election in Massachusetts, thereby making the balance 59–41 before the start of the next election cycle. As of 2023, this is the last time Democrats won U.S. Senate seats in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Dakota. Results summary Summary of the November 4, 2008, United States Senate election results Sources: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party, via TheGreenPapers.com Change in composition Before the elections After the elections Beginning of the first session Race summary Special elections during the 110th Congress In these special elections, the winner was seated during 2008 or before January 3, 2009, sorted by election date, then state, then class. Elections leading to the next Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 2009; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats. Special elections during the next Congress There were no special elections in 2009. Closest races In nine races the margin of victory was under 10%. However, Georgia proceeded to a runoff election where the Republican candidate won by over 10%. South Dakota was the tipping point state, decided by a margin of 25.0%. Freshmen There were 20 freshman Senators in the 111th United States Congress. Ten were elected on November 4, 2008. In addition, two freshmen were appointed to fill vacancies created by Barack Obama's and Joe Biden's resignations to become president and vice president. Two more freshmen were appointed to the Senate as a consequence of the appointment of Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State and Ken Salazar to be Secretary of the Interior. George LeMieux was appointed to replace Mel Martinez upon his resignation. A temporary interim senator, Paul G. Kirk, was appointed to the seat of Edward M. Kennedy upon his death. He was replaced by Scott Brown in the 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts. Mark Begich (D-AK) Al Franken (D-MN) Kay Hagan (D-NC) Mike Johanns (R-NE) Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Jim Risch (R-ID) Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Mark Udall (D-CO) Tom Udall (D-NM) Mark Warner (D-VA) Roland Burris (D-IL, Obama's successor), appointed in 2008 Ted Kaufman (D-DE, Biden's successor), appointed in 2009 Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY, Clinton's successor), appointed in 2009 Michael Bennet (D-CO, Salazar's successor), appointed in 2009 George LeMieux (R-FL, Martinez's successor), appointed in 2009 Paul G. Kirk (D-MA, Kennedy's successor), appointed in