South Dakota: Wide Open Races
- Senator John Thune (R) has no opponent
- Governor Mike Rounds (R) isn’t running again
- Three out of nine House members are not running again.
- GOP and Democrats both nominated businessmen for the open governor’s seat.
- Rep. Steven Cohen (D TN 9) beats his African-American challenger in the Democratic primary.
- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) didn’t get nominated for governor, she also didn’t resign her Senate seat as promised.
- All 32 House members are running again.
- Senator Bob Bennett (R) lost at the convention and was subsequently denied a spot on the primary ballot.
- Tea party candidate Mike Lee (R) will win the Senate seat.
- President Obama picked Governor Jon Huntsman (R) as ambassador to China and his replacement is on the ballot making 37 gubernatorial contests this year.
- Senator Patrick Leahy (D) is a sure bet for reelection.
- Governor James Douglas (R) isn’t running again.
- Democratic gubernatorial primary required a recount.
- Republicans picked up the 2009 governor’s race and started the buzz for 2010
- Outgoing governor Tim Kaine (D) is the DNC chair.
- Both Senators and the Governor are women.
- Dino Rossi (R) is running statewide for third time in six years.
- Washington uses an open primary system where the top two, regardless of party, end up in the general election.
- Washington also has a high percentage of the electorate who are permanent absentee voters.
- Senator Bob Byrd (D) died and his special election increases the number of Senate seats this election to 37.
- Rep. Alan Mollohan (D WV 1) lost the Democratic primary.
- The GOP needed to close the gap to control the Senate putting Gov. Joe Manchin (D) in the hot seat.
- Two-term Governor Jim Doyle (D) decided not to run again.
- Rep. Dave Obey (D WI 7) is retiring after 21 terms.
- Wisconsin has same-day voter registration.
- The complicated Republican primary narrowly nominated a winner in the open gubernatorial race.