Milwaukee Bucks Executive Alex Lasry reported fundraising increases.

  The deadline for candidates to file their fourth-quarter fundraising report is Jan. 31. The Hill’s Julia Manchester said the Senate race is "on track to be one of the most expensive of the cycle. Barnes raised $1.1 million between July 1 and Sept. 30. Godlewski and Lasry also raised more than $1 million during the time period, but each donated large sums of money to their campaigns."

  After Lasry’s campaign announced a seven-figure media buy, NBC’s Natasha Korecki said, "This is the largest primary spending by a candidate in the Wisconsin Senate primary race of 2022 so far. … The rotation of ads, first provided to NBC News, offer a glimpse into the issues that could shape the race, such as inflation and the supply chain crunch. They are all issues where the president is faltering nationally but Lasry promises to address back home — and argues he already has."

  Other issues in the race have manifested in candidates' early policy plans. According to the Associated Press’ Scott Bauer, while Barnes and Lasry have "focused their first policy initiatives on voting rights and other issues related to protecting the democracy. … Godlewski’s [first major policy plan] takes a different approach, trying to appeal to rural Democrats who could be an important voting bloc in the Aug. 9 primary. [Nelson] has also pitched himself to rural voters as a folksy populist."

  The primary is scheduled for Aug. 9.

  January 20, 2022[edit]

  Democratic candidates air ads criticizing Sen. Joe Manchin[edit]

  Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in at least four states have run ads criticizing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who is next up for re-election in 2024. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (Wis.), Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (Penn.), retired Adm. Michael Franken (Iowa), and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio) are among the 15 Democratic congressional candidates who have run a combined 700 negative ads against Manchin so far this cycle, according to Newsweek’s Shane Croucher.

  The bulk of the negative ads have criticized what they describe as Manchin’s unwillingness to work with fellow Democrats, particularly on the negotiations surrounding the Build Back Better bill. With the Senate split 50-50, Democrats would need the support of every Democratic senator—as well as Vice President Kamala Harris’ (D) tie-breaking vote—to pass the $1.75 trillion budget framework.

  On Dec. 19, Manchin cited concerns about debt, inflation, threats from COVID and other nations, and the reliability of the electric grid, saying, "I have always said, 'If I can’t go back home and explain it, I can’t vote for it.' Despite my best efforts, I cannot explain the sweeping Build Back Better Act in West Virginia and I cannot vote to move forward on this mammoth piece of legislation."

  The ads are “another reminder of the depth of the disappointment and hostility toward Manchin that’s taken hold of the Democratic base,” according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s John Micek.

  Nate Lerner, founder of the digital consulting group Build the Wave, said in an interview with Newsweek that “It is extremely uncommon to name a party colleague in a negative ad outside of a primary…I think we will see more of it moving forward as progressives split further from right-leaning Democrats like Manchin and [Arizona Sen. Kyrsten] Sinema.”

  Manchin was governor of West Virginia from 2004 to 2010, when he was first elected to the Senate. In 2012, Manchin defeated Republican opponent John Raese 61% to 37%. In 2018, Manchin defeated Patrick Morrisey (R) 49.6% to 46.3%. Former President Donald Trump (R) defeated President Joe Biden (D) 69% to 30% in West Virginia.

  December 2, 2021[edit]

  Vermont follow-up: Welch running for Senate with Sanders endorsement[edit]

  Since our first issue, which discussed Sen. Patrick Leahy's (D-Vt.) retirement, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced he is running for the open Senate seat. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed Welch the same day. We noted that several potential candidates said they would not run if Welch entered the race or if he received Sanders' endorsement. Attention is shifting to the open House race. Welch has represented the district since 2007, when he succeeded Sanders.

  Four Democrats have expressed interest so far:

  • State Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint, in office since 2015
  • Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, in office since 2021
  • State Sen. Kesha Ram-Hinsdale, in office since 2021
  • State Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, in office since 2021. Vyhovsky is a member of the Vermont Progressive Party and the Democratic Party.

  Vermont is the only state that has not had a female member of Congress.

  The primary is scheduled for Aug. 9.

  November 18, 2021[edit]

  With Sen. Leahy retiring, eyes are on Sanders for endorsement in Vermont[edit]

  U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced on Nov. 15 that he won't run for re-election in 2022. Leahy, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1975, is the longest-serving senator currently in office. Leahy said, "While I will continue to serve Vermont, Marcelle and I have reached the conclusion that it is time to put down this gavel. It is time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter who will carry on this work for our great state."

  The filing deadline is set for May 26, and primaries are scheduled for Aug. 9.

  According to Axios' Hans Nichols, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is "indicating to colleagues he's preparing to run" for the seat.

  Nichols said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has "the potential to play kingmaker." The Intercept’s Ryan Grim wrote, “If Sanders endorses Welch, he functionally forecloses any challenge from the left. State Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky is also contemplating a run for Senate … but told The Intercept she won’t do so if Sanders gets behind Welch."

  Lisa Rathke of The Associated Press wrote that Vermont is the only state that has never had a female member of Congress. Rathke named Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, and state Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale as other potential Democratic candidates. VTDigger's Lola Duffort and Sarah Mearhoff said the three have indicated they wouldn't run against Welch if he ran for Senate but may run for the House district he represents if he doesn't seek re-election.

  State, county Democratic Party conflict in Nevada affecting campaigns[edit]

  In March, the Democratic Party of Nevada held elections for its five leadership positions. Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidates won all five posts. After the election, the party's executive director, Alana Mounce, told Judith Whitmer, the new chair, that Mounce and the remaining staff and consultants were resigning.

  The Hill's Reid Wilson wrote in June that the Washoe County Democratic Party voted "to take over coordinated campaign duties for the entire state, effectively becoming the conduit through which national party organizations will funnel campaign money into Nevada." That money is directed to an organization called Nevada Democratic Victory. Wilson noted that similar state and local party splits occurred in Nevada's Republican Party in 2012 and North Carolina's Democratic Party in 2014.

  As of early November, the shift in coordinated campaign duties meant candidates, including incumbents Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Gov. Steve Sisolak, who hold offices considered competitive in 2022, did not have access to voter files. Whitmer said Nevada Democratic Victory had not tried to purchase that data yet and that "they’ve had contracts on their desks for a while now." According to Politico's Holly Otterbein, "A person close to Nevada Democratic Victory said it has not been offered any contract to get hold of the data."

  Whitmer told a group in May, "We’ve been advocating a lot of progressive policies. … Our legislators, obviously, aren’t all on board, but they’re going to have to be really, really soon. ... We’re going to start holding those elected officials accountable which is something they’re not used to here in Nevada."

  We'll be following the happenings within Nevada's state and county party organizations throughout 2022 for any effects this conflict may have on primary elections. The state's filing deadline for candidates is scheduled for March 18 and the primaries are scheduled for June 14.

  Clyburn, Sunrise endorse candidates for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin[edit]

  Twelve candidates are currently running in Wisconsin's Democratic Senate primary. Incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R), who first took office in 2011, has not yet announced if he will run for re-election. On Nov. 8, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) endorsed Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, saying, "Mandela is hands-down the best candidate to defeat Senator Ron Johnson, expand our majority in the United States Senate, and deliver results for the people of Wisconsin."

  The Wisconsin chapter of the Sunrise Movement endorsed Outagamie County executive and former state Assemblymember Tom Nelson on Nov. 11. A local coordinator said Nelson "understands the moment we are in where our country has billionaires and corporations controlling our corrupt Congress while the rest of us and the planet suffer."

  The Hill’s Julia Manchester wrote that Sunrise's endorsement "shows a growing endorsement battle in the Democratic primary between progressives and more establishment figures and organizations." Manchester said Barnes' campaign "has also touted their own slate of progressive endorsements including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and the Working Families Party."

  Other candidates include state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Milwaukee Bucks Senior Vice President Alex Lasry. EMILY’s List has endorsed Godlewski, and Lasry has endorsements from local Democratic Party leaders.

  The filing deadline for this race is June 1. According to Wisconsin Public Radio's Laurel White, this is the first contested Democratic primary for one of Wisconsin’s Senate seats since 1992. Primaries are scheduled for Aug. 9.

Outside ratings[edit]

The following table compares U.S. Senate race ratings from The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections as of April 2022.

Presidential election data in 2022 Senate election states[edit]

Republicans are defending two Senate seats in states Joe Biden (D) won in the 2020 presidential election:

• Pennsylvania: Biden defeated Donald Trump (R) 50.0%-48.8%. Incumbent Pat Toomey is not seeking re-election.
• Wisconsin, Biden defeated Trump 49.5%-48.8%. Incumbent Ron Johnson is seeking re-election.

Democrats are not defending any Senate seats in states Donald Trump (R) won in 2020.

See also[edit]

• United States Congress elections, 2022
• United States Senate elections, 2022
• United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2022
• United States Senate top-two primaries, 2022
• United States Senate top-four primaries, 2022
• United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2020
• United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2020
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2022
• United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2022
• United States House Republican Party primaries, 2022

Footnotes[edit]

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