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1992 United States Senate elections

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United States Senate elections, 1992

← 1990 November 3, 1992 1994 →

Class 3 (34 of the 100) seats in the United States Senate
51 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader George Mitchell Bob Dole
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 3, 1989 January 3, 1985
Leader's seat Maine Kansas
Seats before 57 43
Seats after 56 44
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 34,736,076 31,355,972
Percentage 49.2% 44.4%
Swing Decrease 1.9% Decrease 2.7%
Seats up 20 14
Races won 19 15

Results of the 1992 general elections
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold

Majority leader before election

George Mitchell
Democratic

Elected Majority leader

George Mitchell
Democratic

The United States Senate elections, 1992, held November 3, 1992, were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with Bill Clinton's victory the presidential election. Despite the presidential victory, Democrats had a net loss of a seat in the general elections, and only managed to break even by winning a seat in a special election.

Democratic victories over Republicans John F. Seymour (in the special California race) and Bob Kasten (of Wisconsin) were cancelled out by the defeats of Democrats Wyche Fowler (of Georgia) and Terry Sanford (of North Carolina). The election of four new Democratic women to the Senate was notable (referred to in the press as the "Year of the Woman"). Due to a special election in California, both of California's Senate seats were up for election in 1992. These seats were won by Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. As a consequence, California became the first state to have elected women to occupy both of its Senate seats.

Democrat Carol Moseley Braun (of Illinois), became the first African-American woman in the United States Senate.

Results summary

style="background:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color; width:57%" | 57 style="background:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color; width:43%" | 43
align=left style="color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | Democratic align=right style="color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | Republican
#3333FF #E81B23 #DDDDBB #FED105 white
Parties Total Seats Popular Vote
1990 Before
this
election
This
election
+/- Vote %
Democratic 56 57 57 Steady 34,736,076 49.2%
Republican 44 43 43 Steady 31,355,972 44.4%
Independent Steady 624,673 0.9%
Libertarian Steady 986,617 1.4%
Others Steady 2,898,937 4.1%
Total 100 100 100 Steady 70,602,275 100.0%

Source: Clerk of the House of Representatives (1993). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional election of November 3, 1992".

Gains and losses

Democratic gains

  • California: Incumbent John F. Seymour (R) lost a special election to former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Seymour had been appointed to the seat by Governor Pete Wilson following Wilson's own resignation from the Senate after his election as governor.
  • Wisconsin: Incumbent Bob Kasten (R) survived a close call in his first re-election bid in 1986, but was upset in his bid for a third term by State Senator Russ Feingold. Feingold had won the Democratic primary as an underdog against two millionaire opponents thanks to an effective series of quirky campaign advertisements, and he repeated the same formula in the general election against Kasten.

Republican gains

  • Georgia: In the initial balloting, incumbent Wyche Fowler (D) narrowly led former Republican State Senator Paul Coverdell in the general election, but he failed to gain 50% of the vote thanks to the strong showing of the Libertarian candidate. Fowler then lost to Coverdell in a December run-off.
  • North Carolina: Incumbent Terry Sanford (D) became the third straight incumbent to lose this seat after one term when he was defeated by Democrat-turned-Republican Lauch Faircloth. Faircloth's victory was aided by Sanford's health scares and the considerable political organization of the state's other senator, Jesse Helms (R).

1993 Special election

In June 1993, Democratic Senator Lloyd Bentsen (TX) resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. His Democratic replacement, interim appointee Bob Krueger, lost a special election to Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40
Ran
D39
Ran
D38
Ran
D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41
Ran
D42
Ran
D43
Ran
D44
Ran
D45
Ran
D46
Ran
D47
Ran
D48
Ran
D49
Ran
D50
Ran
Majority → D51
Ran
R41
Retired
R42
Retired
R43
Retired
D57
Retired
D56
Retired
D55
Retired
D54
Retired
D53
Ran
D52
Ran
R40
Ran
R39
Ran
R38
Ran
R37
Ran
R36
Ran
R35
Ran
R34
Ran
R33
Ran
R32
Ran
R31
Ran
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
Ran
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

After the general elections

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40
Re-elected
D39
Re-elected
D38
Re-elected
D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41
Re-elected
D42
Re-elected
D43
Re-elected
D44
Re-elected
D45
Re-elected
D46
Re-elected
D47
Re-elected
D48
Re-elected
D49
Hold
D50
Hold
Majority → D51
Hold
R41
Hold
R42
Hold
R43
Gain
R43
Gain
D56
Gain
D55
Retired
D54
Retired
D53
Hold
D52
Hold
R40
Hold
R39
Re-elected
R38
Re-elected
R37
Re-elected
R36
Re-elected
R35
Re-elected
R34
Re-elected
R33
Re-elected
R32
Re-elected
R31
Re-elected
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
Re-elected
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

After the November and December 1992 special elections

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41 D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 D49 D50
Majority → D51
R41 R42 R43 D57
Gain
D56
Hold
D55 D54 D53 D52
R40 R39 R38 R37 R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

After the June 1993 special election

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41 D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 D49 D50
Majority → D51
R41 R42 R43 R44
Gain
D56 D55 D54 D53 D52
R40 R39 R38 R37 R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican

Race summary

Special elections during the 102nd Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated between January 1, 1992 and January 2, 1993, sorted by election date, then state, then class.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
California
(Class 1)
John F. Seymour Republican 1991 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected November 3, 1992.
Democratic gain.
Dianne Feinstein (Democratic) 54.3%
John F. Seymour (Republican) 38.0%
Gerald Horne (Peace & Freedom) 2.8%
Paul Meeuwenberg (American Ind.) 2.6%
Richard B. Boddie (Libertarian) 2.3%
North Dakota
(Class 1)
Jocelyn Burdick Democratic 1992 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected December 4, 1992.
Democratic hold.
Kent Conrad (Democratic) 63.3%
Jack Dalrymple (Republican) 33.7%
Darold Larson (Independent) 3.0%

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1993; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Alabama Richard Shelby Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Richard Shelby (Democratic) 64.8%
Richard Sellars (Republican) 33.1%
Jerome Shockley (Libertarian) 2.0%
Alaska Frank Murkowski Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Frank Murkowski (Republican) 53.0%
Tony Smith (Democratic) 38.4%
Mary Jordan (Green) 8.4%
Arizona John McCain Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. John McCain (Republican) 55.8%
Claire Sargent (Democratic) 31.6%
Evan Mecham (Independent) 10.5%
Kiana Delamare (Libertarian) 1.6%
Ed Finkelstein (New Alliance) 0.5%
Arkansas Dale Bumpers Democratic 1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Dale Bumpers (Democratic) 60.2%
Mike Huckabee (Republican) 39.8%
California Alan Cranston Democratic 1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Barbara Boxer (Democratic) 47.9%
Bruce Herschensohn (Republican) 43.0%
Jerome McCready (American Ind.) 3.5%
Genevieve Torres (Peace & Freedom) 3.5%
June R. Genis (Libertarian) 2.2%
Colorado Tim Wirth Democratic 1986 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Democratic) 51.8%
Terry Considine (Republican) 42.7%
Richard Grimes (Independent) 2.7%
Matt Noah (Christian Pro-Life) 1.5%
Dan Winters (Independent) 1.3%
Connecticut Chris Dodd Democratic 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Christopher Dodd (Democratic) 58.8%
Brook Johnson (Republican) 38.1%
Richard D. Gregory (Concerned Citizens) 2.4%
Howard A. Grayson, Jr. (Libertarian) 0.7%
Florida Bob Graham Democratic 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Bob Graham (Democratic) 65.4%
James W. Grant (Republican) 34.6%
Georgia Wyche Fowler Democratic 1986 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Paul Coverdell (Republican) 50.6%
Wyche Fowler (Democratic) 49.4%
Jim Hudson (Libertarian) 3.1%
Hawaii Daniel Inouye Democratic 1962
1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Daniel Inouye (Democratic) 57.3%
Rick Reed (Republican) 26.9%
Linda Martin (Green) 13.7%
Richard O. Rowland (Libertarian) 2.1%
Idaho Steve Symms Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Dirk Kempthorne (Republican) 56.5%
Richard H. Stallings (Democratic) 43.5%
Illinois Alan J. Dixon Democratic 1980
1986
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Carol Moseley Braun (Democratic) 53.3%
Richard S. Williamson (Republican) 43.1%
Chad Koppie (Conservative) 2.0%
Andrew B. Spiegel (Libertarian) 0.7%
Charles A. Winter (Natural Law) 0.3%
Alan J. Port (New Alliance) 0.3%
Kathleen Kaku (Socialist Workers) 0.2%
John Justice (Populist) 0.2%
Indiana Dan Coats Republican 1989 (Appointed)
1990 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected. Dan Coats (Republican) 57.3%
Joseph Hogsett (Democratic) 40.7%
Steve Dillon (Libertarian) 1.6%
Raymond Tirado (New Alliance) 0.3%
Iowa Chuck Grassley Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Chuck Grassley (Republican) 69.6%
Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones (Democratic) 27.2%
Stuart Zimmerman (Natural Law) 1.3%
Sue Atkinson (Independent) 0.5%
Mel Boring (Independent) 0.4%
Rosanne Freeburg (Independent) 0.4%
Carl Eric Olsen (Grassroots) 0.3%
Richard O'Dell Hughes (Independent) 0.2%
Cleve Andrew Pulley (Socialist Workers) 0.1%
Kansas Bob Dole Republican 1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Bob Dole (Republican) 62.7%
Gloria O'Dell (Democratic) 31.0%
Christina Campbell-Cline (Independent) 4.0%
Mark B. Kirk (Libertarian) 2.2%
Kentucky Wendell H. Ford Democratic 1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Wendell H. Ford (Democratic) 62.9%
David Williams (Republican) 35.8%
James Ridenour (Libertarian) 1.3%
Louisiana John Breaux Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. John Breaux (Democratic) 73.07%
Jon Khachaturian (Independent) 8.9%
Lyle Stockstill (Republican) 8.3%
Nick Accardo (Democratic) 5.4%
Fred Clegg Strong (Republican) 4.3%
Maryland Barbara Mikulski Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Barbara Mikulski (Democratic) 71.0%
Alan Keyes (Republican) 29.0%
Missouri Kit Bond Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Kit Bond (Republican) 51.9%
Geri Rothman-Serot (Democratic) 44.9%
Jeanne Bojarski (Libertarian) 3.2%
Nevada Harry Reid Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Harry Reid (Democratic) 51.0%
Demar Dahl (Republican) 40.2%
None of These Candidates 2.6%
Joe Garcia (Independent American) 2.3%
Lois Avery (Natural Law) 1.5%
H. Kent Cromwell (Libertarian) 1.5%
Harry Tootle (Populist) 0.9%
New Hampshire Warren Rudman Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Judd Gregg (Republican) 48.2%
John Rauh (Democratic) 45.3%
K. Alexander (Libertarian) 3.5%
New York Al D'Amato Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Al D'Amato (Republican) 49.0%
Robert Abrams (Democratic) 47.8%
Norma Segal (Libertarian) 1.7%
Mohammad T. Mehdi (New Alliance) 0.9%
Stanley Nelson (Natural Law) 0.4%
Ed Warren (Socialist Workers) 0.2%
North Carolina Terry Sanford Democratic 1986 (Special)
1986
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Lauch Faircloth (Republican) 50.4%
Terry Sanford (Democratic) 46.3%
Bobby Emory (Libertarian) 3.3%
North Dakota Kent Conrad Democratic 1986 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Byron Dorgan (Democratic) 59.0%
Steve Sydness (Republican) 38.9%
Tom Asbridge (Independent) 2.1%
Ohio John Glenn Democratic 1974
1974 (Appointed)
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. John Glenn (Democratic) 51.0%
Mike DeWine (Republican) 42.3%
Martha Grevatt (Independent) 6.7%
Oklahoma Don Nickles Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Don Nickles (Republican) 58.5%
Steve Lewis (Democratic) 38.2%
Roy V. Edwards (Independent) 1.6%
Thomas D. Ledgerwood II (Independent) 1.6%
Oregon Bob Packwood Republican 1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Bob Packwood (Republican) 52.1%
Les AuCoin (Democratic) 46.5%
Pennsylvania Arlen Specter Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Arlen Specter (Republican) 49.1%
Lynn Yeakel (Democratic) 46.3%
John Perry III (Independent) 4.6%
South Carolina Ernest Hollings Democratic 1966 (Special)
1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Ernest Hollings (Democratic) 50.1%
Thomas F. Hartnett (Republican) 46.9%
Mark Johnson (Libertarian) 1.9%
Robert Barnwell Clarkson II (American) 1.0%
South Dakota Tom Daschle Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Daschle (Democratic) 64.9%
Charlene Haar (Republican) 32.5%
Gus Hercules (Libertarian) 1.3%
Kent Hyde (Independent) 1.3%
Utah Jake Garn Republican 1974
1980
1986
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Robert Foster Bennett (Republican) 55.4%
Wayne Owens (Democratic) 39.7%
Anita Morrow (Independent) 2.3%
Vermont Patrick Leahy Democratic 1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected. Patrick Leahy (Democratic) 54.2%
Jim Douglas (Republican) 43.3%
Jerry Levy (Liberty Union) 1.8%
Michael B. Godeck (Freedom for LaRouche) 0.6%
Washington Brock Adams Democratic 1986 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Patty Murray (Democratic) 54.0%
Rod Chandler (Republican) 46.0%
Wisconsin Bob Kasten Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Russ Feingold (Democratic) 52.6%
Bob Kasten (Republican) 46.0%
Patrick W. Johnson (Independent) 0.7%
William Bittner (Libertarian) 0.4%
Mervin A. Hanson, Sr. (Independent) 0.1%
Robert L. Kundert (Independent) 0.1%
Joseph Selliken (Independent) 0.1%

Special elections during the 103rd Congress

In this special election, the winner was elected during this Congress after January 1993, sorted by election date, then state, then class.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Texas
(Class 1)
Bob Krueger Democratic 1993 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected June 5, 1993.
Republican gain.
Kay Bailey Hutchison (Republican) 67.3%
Bob Krueger (Democratic) 32.6%

Alabama

Alabama election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Richard Shelby Richard Sellers
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,022,698 522,015
Percentage 64.8% 33.1%

U.S. senator before election

Richard Shelby
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Shelby
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Richard Shelby won re-election to a second term, beating Richard Sellers, conservative activist.[1]

United States Senate election in Alabama, 1992[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Shelby 1,022,698 64.8%
Republican Richard Sellers 522,015 33.1%
Libertarian Jerome Shockley 31,811 2.0%
Independent Write Ins 1,275 0.1%

Alaska

Alaska election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Frank Murkowski Tony Smith
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 127,163 92,065
Percentage 53.05% 38.41%

 
Nominee Mary Jordan
Party Green
Popular vote 20,019
Percentage 8.35%

U.S. senator before election

Frank Murkowski
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Murkowski
Republican

Incumbent Republican Frank Murkowski sought re-election to a third term in the United States Senate. Tony Smith, the Democratic nominee and a former Commissioner of Economic Development, won his party's nomination in a crowded primary and faced off against Murkowski in the general election. Though Murkowski was held to a lower vote percentage than he received six years prior, he was ultimately re-elected.

Open primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tony Smith 33,162 44.81%
Democratic William L. Hensley 29,586 39.98%
Green Mary Jordan 5,989 8.09%
Democratic Michael Beasley 2,657 3.59%
Democratic Joseph Sonneman 1,607 2.17%
Democratic Frank Vondersaar 1,000 1.35%
Total votes 74,001 100.00%
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Murkowski (Incumbent) 37,486 80.53%
Republican Jed Whittaker 9,065 19.47%
Total votes 46,551 100.00%
United States Senate election in Alaska, 1992[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Frank Murkowski (Incumbent) 127,163 53.05% −0.98%
Democratic Tony Smith 92,065 38.41% −5.69%
Green Mary Jordan 20,019 8.35%
Write-ins 467 0.19%
Majority 35,098 14.64% +4.72%
Turnout 239,714
Republican hold Swing

Arizona

Arizona election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee John McCain Claire Sargent
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 771,395 436,321
Percentage 55.8% 31.6%

 
Nominee Evan Mecham
Party Independent
Popular vote 145,361
Percentage 10.3%

U.S. Senate election results map.
Red denotes counties won by McCain.
Blue denotes those won by Sargent.

U.S. senator before election

John McCain
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John McCain
Republican

Incumbent Republican John McCain won re-election to a second term over Democrat Claire Sargent, community activist[5] and Independent former Governor Evan Mecham.

General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John McCain (Incumbent) 771,395 55.82% −4.66%
Democratic Claire Sargent 436,321 31.57% −7.94%
Independent Evan Mecham 145,361 10.52%
Libertarian Kiana Delamare 22,613 1.64%
New Alliance Ed Finkelstein 6,335 0.46%
Write-ins 26 0.00%
Majority 335,074 24.24% +3.28%
Turnout 1,382,051
Republican hold Swing

Arkansas

Arkansas election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Dale Bumpers Mike Huckabee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 553,635 366,373
Percentage 60.2% 39.8%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Senator Dale Bumpers won re-election to a fourth term. His Republican opponent was future Arkansas lieutenant governor, governor, and two-time presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, a church pastor from Texarkana.

The 1992 election coincided with Arkansas governor Bill Clinton's election as President of the United States, in which he also won his home state. In contrast with Bumpers' landslide where he won over 60% of the vote, Clinton won only 53% of the vote. Bumpers would serve another term in the U.S. Senate before deciding to retire in 1998.

Arkansas Senate election 1992[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dale Bumpers 553,635 60.2%
Republican Mike Huckabee 366,373 39.8%

California

California election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Barbara Boxer Bruce Herschensohn
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 5,173,467 4,644,182
Percentage 47.9% 43.0%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Alan Cranston
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Barbara Boxer
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Alan Cranston decided to retire. Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Boxer won the open seat over Republican conservative TV talk show commentator Bruce Herschensohn. Both of California's Senators were elected for the first time. This is not a unique occurrence; it would happen again in Tennessee in 1994 and Kansas in 1996. Fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein, California's senior senator, won the special election and was inaugurated in November 1992.

The election between Boxer and Herschensohn was very close. At the eleventh hour, controversy emerged that the Republican nominee attended a strip club, which some Republican operatives later blamed for Herschensohn's loss.[7]

Four days before Election Day polls showed Herschensohn had narrowed a double digit deficit, trailing by 3 points. Political operative Bob Mulholland disrupted a campaign appearance with a large poster advertising a strip club shouting "Should the voters of California elect someone who frequently travels the strip joints of Hollywood?" Herschensohn admitted he had visited a strip club once, with his girlfriend and another couple. With press coverage of the story, Herschensohn spent the waning days of the campaign denying related allegations. When the votes were cast and counted, Barbara Boxer won the election by five points.[8] Although Republicans have blamed the defeat on the underhanded tactics of the Boxer campaign, evidence of the connection between Mulholland's outburst and the campaign never surfaced.[9][10][11]

The election was very close. Boxer was declared the winner by the Associated Press at 1:22 A.M. Pacific Coast Time.

1992 United States Senate election, California
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Boxer 5,173,467 47.90
Republican Bruce Herschensohn 4,644,182 43.00
American Independent Jerome N. McCready 373,051 3.45
Peace and Freedom Genevieve Torres 372,817 3.45
Libertarian June R. Genis 235,919 2.18
No party Write-ins 267 0.00
Invalid or blank votes 574,862 5.05
Total votes 11,374,565 100.00
Turnout   54.52
Democratic hold

California (Special)

California special election

← 1988
1994 →
 
Nominee Dianne Feinstein John F. Seymour
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 5,853,651 4,093,501
Percentage 54.29% 37.96%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

John F. Seymour
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Dianne Feinstein
Democratic

In the 1990 gubernatorial election, Republican Senator Pete Wilson had beaten Democrat Dianne Feinstein for governor. He appointed John F. Seymour to the Senate to replace himself. In this special election held simultaneously with the regular Senate election, Feinstein defeated Seymour to serve the remaining 2 years of the term. She is currently the senior Senator from California, since she took office on November 10, only 7 days after the election. Fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer won the regular election and was inaugurated in January 1993.

Both of California's Senators were elected for the first time. This is not a unique occurrence; it would happen again in Tennessee in 1994 and Kansas in 1996.

1992 special United States Senate election, California
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dianne Feinstein 5,853,651 54.29%
Republican John F. Seymour (incumbent) 4,093,501 37.96%
Peace and Freedom Gerald Horne 305,697 2.84%
American Independent Paul Meeuwenberg 281,973 2.62%
Libertarian Richard Benjamin Boddie 247,799 2.30%
No party Write-ins 122 0.00%
Invalid or blank votes 591,822 5.20%
Total votes 11,374,565 100.00%
Turnout   54.52
Democratic gain from Republican

Colorado

Colorado election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Ben Nighthorse Campbell Terry Considine
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 803,725 662,893
Percentage 51.8% 42.7%

County results

U.S. senator before election

Tim Wirth
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Tim Wirth decided to retire instead of seeking a second term. Democratic congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell won the open seat, beating Republican State Senator Terry Considine.

Democratic Primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Nighthorse Campbell 117,634 45.48%
Democratic Dick Lamm 93,599 36.19%
Democratic Josie Heath 47,418 18.33%
Total votes 258,651 100.00%
General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ben Nighthorse Campbell 803,725 51.78% +1.86%
Republican Terry Considine 662,893 42.70% −5.66%
Independent Richard O. Grimes 42,455 2.73%
Pro-Life Matt Noah 22,846 1.47%
Independent Dan Winters 20,347 1.31%
Libertarian Hue Futch 23 0.00%
Majority 140,832 9.07% +7.52%
Turnout 1,552,289
Democratic hold Swing

Connecticut

Connecticut election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Chris Dodd Brook Johnson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 882,569 572,036
Percentage 58.8% 38.1%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Chris Dodd
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Chris Dodd
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Christopher Dodd won re-election for a third term over Republican businessman Brook Johnson.

Johnson, a millionaire businessman who had never run for public office before, spent about $900,000 during the primary campaign. His television and radio commercials said that he would bring "a dose of success Washington needs." Dodd had $2 million cash on hand following the primaries.[13]

Connecticut United States Senate election, 1988[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christopher Dodd 882,569 58.81%
Republican Brook Johnson 572,036 38.12%
Concerned Citizens Richard D. Gregory 35,315 2.35%
Libertarian Howard A. Grayson Jr. 10,741 0.72%
Total votes 1,500,661 100.00%
Democratic hold

Florida

Florida election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Bob Graham James W. Grant
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 3,245,585 1,716,511
Percentage 65.4% 35.4%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Graham
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Graham
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Bob Graham won re-election to a second term, beating Republican former U.S. Representative Bill Grant.

Democratic Primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Graham (Incumbent) 968,618 84.3%
Democratic Jim Mahorner 180,405 15.7%
Total votes 1,149,023 100.0%
Republican Primary results[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Grant 413,457 56.1%
Republican Rob Quartel 196,524 26.7%
Republican Hugh Brotherton 126,878 17.2%
Total votes 736,859 100.0%

Graham defeated Grant in a landslide, as Grant won just one county in the state (Okaloosa County, Florida). There were no third party or independent candidates.

General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Graham 3,245,565 65.40% +10.66%
Republican Bill Grant 1,716,505 34.59% −10.67%
Write-ins Marie Davis 220 0.01%
Majority 1,529,060 30.81%
Total votes 4,962,290 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

Georgia

Georgia election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Paul Coverdell Wyche Fowler
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 635,118 618,774
Percentage 50.65% 49.35%

County results

U.S. senator before election

Wyche Fowler
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul Coverdell
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Wyche Fowler did not receive a simple majority in the general election, which demanded a runoff. Paul Coverdell, former Director of the Peace Corps and former State Senator, edged out Fowler in the runoff with a narrow margin.[4]

The general primary was held July 21, 1992.[17] A run-off between the top two Republican contenders was held on August 11, in which Paul Coverdell defeated Bob Barr.

Results[18] for the first round showed that since Paul Coverdell did not win a majority of the vote, a runoff was held between him and Barr. Coverdell subsequently won the runoff.

1992 Georgia U.S. Senate Republican primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Coverdell 100,016 37.05%
Republican Bob Barr 65,471 24.25%
Republican John Knox 64,514 23.90%
Republican Charlie Tanskley 32,590 12.07%
Republican Dean Parkison 7,352 2.72%
Turnout 269,943 100.00%
1992 Georgia U.S. Senate Republican primary election runoff
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Coverdell 80,435 50.49%
Republican Bob Barr 78,887 49.51%
Turnout 159,332 100.00%
Georgia United States Senate election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wyche Fowler (incumbent) 1,108,416 49.23%
Republican Paul Coverdell 1,073,282 47.67%
Libertarian Jim Hudson 69,878 3.10%
Write-In Votes 11 0.00%
Majority 35,134 1.56%
Turnout 2,251,587

As no candidate reached a majority on November 3, a runoff election was held on November 24, which Coverdell won.

Georgia United States Senate election runoff, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Coverdell 635,118 50.65%
Democratic Wyche Fowler (incumbent) 618,774 49.35%
Majority 16,344 1.30%
Turnout 1,253,892

Hawaii

Hawaii election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Daniel Inouye Rick Reed
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 208,266 97,928
Percentage 57.3% 26.9%

 
Nominee Linda Martin
Party Green
Popular vote 49,921
Percentage 13.7%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Daniel Inouye
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Daniel Inouye
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Daniel Inouye won re-election to a sixth term over Republican State Senator Rick Reed.[19]

Results

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Inouye 208,266 57.3%
Republican Rick Reed 97,928 26.9%
Green Linda Martin 49,921 13.7%
Libertarian Richard O. Rowland 7,547 2.1%

Idaho

Idaho election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Dirk Kempthorne Richard H. Stallings
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 270,468 208,036
Percentage 56.5% 43.5%

U.S. senator before election

Steve Symms
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Dirk Kempthorne
Republican

Incumbent Republican Steve Symms decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Republican Mayor of Boise Dirk Kempthorne won the open seat, beating Democratic congressman Richard H. Stallings.

Democratic primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard H. Stallings 40,102 71.66%
Democratic Matt Schaffer 8,976 16.04%
Democratic David W. Sheperd 6,882 12.30%
Total votes 55,960 100.00%
Republican primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dirk Kempthorne 67,001 57.43%
Republican Rod Beck 26,977 23.12%
Republican Milt Erhart 22,682 19.44%
Total votes 116,660 100.00%
General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dirk Kempthorne 270,468 56.52% +4.97%
Democratic Richard H. Stallings 208,036 43.48% −4.97%
Majority 62,432 13.05% +9.93%
Turnout 478,504
Republican hold Swing

Illinois

Illinois election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Carol Moseley Braun Richard S. Williamson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,631,229 2,162,833
Percentage 53.0% 43.0%


U.S. senator before election

Alan J. Dixon
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Carol Moseley Braun
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Alan J. Dixon decided to run for re-election a third term, but was defeated in the primary against Carol Moseley Braun, Cook County Recorder of Deeds and former State Representative, who then won the general election over Republican Richard S. Williamson, former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. Braun (whose victory coincided with Bill Clinton's win in the presidential election and Illinois) made history in this election by becoming the first African-American woman ever elected to the U.S Senate, and also the first African-American elected to the U.S Senate as a Democrat.

Democratic Primary, United States Senate, 1992[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carol Moseley Braun 557,694 38.0%
Democratic Alan J. Dixon (Incumbent) 504,077 35.0%
Democratic Albert Hofeld 394,497 18.0%

This defeat shocked observers; at the time no Senator had been defeated in a primary in over a decade and Dixon had a long record of electoral success. He was a moderate Democrat, who recently voted to confirm Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.[22] Braun, a black woman and known reformist liberal, got a large share of black, liberal, and women voters ("The Year of the Woman").

In addition, she carried Cook County, Illinois, by far the most populated county in the state. Another factor was the third candidate in the race, multi-millionaire attorney Al Hofeld. Hofeld drew away some of the moderate and conservative Democrats who normally supported Dixon. He also spent a lot of money running advertisements attacking Dixon, weakening his support.

Moseley Braun won the 1992 Illinois Senate Race by a fairly comfortable margin. Moseley Braun did well as expected in Cook County home of Chicago. Williamson did well in the Chicago collar counties, and most northern parts of the state. Moseley Braun had a surprisingly strong showing in southern Illinois, which Republicans had come to dominate in the last several decades. Braun also did well in Rock Island County.

1992 Illinois U.S. Senate Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Carol Moseley Braun 2,631,229 53.3% −3.8%
Republican Richard S. Williamson 2,126,833 43.1% +9.3%
Independent Chad Koppie 100,422 2.0%
Libertarian Andrew B. Spiegel 34,527 0.7%
Natural Law Charles A. Winter 15,118 N/A%
New Alliance Alan J. Port 12,689 N/A%
Socialist Workers Kathleen Kaku 10,056 N/A%
Populist John Justice 8,656 N/A%
Democratic hold Swing

Indiana

Indiana election

← 1990
1998 →
 
Nominee Dan Coats Joe Hogsett
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,267,972 900,148
Percentage 57.3% 40.8%

County results

U.S. senator before election

Dan Coats
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Dan Coats
Republican

Incumbent Republican Dan Coats won re-election to his first full term, beating the Democratic Indiana Secretary of State Joe Hogsett.[23]

When incumbent Republican Dan Quayle resigned from the Senate after being elected Vice President of the United States in 1988, Coats was appointed to Quayle’s former seat. He then won re-election to serve the remainder of the term in 1990.

General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Coats (Incumbent) 1,267,972 57.3%
Democratic Joseph Hogsett 900,148 40.8%
Libertarian Steve Dillon 35,733 1.6%
New Alliance Raymond Tirado 7,474 0.3%
No party Write-Ins 99 0.0%
Majority 367,824
Turnout 2,211,426
Republican hold Swing

Coats won 79 of Indiana's counties compared to 13 for Hogsett.[24]

Iowa

Iowa election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Chuck Grassley Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 899,761 351,561
Percentage 69.6% 27.2%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Chuck Grassley
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Chuck Grassley
Republican

Incumbent Republican Chuck Grassley ran for re-election to a third term in the United States Senate, which he won easily against his Democratic opponent, State Senator Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones.

Democratic primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones 60,615 60.80
Democratic Rosanne Freeburg 38,774 38.89
Democratic Write-ins 307 0.31
Total votes 99,696 100.00
Republican primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chuck Grassley (Incumbent) 109,273 99.70%
Republican Write-ins 324 0.30%
Total votes 109,597 100.00%
United States Senate election in Iowa, 1992[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chuck Grassley (Incumbent) 899,761 69.61% +3.58%
Democratic Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones 351,561 27.20% −6.37%
Natural Law Stuart Zimmerman 16,403 1.27%
Independent Sue Atkinson 6,277 0.49%
Independent Mel Boring 5,508 0.43%
Independent Rosanne Freeburg 4,999 0.39%
Grassroots Carl Eric Olsen 3,404 0.26%
Independent Richard O'Dell Hughes 2,918 0.23%
Socialist Workers Cleve Andrew Pulley 1,370 0.11%
Write-ins 293 0.02%
Majority 548,200 42.41% +9.95%
Turnout 1,292,494
Republican hold Swing

Kansas

Kansas election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Bob Dole Gloria O'Dell
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 706,246 349,525
Percentage 62.70% 31.03%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Dole
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Dole
Republican

Incumbent Republican senator Bob Dole won re-election to a sixth term, defeating Democratic nominee Gloria O'Dell, teacher and former journalist.[26] Nearly two decades after his failed vice-presidential bid in 1976, this would be Dole's last election to the Senate. He would resign in 1996 while running for President of the United States. Dole also became the Republican Leader of the United States Senate seven years prior.

General election results[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Dole 706,246 62.70%
Democratic Gloria O'Dell 349,525 31.03%
Independent Christina Campbell-Cline 45,423 4.03%
Libertarian Mark B. Kirk 25,253 2.24%
Majority 356,721 31.67%
Turnout 1,126,447
Republican hold Swing

Kentucky

Kentucky election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Wendell Ford David L. Williams
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 836,888 476,604
Percentage 62.9% 35.8%

U.S. senator before election

Wendell Ford
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Wendell Ford
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S Senator Wendell Ford won re-election to a fourth term, easily beating Republican State Senator David L. Williams. As of 2016, this is the last Senate election in Kentucky in which a Democrat won.

Denny Ormerod, a machinist from Louisville dropped out before the primary election.[28] Though Williams and Thompson represented opposing factions in the state Republican Party – Williams managed Larry Hopkins' 1991 primary campaign while Thompson worked full-time for Hopkins' primary opponent Larry Forgy – the two virtually ignored each other in the primary campaign, choosing instead to focus their rhetoric against Ford.[28] Thompson did question Williams' conservative credentials on grounds that he voted in favor of the tax increase associated with the Kentucky Education Reform Act.[28] Ormerod's campaign largely focused on socially conservative issues, but it was Williams who secured the endorsement of Kentucky Right to Life, who cited his lawsuit to free three anti-abortion bills from committee in the 1992 legislative session.[28] As a result of the largely uninspiring primary campaigns, there was only an 18% voter turnout in the Republican primary. Williams won the nomination.[29]

Republican primary results[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Williams 49,880 60.9%
Republican Phillip Thompson 25,026 30.5%
Republican Denny Ormerod 7,066 8.6%

Ford, the Senate Majority Whip and a former governor, raised $2.4 million for his campaign, about eight times the amount Williams raised.[31] Given his limited finances, Williams relied on news conferences and interviews on small town radio stations to get his message out.[31] Williams repeatedly lamented that Ford would not agree to a formal debate; Ford said that could not be arranged because Congress was still in session and he needed to be in Washington.[32] During the campaign, Williams attempted to paint Ford as too liberal for Kentucky voters, citing his votes against the Gulf War and Clarence Thomas' confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.[33] Both candidates declared their support for a Balanced Budget Amendment, but Williams said that Ford's support of pork barrel projects for the state and a procedural vote that kept the amendment from a vote in 1991 were evidence that Ford's support was not genuine.[33]

Ford had no trouble winning on election night. Ford won easily, despite the fact that fellow Democrat Bill Clinton was not declared the winner of the presidential race in Kentucky until around 10:00 E.S.T. Ford pulled big margins out of the majority of Kentucky's 124 counties. This would be Ford's last term in the senate. He served his final term from January 3, 1993, to January 3, 1999. Ford died some fifteen years after his retirement at the age of 90.

General election results[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wendell H. Ford (Incumbent) 836,888 62.9%
Republican David L. Williams 476,604 35.8%
Libertarian James A. Ridenour 17,366 1.3%

Louisiana

Louisiana election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee John Breaux Jon Khachaturian
Party Democratic Independent
Popular vote 616,021 74,785
Percentage 73.07% 8.87%

 
Nominee Lyle Stocksill Nick Joseph Accardo
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 69,986 45,839
Percentage 8.30% 5.44%

U.S. senator before election

John Breaux
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Breaux
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Breaux won a majority in Louisiana's jungle primary on October 3, 1992, winning re-election to another term.

Jungle primary results[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Breaux 616,021 73.07%
Independent Jon Khachaturian 74,785 8.87%
Republican Lyle Stocksill 69,986 8.30%
Democratic Nick Joseph Accardo 45,839 5.44%
Republican Fred Clegg Strong 36,406 4.32%
Majority 541,236 64.20%
Turnout 843,037
Democratic hold

Maryland

Maryland election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Barbara Mikulski Alan Keyes
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,307,610 533,688
Percentage 71.0% 28.9%

U.S. senator before election

Barbara Mikulski
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Barbara Mikulski
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a second term over Republican Alan Keyes, former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.

Democratic Primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara A. Mikulski (Incumbent) 376,444 76.75%
Democratic Thomas M. Wheatley 31,214 6.36%
Democratic Walter Boyd 26,467 5.40%
Democratic Don Allensworth 19,731 4.02%
Democratic Scott David Britt 13,001 2.65%
Democratic James Leonard White 12,470 2.54%
Democratic B. Emerson Sweatt 11,150 2.27%
Total votes 490,477 100.00%
Republican Primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alan L. Keyes 95,831 45.94%
Republican Martha Scanlan Klima 20,758 9.95%
Republican Joseph I. Cassilly 16,091 7.71%
Republican Ross Z. Pierpont 12,658 6.07%
Republican S. Rob Sobhani 12,423 5.96%
Republican John J. Bishop, Jr. 9,451 4.53%
Republican Eugene R. Zarwell 6,535 3.13%
Republican James Henry Berry 6,282 3.01%
Republican Romie Allen Songer 6,030 2.89%
Republican Joyce Friend-Nalepka 5,835 2.80%
Republican Edward Robert Shannon 4,578 2.19%
Republican Scott L. Meredith 4,372 2.10%
Republican Stuart Hopkins 3,717 1.78%
Republican Herman J. Hannan 2,771 1.33%
Republican William H. Krehnbrink 1,258 0.60%
Total votes 208,590 100.00%
United States Senate election in Maryland, 1992[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Barbara A. Mikulski (Incumbent) 1,307,610 71.02% +10.33%
Republican Alan L. Keyes 533,688 28.98% −10.33%
Majority 773,922 42.03% +20.66%
Total votes 1,841,298 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

Missouri

Missouri election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Kit Bond Geri Rothman-Serot
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,221,901 1,057,967
Percentage 51.2% 44.9%

U.S. senator before election

Kit Bond
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Kit Bond
Republican

Incumbent Republican Kit Bond won re-election to a second term over Democratic St. Louis County Councilwoman Geri Rothman-Serot.[4]

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kit Bond 1,221,901 51.2%
Democratic Geri Rothman-Serot 1,057,967 44.9%
Libertarian Jeanne Bojarski 75,048 3.2%

Nevada

Nevada election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Harry Reid Demar Dahl
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 253,150 199,413
Percentage 51.0% 40.2%

U.S. senator before election

Harry Reid
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Harry Reid
Democratic

Although nearly 10% of the electorate voted for neither of the two major U.S. political parties, incumbent Democrat Harry Reid ultimately beat Republican cattle rancher and President of Nevada Cattlemen's Association Demar Dahl.[4]

General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Harry Reid (Incumbent) 253,150 51.05% +1.05%
Republican Demar Dahl 199,413 40.21% −4.30%
None of These Candidates 13,154 2.65% -0.96%
Independent American Party (Nevada) Joe S. Garcia 11,240 2.27%
Natural Law Lois Avery 7,279 1.47%
Libertarian Kent Cromwell 7,222 1.46% −0.41%
Populist Harry Tootle 4,429 0.89%
Majority 53,737 10.84% +5.36%
Turnout 495,887
Democratic hold Swing

New Hampshire

New Hampshire election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Judd Gregg John Rauh
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 249,591 234,982
Percentage 48.2% 45.4%

U.S. senator before election

Warren Rudman
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Judd Gregg
Republican

Incumbent Republican Warren Rudman decided to retire. Republican Governor Judd Gregg won the open seat, beating Democrat John Rauh, former CEO of Griffon Corporation.[37]

NH U.S. Senate Election, 1992[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Judd Gregg 249,591 48.2%
Democratic John Rauh 234,982 45.4%
Libertarian Katherine M. Alexander 18,214 3.5%
Independent Larry Brady 9,340 1.8%
Independent Ken Blevens 4,752 0.9%
Natural Law David Haight 1,291 0.3%

New York

New York election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Al D'Amato Robert Abrams
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 3,166,994 3,086,200
Percentage 49.0% 47.8%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Al D'Amato
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Al D'Amato
Republican

Incumbent Republican Al D'Amato won re-election to a third term over Democrat Robert Abrams, New York State Attorney General and former Borough president of the Bronx. As of 2016, this is the last Senate election in New York won by a Republican.

Early in the campaign, environmentalist attorney, Laurance S. Rockefeller, Jr. nephew of the former governor Nelson, tried to challenge D'Amato in the Republican primary,[39] but fell short of the required signatures to get onto the primary ballot. D'Amato summarily went unchallenged.

The Democratic primary campaign featured State Attorney General Robert Abrams, former U.S. Congresswoman and 1984 vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, Reverend Al Sharpton, Congressman Robert J. Mrazek, and New York City Comptroller and former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman. Abrams was considered the early front-runner.[40] Ferraro emphasized her career as a teacher, prosecutor, congresswoman, and mother, and talked about how she was tough on crime.[41] Ferraro drew attacks from the media and her opponents over her husband John Zaccaro's finances and business relationships.[42]

Ferraro became the front-runner, capitalizing on her star power from 1984 and using the campaign attacks against her as an explicitly feminist rallying point for women voters.[42] As the primary date neared, her lead began to dwindle under the charges, and she released additional tax returns from the 1980s to try to defray the attacks.[43] Holtzman ran a negative ad accusing Ferraro and Zaccaro of taking more than $300,000 in rent in the 1980s from a pornographer with purported ties to organized crime.[44] The final debates were nasty, and Holtzman in particular constantly attacked Ferraro's integrity and finances.[45][46] In an unusual election-eve television broadcast, Ferraro talked about the ethnic slurs made against her as an Italian-American.[47] In the September 15, 1992 primary, Abrams edged out Ferraro by less than percentage point, winning 37 percent of the vote to 36 percent.[46] Ferraro did not concede she had lost for two weeks.[48]

After Abrams emerged as the nominee, the Democrats remained divided. In particular, Abrams spent much of the remainder of the campaign trying to get Ferraro's endorsement.[49] Ferraro, enraged and bitter after the nature of the primary,[45][48] ignored Abrams and accepted Bill Clinton's request to campaign for his presidential bid instead. She was eventually persuaded by state party leaders into giving an unenthusiastic endorsement with just three days to go before the general election, in exchange for an apology by Abrams for the tone of the primary.[49]

Abrams was also criticized for calling D'Amato a fascist, and he narrowly lost the general election as a result of these controversies.[50]

General election results[51][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Al D'Amato 2,652,822
Conservative Al D'Amato 289,258
Right to Life Al D'Amato 224,914
'Total' Al D'Amato 3,166,994 49.0%
Democratic Robert Abrams 2,943,001
Liberal Robert Abrams 143,199
'Total' Robert Abrams 3,086,200 47.8%
Libertarian Norma Segal 108,530 1.7%
New Alliance Mohammad T. Mehdi 56,631 0.9%
Natural Law Stanley Nelson 23,747 0.4%
Socialist Workers Eddie Warren 16,724 0.3%

North Carolina

North Carolina election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Lauch Faircloth Terry Sanford
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,297,892 1,194,015
Percentage 50.35% 46.32%

U.S. senator before election

Terry Sanford
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Lauch Faircloth
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Terry Sanford lost re-election to a second term to Republican Lauch Faircloth, former State Secretary of Commerce.

1992 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauch Faircloth 129,159 47.74%
Republican Sue Wilkins Myrick 81,801 30.23%
Republican Eugene Johnston 46,112 17.04%
Republican Larry Harrington 13,496 4.99%
Turnout 270,568

In 1990, after 40 years as a Democrat, Faircloth switched his party registration and began preparations to seek the Republican Senate nomination in 1992. Enjoying the support of Senator Jesse Helms's political organization, Faircloth defeated Charlotte mayor Sue Myrick and former congressman Walter E. Johnston, III in the primary. His opponent in the general election was his former ally, Terry Sanford. Although Sanford had helped Faircloth raise money for his failed gubernatorial bid in 1984, he angered Faircloth two years later when he allegedly dismissed Faircloth's chances in a statewide contest if the two ran against each other for the Democratic nomination for the Senate. [53] Faircloth withdrew from the 1986 race after Sanford "blindsided" him by announcing his candidacy.[54]

Faircloth attacked Sanford as a tax-and-spend liberal, and despite a poor performance in a September televised debate, Faircloth won the seat by a 100,000-vote margin. Sanford may have been weakened by his unpopular vote against authorizing military force in the Persian Gulf War, and he suffered health problems in the summer of 1992.[55]

1992 North Carolina U.S. Senate election[52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lauch Faircloth 1,297,892 50.35% +2.11%
Democratic Terry Sanford (Incumbent) 1,194,015 46.32% –5.44%
Libertarian Bobby Yates Emory 85,948 3.33% N/A
Turnout 2,577,855

North Dakota

North Dakota election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Byron Dorgan Steve Sydness
Party Democratic–NPL Republican
Popular vote 179,347 118,162
Percentage 59.0% 38.9%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Kent Conrad
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Byron Dorgan
Democratic

Incumbent North Dakota Democratic NPL Party incumbent Kent Conrad retired, having given a pledge that he would not run for re-election if the federal budget deficit was higher than when he was first elected; however when the other Senate seat became vacant, he ran in the special election. Dem-NPL U.S. Congressman Byron Dorgan won the open seat, beating Republican Steve Sydness, CEO of Endurance International Group.[4]

1992 United States Senate election, North Dakota
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic–NPL Byron Dorgan 179,347 59.00%
Republican Steve Sydness 118,162 38.87%
Independent Tom Asbridge 6,448 2.12%
Turnout 303,957

North Dakota (Special)

North Dakota special election

← 1988 December 4, 1992 1994 →
 
Nominee Kent Conrad Jack Dalrymple
Party Democratic–NPL Republican
Popular vote 103,246 55,194
Percentage 63.2% 33.8%

U.S. senator before election

Jocelyn Burdick
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Kent Conrad
Democratic

The special election was held December 4, 1992 to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by the late Quentin Burdick. Burdick's widow, Jocelyn Burdick, was appointed as a temporary replacement until the election was held. Dem-NPLer Kent Conrad, who held North Dakota's other senate seat for one term since 1986, had not run for re-election to his own seat, holding himself to a campaign promise pledging to reduce the federal deficit. U.S. Senator Kent Conrad won the election over Republican State Representative Jack Dalrymple.

Burdick's death provided an opportunity for Conrad to return to the Senate in a fight for an open seat. However, some, particularly his political opponents, saw this as a breach of his promise in spirit if not letter, Conrad's high approval ratings as Senator carried through to a victory against Republican state legislator Jack Dalrymple.[56]

General election results
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic–NPL Kent Conrad 103,246 63.22 73.57
Republican Jack Dalrymple 55,194 33.80
Independent Darold Larson 4,871 2.98
Majority
Turnout 163,311

Ohio

Ohio election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee John Glenn Mike DeWine
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,444,419 2,028,300
Percentage 51.0% 42.3%

 
Nominee Martha Grevatt
Party Workers World
Popular vote 321,234
Percentage 6.7%

County results

U.S. senator before election

John Glenn
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Glenn
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Glenn won re-election to a fourth term,[57] coinciding with Bill Clinton's narrow win during the presidential election. Glenn's voting percentage of 51% over Republican Lieutenant Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine represented the worst performance of his four runs for the Senate, likely due to the presence of third-party candidate Martha Grevatt of the far-left Workers World Party. As of 2016, this is the last time the Democrats have won the Class 3 Senate Seat from Ohio.

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Glenn (Incumbent) 2,444,419 50.99%
Republican Mike DeWine 2,028,300 42.31%
Workers World Martha Grevatt 321,234 6.70%
Majority 416,119 8.68%
Turnout 4,793,953

Oklahoma

Oklahoma election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Don Nickles Steve Lewis
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 757,876 494,350
Percentage 58.6% 38.2%

U.S. senator before election

Don Nickles
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Don Nickles
Republican

Incumbent Republican Don Nickles won re-election to his third term, beating Democratic former State Representative Steve Lewis.[58]

OK U.S. Senate Election, 1992[59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Nickles 757,876 58.6%
Democratic Steve Lewis 494,350 38.2%
Independent Roy V. Edwards 21,225 1.6%
Independent Thomas D. Ledgerwood II 20,972 1.6%

Oregon

Oregon election

 
Nominee Bob Packwood Les AuCoin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 717,455 639,851
Percentage 52.1% 46.5%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Packwood
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Packwood
Republican

Incumbent Republican Bob Packwood won re-election to his fifth term.

As the election season got underway, analysts from both major parties predicted that Packwood would have one of the toughest seats to defend in what was anticipated to be a volatile election year.[60] Packwood was regarded as one of the nation's "most powerful elected officials"[61] with "extraordinary political instincts."[62] But the state's largest newspaper, The Oregonian, had described AuCoin (Packwood's presumed main challenger) as having "persistence, imagination and clout [that] have made him the most powerful congressman in Oregon and one of the most influential members from the Northwest."[63]

For AuCoin, however, first came the Democratic primary. He faced Portland attorney Joe Wetzel and Bend businessman Harry Lonsdale in what became a "brutal, bitter"[64] contest.[65] Lonsdale, who had run a close race against incumbent Mark Hatfield for Oregon's other Senate seat in 1990, emerged as AuCoin's principal rival; Wetzel, who criticized Packwood and AuCoin as long-term, ineffective members of Congress,[66] trailed throughout the race, and was not invited to an April debate sponsored by the City Club of Portland.[67] Lonsdale took on "the Les AuCoin-Mark Hatfield-Bob Packwood coalition" as his primary cause, stating "I consider Les AuCoin a good man who has been corrupted by PAC money over the years".[68]

In a race the Seattle Times called "as negative as many voters can remember,"[64] Lonsdale attacked AuCoin as "corrupt"[64] and tied to the timber industry.[69] Lonsdale's environmental credentials also came under scrutiny,[70] and AuCoin noted Lonsdale's reversal of support for nuclear power and belated opposition to the re-opening of Trojan Nuclear Power Plant.[71] AuCoin turned accusations of undue influence back on Lonsdale, pointing out that his company (Bend Research) had received millions in federal defense contracts.[72]

Even during the primary, Packwood and AuCoin traded barbs on various issues.[73] Packwood joined Lonsdale in criticizing AuCoin for his involvement in what was reported as a rash of check-bouncing among members of Congress; AuCoin characterized the issue as a series of mistakes, rather than gross abuses.[74] In what was believed to be an unprecedented move, Packwood attempted to influence the Democratic primary's outcome by running television ads against AuCoin.[75]

Ultimately, the results of the Democratic primary were so close that an automatic recount was triggered.[75] AuCoin held a news conference on May 23 in the South Park Blocks stating he would wait for the recount, but the margin was currently 248 votes in his favor.[76] On June 18, over a month after the primary election, AuCoin was certified as having won by 330 votes.[77] Upon conceding the race, Lonsdale pondered mounting a write-in campaign, reiterating that Oregon needed an "outsider" in the Senate.[78][79]

Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1992[80]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Les AuCoin 153,029 42.18%
Democratic Harry Lonsdale 152,699 42.09%
Democratic Joseph Wetzel 31,183 8.87%
Democratic Bob Bell 23,700 6.53%
Democratic miscellaneous 1,194 0.33%
Total votes 361,805 100.00%

Packwood had gone through a divorce in 1991, and his ex-wife threatened to run against him amid mounting concerns about his "eye for the ladies." The socially conservative Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) was at the apex of its statewide prominence with 1992's anti-gay Measure 9 and its newly formed American Heritage Party (AHP). The group endorsed Republican challenger Joe Lutz, who had run against Packwood in the past on a family values platform; but Lutz soon withdrew, announcing a divorce of his own. As early as January, the OCA considered backing former gubernatorial candidate Al Mobley as an independent or as a member of the AHP.[81][82] Mobley ultimately decided in mid-August not to run, stating that he could not bear the idea that he might be responsible for causing AuCoin to be elected.[83] Packwood's most significant challenge thus came from little-known conservative Medford attorney John DeZell, who campaigned on the family values issue.[84] Packwood cruised to victory over DeZell and several other candidates.

Republican primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1992[85]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Packwood 176,939 59.10%
Republican John DeZell 61,128 20.42%
Republican Stephanie J. Salvey 27,088 9.05%
Republican Randy Prince 20,358 6.80%
Republican Valentine Christian 10,501 3.51%
Republican miscellaneous 3,397 1.14%
Total votes 299,411 100.00%

By the end of June, when the recount was complete, AuCoin was nearly out of campaign funds; Packwood entered the general election race with $3.2 million[86][87] and was ranked sixth nationwide among Senators raising funds outside their home state during the 1990–1992 election season.[88]

AuCoin opposed weakening the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to erase the Northern Spotted Owl’s impact on the timber industry, but Packwood (“one of the timber industry’s chief allies,” according to Oregon State University political scientist William Lunch[89]) assailed “environmental extremists” and introduced legislation to convene a presidential cabinet committee to exempt the endangered owl from the ESA.[90]

In September, Packwood pulled ads that had falsely criticized AuCoin for missing votes while speaking to special interest groups.[91] By October, Packwood had raised $8 million,[92] spending $5.4 million more than AuCoin, and leading all Senate incumbents.[93] Yet that fall, the two candidates were in a dead heat, with Packwood continuing to criticize AuCoin on attendance, his House bank account and the spotted owl, and AuCoin echoing the campaign of popular Presidential candidate Bill Clinton by accusing Packwood of favoring the wealthy over the middle class.[94]

The outcome of the bruising race was too close to call on election night, but on the following day, Packwood emerged as the winner with about 52% of the vote to AuCoin's 47. In his victory press conference, Packwood endorsed for AuCoin for Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton administration.[95][96] When told of Packwood's comments, AuCoin responded by saying "I think that's real special."[97]

General election results[98]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Packwood 717,455 52.14%
Democratic Les AuCoin 639,851 46.50%
Write-In Miscellaneous 12,934 0.94%
Independent Harry Lonsdale 5,793 0.42%
Total votes 1,376,033 100.00%
Republican hold

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Arlen Specter Lynn Yeakel
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,358,125 2,244,966
Percentage 48.9% 46.6%

County results

U.S. senator before election

Arlen Specter
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Arlen Specter
Republican

Incumbent Republican Arlen Specter won re-election to a third term over Democratic millionaire Lynn Yeakel[99] director of women's studies at Drexel University College of Medicine and daughter of former U.S. Congressman Porter Hardy of Virginia[100] (from Montgomery County).

Despite his powerful position in the Senate, Specter had numerous problems entering the election. A moderate who generally received only tepid support from his party's conservative wing, he was criticized by the right for opposing Ronald Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. Specter subsequently faced a primary challenge from an ultra-conservative State Representative named Stephen Freind; although the incumbent won handily, the battle was expensive and featured many damaging attack ads. The senator was also highly targeted by women's groups for his involvement in the Clarence Thomas proceedings; in his questioning of Anita Hill, Specter appeared to show no sympathy for her allegations of sexual harassment. Furthermore, President Bush's popularity was rapidly declining in the state over high unemployment rates and was subsequently dragging down Republican candidates.[101]

Yeakel won the five-way primary with 45% of the vote, easily defeating the endorsed candidate, Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel, in an election cycle dubbed by pundits as the "year of the woman." Polls put her ahead of Specter by double digits. But Specter ran a campaign that was praised by political analysts for being almost flawless.[101] Despite Yeakel's personal wealth, her inexperience in politics led to fund raising problems; in turn, Specter ran television ads long before the Democrat. The moderate Specter portrayed Yeakel, despite her liberal attitude, as a member of an elitist blue-blood family; he emphasized her father's votes against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 while in Congress, her affiliation with an all-white country club, and her church's minister's vocal criticism of the Israeli government.[102][103]

Despite her mistakes, including a frequent tendency to mispronounce the names of places in which she was campaigning, Yeakel continued to perform solidly, and on Election Day, she captured by large numbers the traditional Democratic strongholds of the state, such as Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Erie. However, Specter undercut Yeakel's support in the state's most critical Democratic county: Philadelphia. Specter campaigned hard in black neighborhoods and received the endorsement of the NAACP. Furthermore, he capitalized on the ambivalence of many Philadelphia Democratic leaders to Yeakel, a self-described reform candidate; as a result, the hugely Democratic city featured a higher than anticipated vote for Specter. Also critical to the campaign was Specter's grassroots involvement in Yeakel's base, the traditionally GOP but Democratic-trending suburbs of Philadelphia.[101]

General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arlen Specter 2,358,125 48.9%
Democratic Lynn Yeakel 2,244,966 46.6%
Libertarian John Perry 219,319 4.6%

South Carolina

South Carolina election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Ernest Hollings Thomas F. Hartnett
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 591,030 554,175
Percentage 50.07% 46.95%

U.S. senator before election

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Fritz Hollings won re-election to his fifth full term, over Republican former Congressman Thomas Hartnett.

Republican Primary
Candidate Votes %
Thomas F. Hartnett 123,572 76.8%
Charlie E. Thompson 37,352 23.2%

The race between Hollings and Hartnett was between two politicians from the Lowcoutry. Hartnett attacked Hollings for co-sponsoring a bill in 1983 that would have outlawed discrimination against homosexuals and Hollings shot back about questions of Hartnett's integrity for pushing for military contracts with a firm he had ties with in North Charleston. The anti-incumbency mood helped to bring Hartnett close to topping Hollings in the general election, but South Carolina voters traditionally support their incumbent politicians and Hollings was elected for another six-year term, albeit with a much reduced margin.

#3333FF
South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Fritz Hollings 591,030 50.1% −13.0%
Republican Thomas F. Hartnett 554,175 46.9% +11.3%
Libertarian Mark Johnson 16,987 1.9% +1.2%
American Robert Barnwell Clarkson II 11,568 1.0% +0.4%
No party Write-Ins 703 0.1% +0.1%
Majority 36,855 3.2% −24.3%
Turnout 1,180,438 76.8% +20.2%
Democratic hold

South Dakota

South Dakota election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Tom Daschle Charlene Haar
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 217,095 108,733
Percentage 64.9% 32.5%

U.S. senator before election

Tom Daschle
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Tom Daschle
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Tom Daschle won re-election to a second term, beating Republican educator Charlene Haar.[104]

General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tom Daschle (Incumbent) 217,095 64.90% +13.30%
Republican Charlene Haar 108,733 32.51% −15.89%
Libertarian Gus Hercules 4,353 1.30%
Independent Kent Hyde 4,314 1.29%
Majority 108,362 32.40% +29.19%
Turnout 334,495
Democratic hold Swing

Texas (Special)

Texas special election,

← 1988 June 6, 1993 1994 →
 
Nominee Kay Bailey Hutchison Bob Krueger
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,188,716 576,538
Percentage 67.3% 32.6%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Krueger
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Kay Bailey Hutchison
Republican

A special election was held June 6, 1993 to replace U.S. senator Lloyd Bentsen. Governor Ann Richards appointed Bob Krueger, who was defeated by Republican Texas State Treasurer Kay Bailey Hutchison.[105][106] In 2010, Krueger's campaign was named by the Houston Chronicle as the worst in Texas' modern political history.[107]

General election results[108]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison 1,188,716 67.3
Democratic Bob Krueger 576,538 32.6

Utah

Utah election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Bob Bennett Wayne Owens
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 420,069 301,228
Percentage 55.38% 39.72%

U.S. senator before election

Jake Garn
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Bennett
Republican

Incumbent Republican Jake Garn decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Bob Bennett won the open seat over Democratic congressman Wayne Owen.

General election results[109]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Bennett 420,069 55.38%
Democratic Wayne Owens 301,228 39.72%
Populist Anita Morrow 17,549 2.31%
Libertarian Maury Modine 14,341 1.89%
Socialist Workers Patricia Grogan 5,292 0.7%

Vermont

Vermont election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Patrick Leahy Jim Douglas
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 154,762 123,854
Percentage 54.2% 43.4%

U.S. senator before election

Patrick Leahy
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Patrick Leahy
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy won re-election to a fourth term, beating Republican Secretary of State of Vermont Jim Douglas.

Democratic primary results[110]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patrick Leahy (Incumbent) 24,721 97.59%
Democratic Write-ins 610 2.41%
Total votes 25,331 100.00%
Liberty Union primary results[110]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberty Union Jerry Levy 311 91.20%
Liberty Union Write-ins 30 8.80%
Total votes 341 100.00%
Republican primary results[110]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Douglas 28,693 78.24%
Republican John L. Gropper 7,395 20.16%
Republican Write-ins 586 1.60%
Total votes 36,674 100.00%
General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Patrick Leahy (Incumbent) 154,762 54.16% −8.99%
Republican Jim Douglas 123,854 43.35% +8.85%
Liberty Union Jerry Levy 5,121 1.79% +0.99%
Freedom for LaRouche Michael B. Godeck 1,780 0.62%
Write-ins 222 0.08%
Majority 30,908 10.82% −17.84%
Turnout 285,739
Democratic hold Swing

Washington

Washington election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Patty Murray Rod Chandler
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,197,973 1,020,829
Percentage 54.0% 46.0%

County Results

U.S. senator before election

Brock Adams
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Patty Murray
Democratic

Serving one term, incumbent Senator Brock Adams was strongly supportive of his party's leadership[citation needed]. In 1992 he chose not to be a candidate for re-election after eight women made statements to The Seattle Times alleging that Adams had committed various acts of sexual misconduct, ranging from sexual harassment to rape.[111] Adams denied the allegations, but his popularity statewide was weakened considerably by the scandal and he chose to retire rather than risk losing the seat for his party. Chandler seemed to have the upper hand in one of the debates until for some unknown reason he quoted the Roger Miller song "Dang Me."[112] He was further damaged by the unpopularity of President George H.W. Bush in the Pacific Northwest.

United States Senate election in Washington, 1992[113]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patty Murray 1,197,973 54.0%
Republican Rod Chandler 1,020,829 46.0%
Total votes 2,218,802 100.00%

Wisconsin

Wisconsin election

← 1986
1998 →
 
Nominee Russ Feingold Bob Kasten
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,290,662 1,129,599
Percentage 52.6% 46.0%

County results

U.S. senator before election

Bob Kasten
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Russ Feingold
Democratic

Incumbent Republican Bob Kasten ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Democratic State Senator Russ Feingold.

Feingold, who had little name recognition in the state and was campaigning in a primary against a pair of millionaire opponents, U.S. Congressman Jim Moody and Milwaukee businessman Joe Checota, adopted several proposals to gain the electorate's attention. The most memorable of these was a series of five promises written on Feingold's garage door in the form of a contract.[114] Also noted was Feingold's advertising campaign, which was widely compared to that used by progressive candidate Paul Wellstone in his victorious Senate campaign in Minnesota. Shot in the form of home movies, the ads attempted to portray Feingold, who always referred to himself as "the underdog running for U.S. senate," as a down-to-earth, Capra-esque figure, taking the audience on a guided tour of the candidate's home and introducing them to his children, all of whom were enrolled in public school.[115]

The ads also contained a significant amount of humor. One featured Feingold meeting with an Elvis Presley impersonator, who offered Feingold his endorsement.[116] (Bob Kasten responded to the Elvis endorsement with an advertisement featuring an Elvis impersonator attacking Feingold's record.[117]) Another showed Feingold standing next to a pair of half-sized cardboard cut-outs of his opponents, refusing to "stoop to their level" as the two were shown literally slinging mud at one another.[115]

During the primary campaign, Feingold unveiled an 82-point plan that aimed to eliminate the deficit by the end of his first term.[118] The plan, which called for, among other things, a raise in taxes and cuts in the defense budget, was derided as "extremist" by Republicans and "too liberal" by his Democratic opponents. Feingold also announced his support for strict campaign finance reform and a national health care system and voiced his opposition to term limits and new tax cuts.[119]

Feingold won by positioning himself as a quirky underdog who offered voters an alternative to what was seen by many as negative campaigning of opponents Jim Moody and Joe Checota.[120] On primary day, Feingold, whose support had shown in the single digits throughout much of the campaign, surged to victory with 70 percent of the vote.[119] Seven weeks later, while Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Ross Perot split the Wisconsin presidential vote 41%-37%-21%, Feingold beat Kasten by a margin of 53 percent to 46 percent.[120]

#3333FF
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russell Feingold 1,290,662 52.6%
Republican Robert W. Kasten, Jr. 1,129,599 46.0%
Independent Patrick Johnson 16,513 0.7%
Libertarian William Bittner 9,147 0.4%
Independent Mervin A. Hanson, Sr. 3,264 0.1%
Grassroots Robert L. Kundert 2,747 0.1%
Independent Populist Joseph Selliken 2,733 0.1%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References

  1. ^ "One for The Gipper; Loyalists Toast Reagan Amid Nostalgia for '80s". 18 August 1992. Retrieved 20 December 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "Federal Elections 92" (PDF). Washington D.C.: Federal Election Commission. June 1993. p. 37. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Primary Results" (PDF). elections.alaska.gov.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Clerk of the House of Representatives (1993). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional election of November 3, 1992".
  5. ^ "The Prescott Courier - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  7. ^ Eu, March Fong (December 12, 1992). "Statement of Vote General Election November 3, 1992" (PDF). p. 14 (24 in PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Murphy, Dean E.; Shuit, Douglas P. (October 31, 1992). "U.S. Senate Candidates Crisscross State for Votes Politics: Herschensohn reacts angrily to accusation that he went to strip joint, frequented adult newsstand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2010. A clearly shaken Herschensohn, who has embraced the GOP "family values" platform, at first refused to comment on the accusations, calling them "a pretty desperate thing." But he later conceded that he once visited the Seventh Veil nude-dance club in Hollywood... The authors were LA Times staff writers.
  9. ^ Steinberg, Arnold (November 17, 2000). "Beware the Trickster: Bob Mulholland oversees the recounting of the ballots in Florida". National Review. Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2008. That vintage Mulholland maneuver made it all but impossible for Herschensohn to stay on-message during the campaign's crucial closing days. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Steinberg is a Republican political strategist in Sherman Oaks.
  10. ^ Fund, John (December 5, 2005). "Arnold's 'Harriet Miers Moment' - Has Gov. Schwarzenegger jumped the shark?". John Fund on the Trail - WSJ.com. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
  11. ^ Salladay, Robert (December 7, 2005). "Governor Faces Revolt in GOP". Los Angeles Times. p. A-1. Retrieved December 9, 2008. Bob Mulholland, publicly accused Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Herschensohn of visiting a Sunset Boulevard strip club. Herschensohn had been running as the traditional-values candidate.
    Amid the controversy, Herschensohn lost the Senate race to Democrat Barbara Boxer, and the GOP was outraged at what it called a "smear campaign." Kennedy suspended Mulholland, but he soon returned to the party.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns - CO US Senate - D Primary Race - Aug 11, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  13. ^ Hays, Constance L. (September 16, 1992). "THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: CONNECTICUT; Brook Johnson Captures Republican Senate Race". The New York Times.
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  17. ^ 1992 Republican Primary OurCampaigns
  18. ^ "Our Campaigns - GA US Senate - R Primary Race - Jul 21, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Accusations Against Hawaii Senator Meet a Silence in His Seat of Power". 14 December 1992. Retrieved 20 December 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
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  22. ^ Charles Babington and Dan Balz (August 17, 2005). "Democrats Feel Heat From Left On Roberts". The Washington Post. Washington Post Company. p. A01. Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice, said [...] 'History shows us that voters turned on Alan Dixon for his vote on Clarence Thomas and voters gave Arlen Specter the toughest re-election of his life.'
  23. ^ "Midwest Senate roundup". USA TODAY. October 6, 1992.
  24. ^ "United States Senator by County". USA Elections. November 3, 1992. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
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  27. ^ Leip, David. "1992 Senatorial General Election Results - Kansas". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
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  32. ^ Straub, "Williams Jabs Ford on Legislative Record"
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  39. ^ Purdum, Todd S. (July 12, 1992). "JULY 5-11: Rockefeller vs. D'Amato; A Powerful Political Name Reappears in New York". The New York Times.
  40. ^ Kolbert, Elizabeth (October 21, 1991). "In Senate Campaign, Ferraro Picks Up Where She Left Off". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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