Cheryle Jackson

(IL)

The first woman president of the Chicago Urban League, Jackson is running for the seat held by President Barack Obama. If she wins, she will be the only African American in the US Senate. Jackson faces a primary on Feb. 2, and recent polls show she is closing the gap with her closest Democratic contender – state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. The Democratic nominee is likely to face GOP Rep. Mark Kirk, but Illinois consistently elects Democrats to statewide office. If Jackson can eke out a win in the primary, she’s the heavy favorite to win next November.

Jennifer Brunner

(OH)

An attorney and expert in election law, Brunner has focused tirelessly on election reform as secretary of state since 2006. She is facing a tough primary contest against Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher in the open seat race created by the retirement of Sen. George Voinovich. The likely Republican nominee is Rep. Rob Portman.

Robin Carnahan

(MO)

Another secretary of state, Carnahan is the daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan. An attorney with a background in international business, Carnahan is likely to face Rep. Roy Blunt in an open-seat race created by the retirement of Sen. Kit Bond. If Carnahan wins, Missouri will become the fourth state with two women Senators. The other states are California, Washington, and Maine.

Judy Chu

(CA)

California Board of Equalization Chair, Judy Chu, ran for Congress in the 32nd District to replace Hilda Solis, the newly appointed Secretary of Labor. Chu won the special election in May and the runoff election in July, and was sworn in soon thereafter. Chu has experience in the State Assembly, she served at the City Council level and on the School Board. A supporter of abortion rights and an opponent of California’s discriminatory Prop 8, Chu is a longtime advocate for families and education. Congratulations Congresswoman Judy Chu!

Sara Feigenholtz

(IL)

In a crowded primary field of 12 Democrats, Illinois State Representative Sara Feigenholtz came in a close third with 17 percent of the vote. Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley won the Democratic nomination with 22 percent, and will likely win the April special election in this heavily Democratic district, filling White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's vacant seat in Congress.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

(NH)

In another pick-up for Senate Democrats, former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen defeated GOP Senator John Sununu, 52 to 45 percent. As New Hampshire's first elected woman governor, Shaheen helped launch her state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program and also made New Hampshire one of the first states in the nation to include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws.

Sen. Mary Landrieu

(LA)

Incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu beat back a strong challenge this year and defeated Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy by a healthy 52 to 46 percent. A member of the Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Energy and National Resources Committees, Landrieu will be sworn in to a third term in the Senate in January.

Kirsten Gillibrand

(NY, 20th District)

Despite the Republican leanings of New York’s 20th district, Kirsten Gillibrand won re-election to a second term by an overwhelming margin, defeating former New York State GOP Chair Alexander Treadwell 62 to 38 percent. Gillibrand has since been nominated by Governor David Paterson to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's vacant Senate seat. The mother of two young children, Gillibrand has served on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees.

Rep. Betsy Markey

(CO, 4th District)

Betsey Markey ousted GOP Representative Marilyn Musgrave in a resounding electoral victory, 55 to 45 percent, despite the heavily conservative nature of this district. A small businesswoman and former chair of the Larimer County Democratic Party, Markey also may have gotten a boost from President Barack Obama's coattails.

Rep. Dina Titus

(NV, 3rd District)

In another U.S. House pick-up for Democrats and women, Dina Titus ousted Republican Rep. Jon Porter, 48 to 42 percent. An author, university professor and 20-year veteran of the Nevada State Senate, Titus was sworn in as a freshman U.S. Representative in January.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

(AZ, 8th District)

Despite John McCain’s victory in Arizona, Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords held off a challenge from Republican Arizona State Senator Tim Bee by a resounding 55 to 43 percent. A member of the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, Giffords will return to Congress for a second term.

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy

(OH, 15th District)

More than a month after Election Day, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy was declared the winner over Ohio State Senator Steve Stivers in a close open-seat race, putting the district in Democratic hands for the first time in 42 years. In 2006, in a previous House bid, Kilroy lost to incumbent Republican Representative Deborah Pryce by just over 1,000 votes.

Rep. Suzanne Kosmas

(FL, 24th District)

Suzanne Kosmas knocked off a sitting incumbent and added to the ranks of women in Congress by defeating GOP Representative Tom Feeney, 57 to 41 percent. A small business owner and former Florida State Representative, Kosmas dominated this race financially and earned a big victory on Election Day.

Sen. Kay Hagan

(NC)

In one of the most high-profile Senate races in the country, North Carolina State Senator Kay Hagan handily defeated Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole, 53 to 44 percent, gaining Democrats another key seat in the U.S. Senate. With the incumbent Dole an early favorite to win, Hagan gained ground in the final weeks, but the size of the Democrat's victory was unexpected. Barack Obama’s success in North Carolina likely gave Hagan a boost.

Alice Kryzan

(NY, 26th District)

After a stunning upset in the Democratic primary, first-time candidate Alice Kryzan was not able to repeat her success on election day against Republican businessman Christopher Lee. She was defeated in this open-seat race, 55 to 40 percent.

Christine Jennings

(FL, 13th District)

Unlike in 2006 - when businesswoman and founder of Sarasota Bank Christine Jennings came within 400 votes of defeating GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan - this time she was defeated by a significant margin, 55 to 38 percent.

Darcy Burner

(WA, 8th District)

In her second bid against incumbent Representative Dave Reichert, Washington Democrat Darcy Burner finally conceded three days after the election. Reichert prevailed 52 to 48 percent.

Jill Derby

(NV, 2nd District)

A former chair of the Nevada Democratic party, Jill Derby fell short of her bid to unseat incumbent Representative Dean Heller in this heavily Republican rural district. Heller earned 52 percent of the vote.

Judy Baker

(MO, 9th District)

Unable to overcome the Republican leanings of this district, businesswoman and former Missouri State Representative Judy Baker lost her contest against State Division of Tourism Director Blaine Luetkemeyer in this open-seat race, 50 to 47 percent.

Linda Stender

(NJ, 7th District)

In her second bid for the 7th district seat, Linda Stender was defeated by New Jersey State Senator Leonard Lance, 51 to 41 percent. A New Jersey State Assemblywoman, Stender came within one percent of defeating incumbent Rep. Mike Ferguson in 2006.

Victoria Wulsin

(OH, 2nd District)

In her third bid for this House seat, Democrat Dr. Victoria Wulsin, a physician and former U.S. Public Health Service officer, lost to incumbent Republican Representative Jean Schmidt, 45 to 37 percent.