<P> Seven - term Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2010 . Leahy won re-election in 2016, aged 76 . </P> <P> Scott Milne, the Republican nominee who narrowly lost the 2014 Vermont gubernatorial election, ran unsuccessfully against Leahy . </P> <P> Four - term Senator Patty Murray (Democrat) was re-elected with 52% of the vote in 2010 . She ran successfully for re-election against Republican candidate Chris Vance . Congressman Dave Reichert was considered a potential Republican candidate but chose to run for reelection . </P> <P> One - term Senator Ron Johnson (Republican) defeated three - term Senator Russ Feingold (Democrat) with 52% of the vote in 2010 . </P>

Which party controlled the senate before the 2016 elections