The filing deadline has come and gone, and while the state parties can still nominate a candidate for the so far uncontested races until September 1, let's handicap the contested ones now to see where the parties stand. Right now, the Democrats have a 24-17 majority. The GOP would need to win 4 seats to gain back the majority. However, the GOP’s hopes are so far hampered by four retirements of Carey, Oberle, Cathcart and Thornburg, three of which (Cathcart, Oberle and Thornburg) are in competitive districts where the incumbent Republican barely won in 2008.