Editing Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (section)

===2007–2008 election cycle===
[[File:Democratic Senate challengers during the third day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, United States 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chuck Schumer]], flanked by Democratic Senate challengers, speaking during the third day of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado]], in his capacity as Chair of the DSCC]]
[[File:Joe Biden Senate campaign letterhead.jpg|thumb|right|DSCC has long focused on direct mail fundraising; here, excerpts from a 2008 example with a plea from U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate [[Joe Biden]]]]
[[Chuck Schumer]] chaired the DSCC for the second of two consecutive cycles. Heading into the [[2008 United States Senate elections|2008 election]], the Senate consisted of 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and two independents ([[Bernie Sanders]] of Vermont and [[Joe Lieberman]] of Connecticut) who caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democratic caucus a de facto 51–49 majority. Of the seats up for election in 2008, 23 were held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. The Republicans, who openly conceded early on that they wouldn't be able to recover the majority in 2008, lost eight seats. This election was the second successive cycle in which no seats switched from Democratic to Republican. In addition, this was the largest Democratic Senate gain since 1986, when they also won eight seats.

Democrats defeated five Republican incumbents:

* [[Ted Stevens]] (of [[Alaska]]) lost to [[Mark Begich]]
* [[Norm Coleman]] (of [[Minnesota]]) lost to [[Al Franken]]
* [[John E. Sununu|John Sununu]] (of [[New Hampshire]]) lost to [[Jeanne Shaheen]]
* [[Elizabeth Dole]] (of [[North Carolina]]) lost to [[Kay Hagan]]
* [[Gordon H. Smith|Gordon Smith]] (of [[Oregon]]) lost to [[Jeff Merkley]]

Democrats also picked up open seats in [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], and [[Virginia]].

When the new Senate was first sworn in, the balance was 58–41 in favor of the Democrats, because of the unresolved Senate election in Minnesota. The defection of Republican [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] in April 2009 and the swearing-in of Al Franken in July 2009 brought the balance to 60–40.