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Senate 2016: the 10 hottest races

The battle for control of the Senate is heating up. Here are the hottest races. 

9. North Carolina: Richard Burr (R), incumbent

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/File
Senator Richard Burr (R) of North Carolina (c.), flanked by Senator John McCain (R) of Arizona (l.) and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) of New Hampshire (r.), speaks at a news conference to talk about new legislation to restrict prisoner transfers from the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, at the US Capitol in Washington January 13, 2015.

[Updated June 24, 2015] Senator Burr could be vulnerable if a strong Democrat runs against him. But on June 23, the party’s best hope -- former Sen. Kay Hagan – opted out. Now the party is looking at Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, state Treasurer Janet Cowell, University of North Carolina President Tom Ross, State Senate minority whip Josh Stein, and former Rep. Heath Shuler as possibilities.

“Democrats will likely now work to convince Cowell to run,” Roll Call reported June 23. “Cowell said no to a bid earlier this year, but Democrats say she would be a top candidate. They also believe Burr’s not that well known throughout the state and could prove vulnerable.”

North Carolina voted for Mitt Romney in 2012, but went for Barack Obama in 2008, and is considered a purple state, though the governor and state legislature are decidedly conservative.

Cook, Sabato, and Rothenberg-Gonzales all call the race lean Republican. 

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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