1990 United States Senate election in Minnesota

1990 United States Senate election in Minnesota

November 6, 1990

Nominee Paul Wellstone Rudy Boschwitz Party Democratic (DFL) Ind.-Republican Popular vote 911,999 864,375 Percentage 50.5% 47.9%

County results Wellstone:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Boschwitz:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Rudy Boschwitz Ind.-Republican Elected U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone Democratic (DFL)

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The 1990 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz was defeated by Democratic challenger Paul Wellstone in a tight race. Widely considered an underdog and outspent by a 7-to-1 margin, Wellstone was the only candidate to defeat an incumbent senator as well as the only candidate to flip a seat in the 1990 election cycle and gained national attention after his upset victory.

Major Candidates

Democratic

• Paul Wellstone, professor at Carleton College and nominee for Minnesota State Auditor in 1982

Republican

• Rudy Boschwitz, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Paul Wellstone	911,999	50.49%
	Ind.-Republican	Rudy Boschwitz (incumbent)	864,375	47.86%
	Grassroots	Russell B. Bentley	29,820	1.65%
Total votes			1,806,194	100.00%
	Democratic (DFL) gain from Ind.-Republican

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1990 and 1991