1996 United States Senate election in Maine
November 5, 1996
 
Nominee Susan Collins Joseph E. Brennan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 298,422 266,226
Percentage 49.18% 43.88%
County results
Collins:      40–50%      50–60%
Brennan:      40–50%
U.S. senator before election

William Cohen
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Susan Collins
Republican

The 1996 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator William Cohen decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. To replace him, U.S. Representative Joseph E. Brennan won the Democratic primary while political consultant Susan Collins won the Republican primary. A competitive general election ensued, but Collins ultimately won out over Brennan, keeping the seat in the Republican column. With Collins' election to the Senate in 1996, Maine became only the second state after California to have two sitting female senators, and the first to have two sitting female Republican senators.

Brennan and Collins both ran in the 1994 gubernatorial election, and each won their respective party's nomination, but lost the general election to independent Angus King, who would be elected in Maine's other Senate seat in 2012 and become a Senator in 2013, serving alongside Collins.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph E. Brennan 48,335 56.68%
Democratic Sean Faircloth 21,204 24.87%
Democratic Richard A. Spencer 10,236 12.00%
Democratic Jean Hay Bright 4,524 5.31%
Democratic Jerald Leonard 939 1.10%
Democratic Write-ins 35 0.04%
Total votes 85,273 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Collins 53,339 55.50%
Republican W. John Hathaway 29,792 31.00%
Republican Robert A. G. Monks 12,943 13.47%
Republican Write-ins 33 0.03%
Total votes 96,107 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Maine, 1996[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Susan Collins 298,422 49.18% -12.16%
Democratic Joseph E. Brennan 266,226 43.88% +5.24%
Independent John C. Rensenbrink 23,441 3.86% N/A
Constitution William P. Clarke 18,618 3.07% N/A
Write-in 70 0.01% N/A
Majority 32,196 5.31% -17.39%
Turnout 606,777
Republican hold

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Maine Primary Election Results - June 11, 1996 - U.S. Senator - Democrat - Summary by County". Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Maine Primary Election Results - June 11, 1996 - U.S. Senator - Republican - Summary by County". Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
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