The 2000 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2000. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including the presidential election which was won by Republican George W. Bush. It featured a number of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party, which gained a net total of four seats from the Republican Party. This election marked the first election year since 1990 where Democrats made net gains in the Senate. These elections took place six years after Republicans had won a net gain of eight seats in Senate Class 1. Despite George W. Bush's victory in the presidential election, the GOP lost 4 senate seats, the most a winning president's party has lost since the passage of the 17th amendment. Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans in Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Washington, and they won an open seat in Florida. In Missouri, the winner was elected posthumously. The Republicans defeated a Democratic incumbent in Virginia, and won an open seat in Nevada. These elections resulted in an equal 50–50 split between Republicans and Democrats, with the Vice President casting the tie-breaking votes in the Senate. This was the third tied Senate, after the results in the 1880 elections and a brief period in 1953. Democrats thereby held Senate control briefly for only 17 days, since Al Gore was still Vice President and President of the Senate at the beginning of the new term on January 3, 2001. The Republicans regained control of the chamber when the new Vice President Dick Cheney was inaugurated on January 20. However, the Republican majority would only last until June 6, 2001, when Republican Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an independent and caucused with the Democrats. Until 2020, this was the last time that Democrats would pickup a Senate seat in Georgia, with the result being a 50–50 split with control decided by the Vice President's tie-breaking vote. This is the last election with only Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, and the last election in which Republicans won seats in Rhode Island and Vermont. Results summary Source: Change in composition Before the elections After the July 27, 2000 appointment in Georgia. After the elections Beginning of the first session Gains and losses Retirements One Republican and four Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election. Defeats One Democrat and five Republicans sought re-election but lost in the