Ready, set, go! Campaign season under way

Kristi Keck
CNN

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/09/06/midterm.kickoff/story.sign.gi.jpg caption="A handful of lawmakers - both Republicans and Democrats - have already come up short in their renomination bids." width=300 height=169]

(CNN) - And they're off! Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the campaign season.

With less than two months until Election Day, candidates are packing their schedules with campaign events designed to convince voters that they're the best ones for the job.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are on the line this fall, and 37 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs.

Capitol Hill is guaranteed to see some fresh faces, with dozens of lawmakers retiring or seeking other office, and a handful - including Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan and Republican Rep. Bob Inglis - coming up short in their renomination bids.

The party in power historically loses seats in a midterm election. Republicans are expected to pick up seats, but the question is how many.

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