Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
Current Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), will likely be leaving his post to head a different Senate Committee in 2009. With Senator Joe Biden (D-Del.) set to become the next Vice President, he leaves a vacancy at the head of the prestigious Foreign Relations Committee and Dodd is in line to succeed him. If Dodd becomes chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) would be the most senior Democrat on the Banking Committee and could become its next chair. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) will likely continue as the panel's top Republican. Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are the current chair and lead Republican of the panel's Housing and Transportation Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the federal transit program, and both are returning.

Committee Vacancies (3):
Wayne Allard - Retired
Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) - Retired
Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) - Lost re-election bid

Senate Commerce Committee
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) is likely to continue as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. Current ranking member Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is expected to continue as the lead Republican, if he wins re-election (Stevens' election not been decided as of 5:00 PM EST on November 5th). The committee has jurisdiction over federal transportation safety, aviation and rail issues.

Committee Vacancies (1):
John Sununu - Lost re-election bid
**The election race of Senators Ted Stevens and Gordon Smith has not been decided as of 5:00 PM EST on November 5th.

Senate Budget Committee
Current Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) will likely continue as the committee's top Democrat and current ranking member Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) will hold his position as the panel's lead Republican.

Committee Vacancies (2):
Wayne Allard - Retired
Pete Domenici - Retired