United States Senate Elections, 2016 (The More Things Changed)

Elections to the United States Senate were held on November 8, 2016. The Presidential election, House elections, 14 gubernatorial elections, and many state and local elections were held on the same date.

In the 2016 Senate election, 34 of the 100 seats—all class 3 Senate seats—were contested in regular elections; the winners will serve six-year terms until January 3, 2023. Class 3 was last up for election in 2010, when Republicans won a net gain of six seats.

In 2016, Democrats defended 10 seats, while Republicans defended 24 seats. Republicans, having won a majority of seats in the Senate in 2014, held the Senate majority with 54 seats before this election. Democrats won a net gain of two seats. Democrats gained control of the Senate for the 115th United States Congress. Four incumbents - all Republicans - failed to win re-election.

With the retirement of Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer of New York became the Democratic leader after the elections, while Mitch McConnell retained his position as Senate Minority Leader.