dollar ad campaign by Massey Energy's CEO Don Blankenship against West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate Democrats, Democrats gained a net four seats in the House and two seats in the Senate. This resulted in a 72-28 Democrat advantage in the House and a 23-11 Democrat advantage in the Senate. With the 2007 Democratic takeover of the United States Senate, Senator Byrd became the President pro tempore of the Senate (the third person in the presidential line of succession) as well as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. See also 2006 United States Senate elections 2006 United States House of Representatives elections References 2006 West Virginia 2006 West Virginia elections Robert Byrd