1992 United States Senate elections

November 3, 1992
November 24 (Georgia runoff)

36 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 57 43
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 40,589,727[1][lower-alpha 1] 35,449,473[1][lower-alpha 1]
Percentage 49.9% 43.6%
Seats up 21 15
Races won 21[lower-alpha 1] 15

Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     No election
Rectangular inset (Calif. & N. D.): both seats up for election

Majority Leader before election

George Mitchell
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

George Mitchell
Democratic

The 1992 United States Senate elections, held November 3, 1992, were elections for the United States Senate. The 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, along with special elections to fill vacancies. They coincided with Bill Clinton's victory in the presidential election. This was the first time since 1956 that the balance of the Senate remained the same.

Both parties swapped a pair of seats, resulting in no net change in the partisan breakdown, which had been at 57–43 since Democrats flipped a seat in Pennsylvania in a special election. Democratic victories over Republicans John F. Seymour in the special California race and Bob Kasten in Wisconsin were cancelled out by the defeats of Democrats Wyche Fowler in Georgia and Terry Sanford in North Carolina.

The election of four new Democratic women to the Senate was notable with it being 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, and these seats were won by Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Thus, 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. As of 2023, this was the last election cycle in which Republicans won a Senate election in New York and Democrats in Kentucky.

Results summary

57 43
Democratic Republican

Seat totals include both the special elections in California and North Dakota, but vote totals exclude the North Dakota total.

Parties Total
Democratic Republican Libertarian Independent Other
Last elections (1990) 56 44 0 0 0 100
Before these elections 57 43 0 0 0 100
Not up 36 28 64
Up 21 15 36
Class 3 (1986→1992) 20 14 34
Special: Class 1 1 1 2
Incumbent retired 5[lower-alpha 2] 3 8
Held by same party 5 3 8
Replaced by other party 0 0 0
Result 5 3 8
Incumbent ran 16[lower-alpha 3] 12[lower-alpha 4] 28
Won re-election 13 10 23
Lost re-election Decrease2 Republicans replaced by Increase2 Democrats
Decrease2 Democrats replaced by Increase2 Republicans
4
Lost renomination,
but held by same party
1 0 1
Result 16 12 28
Total elected 21 15 36
Net gain/loss Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 0
Nationwide vote 40,589,727 35,449,473 1,234,416 624,673 3,486,729 81,385,018
Share 49.87% 43.56% 1.52% 0.77% 4.28% 100%
Result 57 43 100

Source: Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives[1]

Gains and losses

Retirements

Three Republicans and four Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election. One Democrat also retired instead of finishing the unexpired term.

State Senator Replaced by
California (regular) Alan Cranston Barbara Boxer
Colorado Tim Wirth Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Idaho Steve Symms Dirk Kempthorne
New Hampshire Warren Rudman Judd Gregg
North Dakota (regular) Kent Conrad Byron Dorgan
North Dakota (special) Jocelyn Burdick Kent Conrad
Utah Jake Garn Bob Bennett
Washington Brock Adams Patty Murray

Defeats

One Republican and three Democrats sought re-election but lost either in the primary or general election. One Republican also sought election to finish the term but lost in the special election.

State Senator Replaced by
California (special) John Seymour Dianne Feinstein
Georgia Wyche Fowler Paul Coverdell
Illinois Alan J. Dixon Carol Moseley Braun
North Carolina Terry Sanford Lauch Faircloth
Wisconsin Bob Kasten Russ Feingold

Post-election changes

Two Democrats resigned and were replaced by appointees. In Texas, a 1993 special election was held prior to the 1994 United States Senate elections, where Kay Bailey Hutchison won the special election to succeed Democratic appointtee Bob Krueger, who lost election to finish the term.

State Senator Replaced by
Tennessee
(Class 2)
Al Gore Harlan Mathews
Texas
(Class 1)
Lloyd Bentsen Bob Krueger
Texas
(Class 1)
Bob Krueger Kay Bailey Hutchison

Change in 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
Colo.
Retired
D39
Calif. (reg)
Retired
D38
Ark.
Ran
D37
Ala.
Ran
D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41
Conn.
Ran
D42
Fla.
Ran
D43
Ga.
Ran
D44
Hawaii
Ran
D45
Ill.
Ran
D46
Ky.
Ran
D47
La.
Ran
D48
Md.
Ran
D49
Nev.
Ran
D50
N.C.
Ran
Majority → D51
N.D. (reg)
Retired
R41
Pa.
Ran
R42
Utah
Retired
R43
Wisc.
Ran
D57
Wash.
Retired
D56
Vt.
Ran
D55
S.D.
Ran
D54
S.C.
Ran
D53
Ohio
Ran
D52
N.D. (sp)
Retired
R31
Calif. (sp)
Ran
R32
Idaho
Retired
R33
Ind.
Ran
R34
Iowa
Ran
R35
Kan.
Ran
R36
Mo.
Ran
R37
N.H.
Retired
R38
N.Y.
Ran
R39
Okla.
Ran
R40
Ore.
Ran
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29
Ariz.
Ran
R30
Alaska
Ran
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

Result of 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
Colo.
Hold
D39
Calif. (reg)
Hold
D38
Ark.
Re-elected
D37
Ala.
Re-elected
D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41
Conn.
Re-elected
D42
Fla.
Re-elected
D43
Hawaii
Re-elected
D44
Ill.
Hold
D45
Ky.
Re-elected
D46
La.
Re-elected
D47
Md.
Re-elected
D48
Nev.
Re-elected
D49
N.D. (reg)
Hold
D50
N.D. (sp)
Hold
Majority → D51
Ohio
Re-elected
R41
Utah
Hold
R42
Ga.
Gain
R43
N.C.
Gain
D57
Wisc.
Gain
D56
Calif. (sp)
Gain[lower-alpha 5]
D55
Wash.
Hold
D54
Vt.
Re-elected
D53
S.D.
Re-elected
D52
S.C.
Re-elected
R40
Pa.
Re-elected
R39
Ore.
Re-elected
R38
Okla.
Re-elected
R37
N.Y.
Re-elected
R36
N.H.
Hold
R35
Mo.
Re-elected
R34
Kan.
Re-elected
R33
Iowa
Re-elected
R32
Ind.
Re-elected
R31
Idaho
Hold
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29
Alaska
Re-elected
R30
Ariz.
Re-elected
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

In these special elections, the winners were elected and seated in the fall of 1992. Elections are sorted by election date then state and class.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
California
(Class 1)
John Seymour Republican 1991 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected November 3, 1992.
Democratic gain.
Successor seated November 4, 1992.
  • Green tickY Dianne Feinstein (Democratic) 54.3%
  • John Seymour (Republican) 38.0%
  • Gerald Horne (Peace and Freedom) 2.8%
  • Paul Meeuwenberg (American Independent) 2.6%
  • Richard B. Boddie (Libertarian) 2.3%
North Dakota
(Class 1)
Jocelyn Burdick Democratic-NPL 1992 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected December 4, 1992.
Democratic-NPL hold.
Successor seated December 14, 1992.

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.
  • Green tickY Richard Shelby (Democratic) 64.8%
  • Richard Sellars (Republican) 33.1%
  • Jerome Shockley (Libertarian) 2.0%
Alaska Frank Murkowski Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Frank Murkowski (Republican) 53.0%
  • Tony Smith (Democratic) 38.4%
  • Mary Jordan (Green) 8.4%
Arizona John McCain Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY 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.
California Alan Cranston Democratic 1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Barbara Boxer (Democratic) 47.9%
  • Bruce Herschensohn (Republican) 43.0%
  • Jerome McCready (American Independent) 3.5%
  • Genevieve Torres (Peace and Freedom) 3.5%
  • June R. Genis (Libertarian) 2.2%
Colorado Tim Wirth Democratic 1986 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY 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.
  • Green tickY Chris 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.
Georgia Wyche Fowler Democratic 1986 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Hawaii Daniel Inouye Democratic 1962
1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY 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.
Illinois Alan J. Dixon Democratic 1980
1986
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Others
  • 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.
  • Green tickY Dan Coats (Republican) 57.3%
  • Joe Hogsett (Democratic) 40.7%
  • Steve Dillon (Libertarian) 1.6%
  • Raymond Tirado (New Alliance) 0.3%
Iowa Chuck Grassley Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
Others
  • 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.
  • Green tickY 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 Ford Democratic 1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
Louisiana John Breaux Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY 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.
Missouri Kit Bond Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Kit Bond (Republican) 51.9%
  • Geri Rothman-Serot (Democratic) 44.9%
  • Jeanne Bojarski (Libertarian) 3.2%
Nevada Harry Reid Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY 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.
  • Green tickY 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.
Others
  • M. 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.
North Dakota Kent Conrad Democratic-NPL 1986 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic-NPL hold.
Incumbent resigned December 14, 1992 to move to the other seat.
Winner appointed December 15, 1992.
Ohio John Glenn Democratic 1974
1974 (Appointed)
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY John Glenn (Democratic) 51.0%
  • Mike DeWine (Republican) 42.3%
  • Martha Grevatt (Independent) 6.7%
Oklahoma Don Nickles Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY 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.
Pennsylvania Arlen Specter Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina Fritz Hollings Democratic 1966 (special)
1968
1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Fritz 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.
  • Green tickY 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.
Vermont Patrick Leahy Democratic 1974
1980
1986
Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Brock Adams Democratic 1986 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Wisconsin Bob Kasten Republican 1980
1986
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Others
  • 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%

Closest races

In thirteen races, the margin of victory was under 10%.

State Party of winner Margin
New York Republican 1.25%
Georgia Republican (flip) 1.30%
Pennsylvania Republican 2.77%
New Hampshire Republican 2.82%
South Carolina Democratic 3.12%
North Carolina Republican (flip) 4.03%
California (regular) Democratic 4.90%
Oregon Republican 5.64%
Wisconsin Democratic (flip) 6.56%
Missouri Republican 6.96%
Washington Democratic 7.98%
Ohio Democratic 8.66%
Colorado Democratic 9.07%

Illinois was the tipping point state, decided by a margin of 10%.

Alabama

Alabama election

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

County Results

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, a conservative activist.[2]

1992 United States Senate election in Alabama[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Shelby (incumbent) 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%
Majority 500,683 31.7%
Turnout 1,577,799
Democratic hold

Alaska

Alaska election

 
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[4]
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[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Murkowski (Incumbent) 37,486 80.53%
Republican Jed Whittaker 9,065 19.47%
Total votes 46,551 100.00%
1992 United States Senate election in Alaska[5]
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

 
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[6] and Independent former Governor Evan Mecham.

General election[5]
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

 
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 53.21% of the vote. Bumpers would serve another term in the U.S. Senate before deciding to retire in 1998.

Arkansas Senate election 1992[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dale Bumpers (Incumbent) 553,635 60.2%
Republican Mike Huckabee 366,373 39.8%
Majority 187,262 20.4%
Turnout 920,008
Democratic hold

California

Due to the resignation of Pete Wilson to become Governor of California, there were two senate elections in California as both seats were up for election and both won by women. California ultimately become the first state to have two sitting women senators.

California (regular)

California general election

 
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, Kansas in 1996 and Georgia in 2020-2021. Fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein, California's other 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10][11][12]

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

 
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 and took office November 4, only 1 day after the election. Fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer won the regular election and was sworn in 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, Kansas in 1996, and Georgia in 2020.

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

 
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 election[13]
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[5]
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

 
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.[14]

1988 Connecticut United States Senate election[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christopher Dodd (Incumbent) 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

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

County Results

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 election[16]
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 election[17]
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[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Graham (incumbent) 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

1992 United States Senate election in Georgia

November 3, 1992 (first round)
November 24, 1992 (runoff)
 
Nominee Paul Coverdell Wyche Fowler
Party Republican Democratic
First round 1,073,282
47.67%
1,108,416
49.23%
Runoff 635,118
50.65%
618,774
49.35%


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.[5]

The general primary was held July 21, 1992.[18] A run-off between the top two Republican contenders was held on August 11, in which Paul Coverdell defeated Bob Barr.

Results[19] 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 Tanksley 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%
1992 Georgia United States Senate election
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
Republican gain from Democratic

Hawaii

Hawaii election

 
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.[20]

Hawaii general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Inouye (Incumbent) 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%
Total votes 363,662 100.0%
Majority 110,338 30.4%
Democratic hold

Idaho

Idaho election

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

County Results

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[21]
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[21]
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[5]
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

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

County Results
Braun:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Williamson:      40–50%      50–60%

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[22]
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.[23] 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%
Total votes 4,935,530 100.0%
Majority 504,396 10.2%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

Indiana

Indiana election

 
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.[24]

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 election to serve the remainder of the term in 1990.

General election[5]
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.[25]

Iowa

Iowa election

 
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[26]
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
Turnout 99,696
Republican primary[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chuck Grassley (Incumbent) 109,273 99.70
Republican Write-ins 324 0.30
Turnout 109,597
1992 United States Senate election in Iowa[5]
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

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

County Results

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 fifth term, defeating Democratic nominee Gloria O'Dell, teacher and former journalist.[27] 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.

Kansas general election[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Dole (Incumbent) 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

Kentucky

Kentucky election

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

County Results

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 2023, this was the last Senate election in Kentucky in which a Democrat won.

Denny Ormerod, a machinist from Louisville dropped out before the primary election.[29] 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.[29] Thompson did question Williams' conservative credentials on grounds that he voted in favor of the tax increase associated with the Kentucky Education Reform Act.[29] 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.[29] As a result of the largely uninspiring primary campaigns, there was only an 18% voter turnout in the Republican primary. Williams won the nomination.[30]

Republican primary[31]
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.[32] Given his limited finances, Williams relied on news conferences and interviews on small town radio stations to get his message out.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.[34]

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[35]
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%
Total votes 1,330,858 100.00%
Majority 360,208 27.1%
Democratic hold

Louisiana

Louisiana election

 
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%

Parish Results

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[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Breaux (Incumbent) 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

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

County Results

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 election[37]
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 election[37]
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%
1992 United States Senate election in Maryland[5]
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

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

County Results

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.[5]

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kit Bond (incumbent) 1,221,901 51.2%
Democratic Geri Rothman-Serot 1,057,967 44.9%
Libertarian Jeanne Bojarski 75,048 3.2%
Total votes 2,354,916 100.00%
Majority 163,934 6.3%
Republican hold

Nevada

Nevada election

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

County Results

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.[5]

General election[5]
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

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

County Results

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.[38]

NH U.S. Senate Election, 1992[39]
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%
Total votes 518,170 100.00%
Majority 14,609 2.8%
Republican hold

New York

New York election

 
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 2023, this was 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,[40] 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.[41] Ferraro emphasized her career as a teacher, prosecutor, congresswoman, and mother, and talked about how she was tough on crime.[42] Ferraro drew attacks from the media and her opponents over her husband John Zaccaro's finances and business relationships.[43]

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.[43] 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.[44] 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.[45] The final debates were nasty, and Holtzman in particular constantly attacked Ferraro's integrity and finances.[46][47] In an unusual election-eve television broadcast, Ferraro talked about the ethnic slurs made against her as an Italian-American.[48] In the September 15, 1992 primary, Abrams edged out Ferraro by less than percentage point, winning 37 percent of the vote to 36 percent.[47] Ferraro did not concede she had lost for two weeks.[49]

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.[50] Ferraro, enraged and bitter after the nature of the primary,[46][49] 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.[50]

Abrams was also criticized for calling D'Amato a fascist, and he narrowly lost the general election as a result of these controversies.[51]

General election[52][5]
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 (Incumbent) 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%
Total votes 6,458,826 100.00%
Majority 80,794 1.2%
Republican hold

North Carolina

North Carolina election

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

County results

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[53]
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.[54] Faircloth withdrew from the 1986 race after Sanford "blindsided" him by announcing his candidacy.[55]

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.[56]

1992 North Carolina U.S. Senate election[53]
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
Majority 103,877 4.03%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

North Dakota

Due to the death of Quentin Burdick in September of that year, there were two senate elections in North Dakota.

North Dakota (regular)

North Dakota general election

 
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.[5]

North Dakota general election
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
Total votes 6,458,826 100.00%
Majority 61,185 20.13%
Democratic hold

North Dakota (special)

North Dakota special election

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

County Results

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.[57]

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

Ohio

Ohio election

 
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,[58] 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 2023, 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
Democratic hold

Oklahoma

Oklahoma election

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

County Results

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.[59]

OK U.S. Senate Election, 1992[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Nickles (Incumbent) 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%
Total votes 1,294,423 100.00%
Majority 263,526 20.4%
Republican hold

Oregon

Oregon election

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

County Results

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.[61] Packwood was regarded as one of the nation's "most powerful elected officials"[62] with "extraordinary political instincts."[63] 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."[64]

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"[65] contest.[66] 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,[67] trailed throughout the race, and was not invited to an April debate sponsored by the City Club of Portland.[68] 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".[69]

In a race the Seattle Times called "as negative as many voters can remember,"[65] Lonsdale attacked AuCoin as "corrupt"[65] and tied to the timber industry.[70] Lonsdale's environmental credentials also came under scrutiny,[71] and AuCoin noted Lonsdale's reversal of support for nuclear power and belated opposition to the re-opening of Trojan Nuclear Power Plant.[72] AuCoin turned accusations of undue influence back on Lonsdale, pointing out that his company (Bend Research) had received millions in federal defense contracts.[73]

Even during the primary, Packwood and AuCoin traded barbs on various issues.[74] 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.[75] In what was believed to be an unprecedented move, Packwood attempted to influence the Democratic primary's outcome by running television ads against AuCoin.[76]

Ultimately, the results of the Democratic primary were so close that an automatic recount was triggered.[76] 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.[77] On June 18, over a month after the primary election, AuCoin was certified as having won by 330 votes.[78] Upon conceding the race, Lonsdale pondered mounting a write-in campaign, reiterating that Oregon needed an "outsider" in the Senate.[79][80]

Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1992[81]
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.[82][83] 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.[84] Packwood's most significant challenge thus came from little-known conservative Medford attorney John DeZell, who campaigned on the family values issue.[85] Packwood cruised to victory over DeZell and several other candidates.

Republican primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1992[86]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Packwood (incumbent) 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[87][88] and was ranked sixth nationwide among senators raising funds outside their home state during the 1990–1992 election season.[89]

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[90]) assailed “environmental extremists” and introduced legislation to convene a presidential cabinet committee to exempt the endangered owl from the ESA.[91]

In September, Packwood pulled ads that had falsely criticized AuCoin for missing votes while speaking to special interest groups.[92] By October, Packwood had raised $8 million,[93] spending $5.4 million more than AuCoin, and leading all Senate incumbents.[94] 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.[95]

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 AuCoin for Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton administration.[96][97] When told of Packwood's comments, AuCoin responded by saying "I think that's real special."[98]

General election[99]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Packwood (Incumbent) 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%
Majority 77,604 5.64%
Republican hold

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania election

 
Nominee Arlen Specter Lynn Yeakel
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,358,125 2,224,966
Percentage 49.1% 46.3%

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[100] director of women's studies at Drexel University College of Medicine and daughter of former U.S. Congressman Porter Hardy of Virginia[101] (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.[102]

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.[102] 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.[103][104]

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.[102]

General election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arlen Specter (Incumbent) 2,358,125 49.10%
Democratic Lynn Yeakel 2,224,966 46.33%
Libertarian John Perry 219,319 4.57%
Total votes 4,822,410 100.00%
Majority 113,159 2.3%
Republican hold

South Carolina

South Carolina election

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

County Results

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas F. Hartnett 123,572 76.8%
Republican Charlie E. Thompson 37,352 23.2%
Total votes 160,924 100.00%

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.

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Fritz Hollings (Incumbent) 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 Swing

South Dakota

South Dakota election

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

County Results

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.[105]

General election[5]
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

Utah

Utah election

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

County Results

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 Owens.

General election[106]
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%
Total votes 758,479 100.00%
Majority 118,841 15.66%
Republican hold

Vermont

Vermont election

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

County Results

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[107]
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[107]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberty Union Jerry Levy 311 91.20%
Liberty Union Write-ins 30 8.80%
Total votes 341 100.00%
Republican primary[107]
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[5]
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

 
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. 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.[108] 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."[109] He was further damaged by the unpopularity of President George H.W. Bush in the Pacific Northwest.

1992 United States Senate election in Washington[110]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patty Murray 1,197,973 54.0%
Republican Rod Chandler 1,020,829 46.0%
Majority 177,144 8.0%
Total votes 2,218,802 100.00%
Democratic hold

Wisconsin

Wisconsin election

 
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.[111] 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.[112]

The ads also contained a significant amount of humor. One featured Feingold meeting with an Elvis Presley impersonator, who offered Feingold his endorsement.[113] (Bob Kasten responded to the Elvis endorsement with an advertisement featuring an Elvis impersonator attacking Feingold's record.[114]) 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.[112]

During the primary campaign, Feingold unveiled an 82-point plan that aimed to eliminate the deficit by the end of his first term.[115] 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.[116]

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.[117] 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.[116] 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.[117]

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russell Feingold 1,290,662 52.6%
Republican Robert W. Kasten, Jr. (Incumbent) 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%
Total votes 2,454,665 100.00%
Majority 161,063 6.6%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Seat totals account for the special elections in both California and North Dakota, but nationwide vote totals exclude the North Dakota special election that was held in December, as the 1992 elections report prepared by the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives also excludes that latter election entirely. However, vote totals for the Georgia runoff are counted to the total.
  2. In North Dakota, interim appointee Jocelyn Burdick did not seek election to finish the term.
  3. Alan J. Dixon lost renomination to represent Illinois. Carol Moseley Braun became the party's new nominee.
  4. Includes the interim appointee who ran for election.
  5. Appointee defeated

References

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