Only three senators from the 2010 elections will take office before January.

[Tx4obama]

Excerpt from: http://74.6.238.254/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=senator+will+take+office+before+january&fr=yfp-t-701&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=senator+will+take+office+before+january&d=4664845723501136&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=68768399,c94b9d92&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=g.4KsypvG34X2dgNxm8Iww--

Barring unforeseen disputes, winners of special elections in Illinois, Delaware and West Virginia are expected to take their seats — and their first votes — within days of the Nov. 2 election. The early start will give the three an edge in seniority over their fellow newly elected senators, who must wait until the new Congress convenes Jan. 3.

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So, the make up of the senate will not change much before January - and if Coons (D-DE), Manchin (WV), and Giannoulias (D-IL) wins then the senate won't change at all until January.

Also, hopefully not, but if Christine O'donnell were to win we'd only be stuck with her for 4 years instead of 6, since she would have to run again in the 2014 election.

Edited to add:
Whoever wins the Illinois and West Virginia seats will have to run again in 2012.

[ieoeja]

1. Illinois is for six years.

In Illinois the seat is the one vacated by Obama to which he was elected in 2004. That means this is the regular cycle for that seat.

The reason the winner might be seated early is rather childish. They just want to stick it to Rod Blagojevich by not letting his selected replacement finish out the term.

However, there is a vote on that. Hopefully everyone voting Democratic will be smart enough to vote "no" on the immediate succession question, and enough of the other voters will also vote "no" so, even if we lose, the GOP doesn't get the seat immediately.

Okay, that is probably a really feint hope. Most supporters will want their guy in as soon as possible and likely vote "yes". Which means, if their guy doesn't win, the other guy gets in as soon as possible.

[tritsofme]

4. There is no question that the new IL senator will take office immediately.

There are two elections on the ballot, the general election for a 6 year term, and a special election to fill the remainder of this term. There is no ballot question like you described.

[ieoeja]

8. Ah! I didn't know that detail.

So we have to vote for the same person twice. That is even more childish.

[Tx4obama]

6. Yes, you're correct about Illinois is six years, I got that one wrong ;)

p.s. It's too late for me to edit the OP and put in the correction, editing time has expired ;(

[dsc]

2. I think you are wrong

While highly unlikely I think if we were to lose Hillary's old seat in NY the other candidate would be seated immediately. I also think that CO winner will be seated immediately. It should also be noted for DADT purposes Manchian or Reece would be a no vote taking the place of a yes vote so we lose one vote for sure.

[Tx4obama]

3. Florida and Colorado - January

The winners of two other Senate elections, in Florida and Colorado, will be seated at the beginning of the new Congress on Jan. 3, according to officials in those states. That means Sens. George LeMieux, R-Fla., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., will serve out the lame-duck session.
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/USSenateSpecialElections/2010/09/24/id/371498

Side note:
New poll out today
PPP: Manchin 50, Raese 44 --- Manchin +6

[Tx4obama]

7. As far as Gillibrand (D-NY) goes....

Wikipedia.com
Gillibrand is currently running in the November 2010 special election to complete the Senate term ending in January 2013.

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Okay, it's a special election too (but not mentioned in the article), but she'll win it and she is already in the senate so nothing will change there.

[dsc]

9. I am glad to hear that

Florida of course is irrelevent as it is GOP now but Colorado is good news. We still could be down two votes for DADT if we lose IL but that should be the worst case scenario.

[Tx4obama]

5. 3 New Senators to Take Office 2 Months Early. Here's another link - the one in the OP isn't working.

3 New Senators to Take Office 2 Months Early
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/09/24/3_new_senators_to_take_office_2_months_early/