Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) announced on February 8, 2021, that he will not seek re-election in 2022. Shelby was first elected to the Senate in 1986. He switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1994.
Shelby is the fourth senator to announce he won’t seek re-election in 2022, joining Republicans Richard Burr (N.C.), Rob Portman (Ohio), and Pat Toomey (Penn.). During the 2020 election cycle, four senators did not seek re-election.
Thirty-four seats will be up for election next year. Republicans currently hold 20 of those seats and Democrats hold 14.
The Senate is split 50-50, with 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and two independents who caucus with Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris (D) has the tie-breaking vote, giving Democrats effective control of the chamber.
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