US Senators of the 113th Congress - Part 1 Quiz

Answer: True

In 1986, Shelby defeated senator Republican incumbent Jeremiah Denton in a close election. He switched parties in 1994 after Republicans won the Senate. Shelby had been an opponent of many of President Clinton's policies, especially on taxes, which was the impetus for his switch.

Answer: Alabama Attorney General

Sessions was first elected to the Senate in 1996 after Democrat Howell Heflin retired. He was re-elected by increasingly wider margins in 2002 and 2008.

Answer: Joe Miller

Lisa Murkowski was seen as a moderate Republican who often broke ranks with her party, mostly by supporting various nominees appointed by President Obama. This caused her to face a more conservative challenge from magistrate judge Joe Miller in the primary.

She lost to him by the close margin of 50.9%-49.1%. However, she came back strongly in the general election by defeating him 39%-35% with Democrat Scott McAdams receiving 23% of the vote.

Answer: Anchorage

Begich had to resign the post after winning election to the Senate. His defeat over Ted Stevens was helped by Stevens' ethics troubles and felony convictions. Even if Stevens had been reelected, there were motions on both sides of the aisle to have him expelled. Begich's father is Nick Begich, a former U.S. Congressman who disappeared in a plane crash in 1972.

Answer: Vietnam War

John McCain was held prisoner for five and a half years from 1967-1973. He was routinely tortured and was not expected to make it out alive. Because of his injuries, he cannot raise his arms above his shoulders. His flight suit and parachute can be seen on display at the museum in the Hanoi Hilton.

Answer: Survivalism

Flake spent a week alone surviving in the Marshall Islands and brought his sons on a return trip. He also spent a week surviving with Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico for a Discovery Channel documentary.

Answer: David Pryor

David Pryor was senator for three terms until he retired in 1997. He was succeeded by Tim Hutchinson whom Mark Pryor defeated in 2002. Mark Pryor was re-elected without Republican opposition in 2008.

Answer: Blanche Lincoln

Arkansas had been growing increasingly Republican for decades and by 2010, Blanche Lincoln could no longer hold on to her seat and Boozman defeated her by over 21 percentage points. Prior to becoming a senator, Boozman represented Arkansas' third congressional district in the House of Representatives for ten years.

Answer: She became the oldest senator after Frank Lautenberg died

Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey was 89 when he died on June 13, 2013. Sen. Feinstein then became the oldest member of the Senate at age 79.

Answer: Clarence Thomas

Clarence Thomas had been accused of sexual harassment by Anita Hill. Boxer led a group of House women to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Thomas because she did not believe the all-male committee was taking the allegations seriously. Clarence Thomas was eventually confirmed by a vote of 52-48.

Answer: Utah

Mark Udall is second cousins with Mike Lee of Utah. Mark's father Morris was previously a U.S. Congressman and ran for president in 1976. His uncle Stewart was Secretary of the Interior.

Answer: Superintendent of Denver Public Schools

Michael Bennet was on the short list to be President Obama's Secretary of Education, which eventually went to Arne Duncan. Bennet was appointed to fill the seat of Ken Salazar who was nominated to be Secretary of the Interior. He won election to his first full term in 2010.

Answer: He served in Vietnam

Richard Blumenthal gaffed when he said he served in Vietnam. Even before he ran for the Senate, there are recordings of him overstating his service. It was true, however, that Blumenthal was in the military during the Vietnam War, but he never actually fought in Vietnam. This gaffe tightened the race, but Blumenthal was still able to hang on by winning 55% of the vote.

Answer: True

Both senators defeated McMahon by a margin of 55%-43%. Both seats were open and were vacated by long-serving senators and both races were deemed to be somewhat competitive but with the Democratic candidate the slight favorite to win.

Answer: William Roth

Roth was a popular senator, but his age became an issue. Carper had also been a popular figure in Delaware serving as Governor and Congressman. Roth's age was the main issue and Carper defeated him by over ten points.

Answer: Witch

Christine O'Donnell admitted to dabbling in witchcraft many years before the campaign and Coons used this against her. Coons was seen as the favorite anyway, since O'Donnell held views too conservative for liberal Delaware, but this assured Coons' victory.

Answer: Go into space

Bill Nelson went into space as a payload commander on the Columbia. His total time in space was 6 days, 2 hours and 3 minutes.

Answer: False

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey became a senator in 2006. Rubio didn't become senator until 2011. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas arrived in the Senate last, in 2013.

Answer: Jim Martin

Chambliss had beaten Martin by a margin of 49.8%-46.8%, but under Georgia law, Chambliss needed a majority plus one of the vote. In the runoff, Chambliss soundly defeated Martin 57.4%-42.6%.

Answer: Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich resigned from the House after the Republican Party lost seats during a midterm election of Democratic President Bill Clinton. Historically, the party out of the White House usually gains seats in Congress, not lose them. Isakson won the seat with 65% of the vote.