* Mark Pryor, Arkansas: The son of a popular former governor and senator from Arkansas (David Pryor), Mark Pryor defeated incumbent Tim Hutchinson in 2002 and seems well positioned to be re-elected. Arkansas remained mostly Democratic even after other Southern states were trending Republican, and Pryor, like his father, seems to be the kind of Democrat who appeals to Arkansas voters.
* Joe Biden, Delaware: The time is fast approaching when Biden will have to decide if he wants to continue his quixotic bid for the presidency or seek another term in the Senate. Biden has been in the Senate for 36 years, and he seems likely to hold on to his seat if he chooses to seek another term.
* Richard Durbin, Illinois: Republicans don’t seem to have much appetite for taking on a big name incumbent like Durbin in a big state like Illinois -- it takes too much money and effort without much chance of success. I think Durbin will be re-elected easily. He got 60% of the vote in 2002 when Bush and the Republicans were riding 9-11 to greater power and the eventual invasion of Iraq.
* Tom Harkin, Iowa: Harkin is a popular figure in Iowa and remains so, even with his ill-advised support for Howard Dean in the 2004 caucuses. A veteran senator with an accomplished record, he still maintains the aura of the aggrieved outsider and populist, even though he was first elected to the Senate the year Ronald Reagan was re-elected president (1984). I don’t expect any upsets in Iowa.
* Mary Landrieu, Louisiana: This seems to be the one Democratic seat Republicans might have a shot at winning. In fact, in the aftermath of Bobby Jindal’s victory in the gubernatorial race last weekend, Louisiana Republicans are apparently feeling a bit cocky (Terence Jeffrey of Townhall.com says Jindal is the "future of conservatism" -- nationally, not just in Louisiana). I don’t know who the Republicans will put up against Landrieu -- many think it will be State Treasurer John Kennedy -- but I expect this race to be closely contested, whoever the Republican candidate turns out to be.
* John Kerry, Massachusetts: The 2004 Democratic nominee for president is up for re-election to the Senate in 2008. Immensely popular back home, Kerry looks like a shoo-in for another term.
* Carl Levin, Michigan: With his reputation as a straight shooter and a hard worker, Levin has increased his share of the vote every time he's sought another term in the Senate. First elected to the Senate in 1978, Levin has served five terms and will be looking for a sixth. He should have no trouble winning it.
* Max Baucus, Montana: You might call Max Baucus an "old school Democrat." He harkens back to a time when Democrats represented Montana in the Congress, but voters there have been trending Republican since Baucus was first elected to the Senate in 1978. Nevertheless, Baucus has made a real effort to maintain a presence in the state. It might be a close race -- well, closer than some of the other races facing his incumbent Democrat colleagues -- but Baucus should be re-elected.
* Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey: Asked to step in when scandal-plagued Sen. Bob Torricelli stepped down in 2002, former Sen. Lautenberg was elected to the Senate again and now faces the voters in a bid for another term. Lautenberg has been on the New Jersey state ballot many times, so the voters are familiar with his record. And I've heard no indications that he is likely to lose. New Jersey is an expensive place in which to run a statewide race -- candidates must buy TV time in New York City and in Philadelphia. Lautenberg is wealthy enough to devote his personal resources to a race and will make any challenge an expensive proposition.
* Jack Reed, Rhode Island: Always his own man and with a solidly liberal voting record that seems to suit Rhoide Island, Reed was elected to the Senate in 1996 with 63% of the vote. In his first bid for re-election, in 2002, Reed received 78% of the vote. Incumbent senators in Rhode Island have a long history of accumulating seniority, and Reed doesn't seem likely to end that trend.
* Tim Johnson, South Dakota: Almost a year ago, Johnson suffered bleeding in the brain during a radio interview back home in South Dakota. His recovery has been long but progress is being seen, and he returned to the Senate in September. Johnson has pledged to seek another term in 2008, but rumors persist that he may decide to retire. Senate races are often close in South Dakota, so a campaign for re-election may be a bit rigorous for Johnson. We'll see what happens.
* Jay Rockefeller, West Virginia: The only member of the Rockefeller family who ran for office and won as a Democrat (although one can argue that, philosophically, the Rockefellers have been closer to the Democrats than the Republicans), Jay Rockefeller has been an economic liberal with a more moderate voting record on foreign and social issues. He voted to authorize Bush to go to war in October 2002, a move that was opposed by his West Virginia colleague, Robert Byrd. Rockefeller later acknowledged he had made a mistake, and the voters seem to agree with him. Rockefeller is in solid political shape back home and should be re-elected easily.
Of the 12 Democratic seats up in 2008, only Landrieu appears in jeopardy of being defeated.
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