Alabama U.S. Senate Race

Race of the Day

Alabama U.S. Senate

July 26, 2010
99 Days Until Election Day

Status: Republican Incumbent
2008 Presidential Result: Red State (South)

Outlook: Safe Republican

Republican Senator Richard Shelby has been in politics for decades and despite not having much in the way of gray hair, would be in his mid '80s at the conclusion of his next term.

Shelby entered politics in Alabama as a Democrat, at a time the state was dominated by them, and would be elected to the U.S. House and to the first of two terms in the U.S. Senate as a member of that party. Considered one of the more conservative Democrats, Shelby officially joined the GOP the day after Republicans had won control of Congress after the 1994 midterm elections. Since his party switch, Shelby moved even further to the right, and as he seeks his fifth term in the Upper Chamber of Congress, he is quite influential, especially as the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.


Speaking of banking, Shelby's current campaign treasury is pretty staggering for an entrenched incumbent who faces mere nominal opposition from the sacrificial Democrat nominee, attorney William Barnes.

Shelby campaign link:

http://www.shelbyforsenate.com

2010 U.S. Senate races predicted thus far: 0 D, 1 R
Predicted U.S. Senate Balance of Power thus far: 40 D, 24 R