Misplaced Pages

1990 United States Senate elections

← 1988 November 6, 1990 1992 →
1991 (PA) →
35 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 55 45 Seats after 56 44 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 17,907,544 16,494,624 Percentage 51.1% 47.1% Seats up 17 18 Races won 18 17
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election George Mitchell Democratic Elected Majority Leader George Mitchell Democratic

The 1990 United States Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. The Democratic Party increased its majority with a net gain of one seat from the Republican Party. The election cycle took place in the middle of President George H. W. Bush's term, and as with most other midterm elections, the party not holding the presidency gained seats in Congress. This was the first time since 1980 that any party successfully defended all their own seats, and the first time Democrats did so since 1958.

These elections, along with 2022, featured the smallest seat change in history since the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 with only one seat changing parties. That election featured Democrat Paul Wellstone defeating incumbent Republican Rudy Boschwitz in Minnesota. To date, this is the last cycle in which Democratic candidates won U.S. Senate elections in Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Results summary

Parties							Total
		Democratic	Republican	Libertarian	Independent	Other
Last elections (1988) Before these elections		55	45	0	0	0	100
Not up		38	27	—	—	—	65
Up		17	18	—	—	—	35
	Class 2 (1984→1990)	16	17	—	—	—	33
	Special: Class 1	1	—	—	—	—	1
	Special: Class 3	—	1	—	—	—	1
Incumbent retired		0	3	—	—	—	3
	Held by same party	0	3	—	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	0	0	—	—	—	0
	Result	0	3	—	—	—	3
Incumbent ran		17	15	—	—	—	32
	Won election	17	14	—	—	—	31
	Lost re-election	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat		—	—	—	1
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	0	0	—	—	—	0
	Result	18	14	—	—	—	32
Total elected		18	17	—	—	—	35
Net gain/loss		1	1				1
Nationwide vote		17,907,544	16,494,624	142,003	222,534	260,665	35,027,370
	Share	51.12%	47.09%	0.41%	0.64%	0.74%	100%
Result		56	44	0	0	0	100

Source: Clerk of the United States House of Representatives

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Three Republicans retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

One Republican sought re-election but lost in the general election.

Post-election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

Result of the elections

Complete list of races

Special elections

In these special elections, the winners were elected in 1990.

Elections are sorted by date, then state and class.

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1991; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Closest races

In eight races the margin of victory was under 10%.

Michigan was the tipping point state with a margin of 16.3%.

Alabama

Alabama election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Howell Heflin Bill Cabaniss Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 717,814 467,190 Percentage 60.6% 39.4%

County results Heflin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Cabaniss:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Howell Heflin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Howell Heflin Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Howell Heflin won re-election to a third term over Republican Bill Cabaniss, State Senator and former State Representative. This was the last time the Democrats have won the Class 2 Senate Seat from Alabama until Doug Jones won the seat in 2017.

Alaska

Alaska election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Ted Stevens Michael Beasley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 125,806 61,152 Percentage 66.23% 32.19%

Results by state house district Stevens:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Ted Stevens Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ted Stevens Republican

Incumbent Republican United States Senator Ted Stevens sought re-election to a fifth term in the United States Senate, which he won easily, besting his opponents in a landslide.

Arkansas

Arkansas election

← 19841996 →

Nominee David Pryor Party Democratic Popular vote 493,910 Percentage 99.83%

County results Pryor:      100% No data/No votes:

re-election before election David Pryor Democratic Elected re-election David Pryor Democratic

Incumbent Democrat David Pryor won re-election uncontested.

Colorado

Colorado election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Hank Brown Josie Heath Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 569,048 425,746 Percentage 55.7% 41.7%

County results Brown:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Heath:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William L. Armstrong Republican Elected U.S. Senator Hank Brown Republican

Incumbent Republican senator William L. Armstrong did not seek re-election to another term. Republican congressman Hank Brown won the open seat, defeating Democratic nominee Josie Heath, former Boulder County Commissioner

Delaware

Delaware election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Joe Biden M. Jane Brady Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 112,918 64,554 Percentage 62.68% 35.83%

County results Biden:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Joe Biden Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joe Biden Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Joe Biden won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican challenger M. Jane Brady, Deputy Attorney General of Delaware.

Georgia

Georgia election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Sam Nunn Party Democratic Popular vote 1,033,439 Percentage 100.0%

County results Nunn:      100%

U.S. senator before election Sam Nunn Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Sam Nunn Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Sam Nunn won re-election to a fourth term uncontested.

Hawaii (special)

Hawaii special election

← 19881994 →

Nominee Daniel Akaka Pat Saiki Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 188,901 155,978 Percentage 53.7% 44.3%

County results Akaka:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Daniel Akaka Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Daniel Akaka was elected to finish the term ending in 1995 over Republican U.S. Representative Pat Saiki. Akaka had been appointed by Governor John Waihee in April 1990 to serve temporarily after the death of Spark Matsunaga.

Idaho

Idaho election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Larry Craig Ron Twilegar Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 193,641 122,295 Percentage 61.29% 38.71%

County results Craig:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Twilegar:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Jim McClure Republican Elected U.S. Senator Larry Craig Republican

Republican Rep. Larry Craig defeated Democratic former state legislator Ron Twilegar for the seat of U.S. Senator Jim McClure, who did not seek re-election.

Illinois

Illinois election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Paul Simon Lynn Morley Martin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,115,377 1,135,628 Percentage 65.07% 34.93%

County results Simon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Martin:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Paul Simon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Paul Simon Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Paul Simon sought re-election to the United States Senate. Simon was opposed by Republican nominee Lynn Morley Martin, a United States Congresswoman from Illinois's 16th congressional district, whom he easily defeated to win a second and final term in the Senate.

Indiana (special)

Indiana special election

← 19861992 →

Nominee Dan Coats Baron Hill Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 806,048 696,639 Percentage 53.6% 46.4%

County results Coats:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hill:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Dan Coats Republican Elected U.S. Senator Dan Coats Republican

Incumbent Republican Dan Coats, who was recently appointed to this seat two years prior, won election to serve out the remainder of the term, beating Democratic State Representative Baron Hill.

During the 1988 presidential election, Republican nominee Vice President George H. W. Bush selected U.S. Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his vice presidential nominee. The Bush-Quayle ticket defeated the Dukakis–Bentsen ticket in the general election by a 53%-46% margin, capturing 40 states and 426 electoral votes.

In preparation for the pending vacancy, Governor Robert D. Orr appointed four-term U.S. Representative Dan Coats to fill Quayle's seat on December 12, 1988. Coats was a former aide to Quayle, whom he had succeeded as U.S. Representative for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 1981. Quayle eventually resigned his Senate seat on January 3, 1989, and Coats was immediately sworn into office.

Coats used television commercials that raised questions about Hill's consistency in opposing new taxes, and Hill gained notoriety for walking the length of the state to meet voters.

Iowa

Iowa election

← 1984 November 5, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Tom Harkin Tom Tauke Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 535,975 446,869 Percentage 54.5% 45.4%

County results Harkin:      50–60%      60–70% Tauke:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Tom Harkin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tom Harkin Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Tom Harkin sought re-election to a second term in the United States Senate. Harkin was opposed by Republican United States Congressman Tom Tauke, from Iowa's 2nd congressional district, and both Harkin and Tauke won their primaries uncontested. Though Harkin performed slightly worse than he had six years earlier, he was successful in his re-election bid and defeated Tauke.

Kansas

Kansas election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Nancy Kassebaum Dick Williams Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 578,605 207,491 Percentage 73.6% 26.4%

County results Kassebaum:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Nancy Kassebaum Republican Elected U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum Republican

Incumbent Republican Nancy Kassebaum won re-election to her third full term, over Democrat Dick Williams, an educator at Wichita State University

Kentucky

Kentucky election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Mitch McConnell Harvey Sloane Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 478,034 437,976 Percentage 52.2% 47.8%

County results McConnell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Sloane:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Mitch McConnell Republican Elected U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell Republican

Incumbent Republican Mitch McConnell won re-election to a second term over Democrat Harvey Sloane, former Mayor of Louisville

Louisiana

Louisiana election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee J. Bennett Johnston David Duke Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 753,198 607,051 Percentage 53.95% 43.48%

Parish results Johnston:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Duke:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election J. Bennett Johnston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston Democratic

Incumbent Democrat J. Bennett Johnston Jr. won re-election to a fourth term and avoided a runoff, beating Republican David Duke, State Representative and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

This election was viewed at the onset as potentially competitive, as Senator Johnston was viewed as vulnerable in light of Louisiana's economic troubles at the time and Senator Johnston's voting record viewed by Republicans as too liberal. The Republican Party leadership endorsed the candidacy of State Senator Ben Bagert, who was picked over Secretary of State Fox McKeithen, State Representative Quentin Dastugue and State Representative David Duke. David Duke, however, continued his candidacy and slowly overtook Bagert in attention and in the polls. Duke attracted national attention to the race with his involvement with white supremacist groups and his appeals to white resentment over affirmative-action programs. With Bagert failing to gain traction, the National Republican Senatorial Committee tried to recruit former Governor David Treen to jump into the race. When Treen passed, the effort turned from supporting Bagert to stopping Duke.

As the election drew near, polls showed Johnston firmly in first place, with Duke in second place and Bagert trailing far behind at third. National Republicans grew fearful that Bagert's candidacy would only serve to force a runoff and that a potential runoff election with Duke being the de facto Republican nominee would hurt the national brand. On October 4, eight Republican Senators endorsed Johnston, with Senator John Danforth saying at the press conference that "all of us would be embarrassed and mortified to have to serve in the United States Senate with David Duke masquerading as a Republican." Bagert dropped out of the race the next day, announcing that "it became more and more apparent, that instead of forcing a runoff between myself and Bennett Johnston, I might very well be forcing a runoff between somebody else and Bennett Johnston." He announced he would "reluctantly" vote for Johnston. Bagert's name remained on the ballot, but under state law his votes could not be counted as part of the official tally. After Bagert dropped out, HUD Secretary Jack Kemp endorsed Johnston, saying "there's no place in the Republican Party for someone who has practiced and practices racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism."

Maine

Maine election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee William Cohen Neil Rolde Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 319,167 201,053 Percentage 61.3% 38.6%

County results Cohen:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William Cohen Republican Elected U.S. Senator William Cohen Republican

Incumbent Republican William Cohen won re-election to a third term over Democratic State Representative Neil Rolde.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts election

← 19841996 →

Nominee John Kerry Jim Rappaport Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,321,712 992,917 Percentage 54.5% 41.0%

County results Municipality results Kerry   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Rappaport   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Tie   40–50%

U.S. senator before election John Kerry Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Kerry Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator John Kerry was re-elected to his second term over Republican real estate developer Jim Rappaport.

Michigan

Michigan election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Carl Levin Bill Schuette Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,471,753 1,055,695 Percentage 57.5% 41.2%

County results Levin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Schuette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Carl Levin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carl Levin Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Carl Levin won re-election to a third term, beating Republican U.S. Representative Bill Schuette.

Minnesota

Minnesota election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

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

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

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

Incumbent Republican Rudy Boschwitz was defeated by Democratic challenger Paul Wellstone in a tight race. Widely considered an underdog and outspent by a 7-to-1 margin, Wellstone, a professor at Carleton College and nominee for Minnesota State Auditor in 1982 was the only candidate to defeat an incumbent senator in the 1990 election cycle and gained national attention after his upset victory.

Mississippi

Mississippi election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Thad Cochran Party Republican Popular vote 274,244 Percentage 100.0%

County results Cochran:      >90% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Thad Cochran Republican Elected U.S. Senator Thad Cochran Republican

Incumbent Republican Thad Cochran won re-election to a third term.

Montana

Montana election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Max Baucus Allen Kolstad Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 217,563 93,836 Percentage 68.13% 29.38%

County results Baucus:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Kostad:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Max Baucus Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Max Baucus Democratic

Incumbent United States Senator Max Baucus, who was first elected in 1978 and was re-elected in 1984, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Allen Kolstad, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana and the Republican nominee. Baucus ultimately ended up defeating Kolstad in a landslide, winning his third term with ease.

Nebraska

Nebraska election

← 19841996 →

Nominee J. James Exon Hal Daub Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 349,779 243,013 Percentage 58.9% 40.9%

County results Exon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Daub:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election J. James Exon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. James Exon Democratic

Incumbent Democrat J. James Exon won re-election to a third term, beating Republican U.S. Representative Hal Daub.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Bob Smith John A. Durkin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 189,792 91,299 Percentage 65.1% 31.3%

County results Municipality resultsSmith:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Durkin:      40–50%      50–60%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Gordon J. Humphrey Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Smith Republican

Incumbent Republican Gordon J. Humphrey decided to retire and not run for re-election to a third term. Republican Bob Smith won the open seat, beating Democratic former Senator John A. Durkin.

New Jersey

New Jersey election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Bill Bradley Christine Todd Whitman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 977,810 918,874 Percentage 50.44% 47.40%

County results Bradley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Whitman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Bill Bradley Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Bill Bradley Democratic

Democratic Senator Bill Bradley decided to seek re-election and narrowly edged out little-known Republican Christine Todd Whitman, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Senator Bill Bradley didn't realize he was in trouble of winning re-election and the New Jersey voters' anger over taxes and economy until the week prior to the election.

The senator had a major image problem. In the early part of the campaign Bradley was winning easily in the polls, so his staffers told him to play it safe. He sent out television advertisements of himself walking on the beach, shooting a perfect shot on the court, and sitting back in his office with his basketball shoes onto his desk. The advertisements backfired as voters were turned off and thought that he hadn't taken his job as Senator seriously, at a time when New Jersey voters were suffering.

Another major problem with Bradley was how Democratic Governor Jim Florio implemented a $2.8 billion tax increase, hurting the state's economy. In addition, Bradley refused to answer questions pertaining to Florio's tax policies.

After Bradley realized he was in trouble he released negative advertisements. They attacked Whitman's own record on taxes, accusing her of favoring tax increases when she was a Somerset County Freeholder. Bradley's image may have been further damaged by his newer advertisements.

New Mexico

New Mexico election

← 1984 November 5, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Pete Domenici Tom Benavidez Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 296,712 110,033 Percentage 72.9% 27.0%

County results Domenici:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Pete Domenici Republican Elected U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Republican

Incumbent Republican Pete Domenici won re-election to a fourth term over Democratic State Senator Tom Benavidez.

North Carolina

North Carolina election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Jesse Helms Harvey Gantt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,089,012 981,573 Percentage 52.58% 47.39%

Helms:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Gantt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Jesse Helms Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jesse Helms Republican

The election was fought between the Republican incumbent Jesse Helms and the Democratic nominee Mayor of Charlotte Harvey Gantt. Helms won re-election to a fourth term by a slightly wider margin than the close election in 1984.

Helms drew controversy for airing what became known as the "Hands" ad produced by Alex Castellanos. It showed a pair of white hands with the voiceover saying "You needed that job, and you were the best qualified. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota." The ad prompted allegations of racism.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1994 (special) →

Nominee David Boren Stephen Jones Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 735,684 148,814 Percentage 83.2% 16.8%

County results Boren:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Incumbent Democrat David Boren won re-election to a third term over Republican attorney Stephen Jones.

Oregon

Oregon election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Mark Hatfield Harry Lonsdale Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 590,095 507,743 Percentage 53.7% 46.2%

County results Hatfield:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Lonsdale:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Mark Hatfield Republican Elected U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield Republican

Republican Mark Hatfield was re-elected to a fifth term, defeating Democratic businessman Harry Lonsdale.

The front-runners emerged quickly: for the Republicans, Hatfield was in his fourth term and was the 8th most senior U.S. Senator, having previously served as Governor of Oregon for two terms and Oregon Secretary of State. For the Democrats, Harry Lonsdale, who had founded the biotechnology company Bend Research, announced in early 1990 that he intended to aggressively challenge Hatfield over the incumbent's ties to special interests, and his positions on abortion rights and timber management.

In the Republican primary, Hatfield received a token challenge from Randy Prince, an environmentalist and former Eugene mayoral candidate who had once protested old-growth forest logging by tree sitting for 40 days. Despite an early miscue by Hatfield in which he missed the deadline for submitting a photograph for the primary voter's guide, Hatfield handily defeated Prince to move on to the general election.

U.S. Congressman Ron Wyden considered challenging Hatfield, but decided against it. Lonsdale, who was unknown as a politician, announced his campaign in March, and came out swinging directly at Hatfield and mostly ignored his primary challengers. Lonsdale's main campaign themes were abortion rights, which Hatfield opposed; and timber management, in which Lonsdale opposed exporting timber from Oregon forests and wanted to restrict logging in old-growth forests. Lonsdale also criticized Hatfield as being out-of-touch with Oregonians after so many years in the Senate. Lonsdale announced that he would refuse to take special-interest contributions in his campaign, and would finance the campaign himself with the millions he had made from Bend Research. Lonsdale easily defeated his competition: Salem attorney Steve Anderson, Pleasant Hill computer programmer Neale S. Hyatt, Milwaukie retired truck driver Brooks Washburne, Eugene activist Bob Reuschlein, and Frank A. Clough, also of Eugene.

Once the primaries concluded, Hatfield, who had been first elected U.S. Senator in 1966, rolled out his usual campaign honed from his decades of experience: he refused debates, never engaged his opponent directly, and focused on small, friendly campaign appearances that stressed the influence he wielded as a U.S. Senator with seniority and influence.

Lonsdale's self-financed campaign made heavy use of TV attack ads, criticizing Hatfield as being out of step with Oregonians on every issue, but primarily in terms of timber and abortion. He also made use of a nationwide anti-incumbency sentiment, and tore into Hatfield for being too closely tied to Washington special interests, and attempted to tie Hatfield to the Savings and loan crisis of the mid-1980s through his advisor Gerry Frank, who had ties to a Salem savings and loan. By early October, polls showed the gap closing from 25 down to about 4 points in an early October poll conducted by The Oregonian newspaper, and by the end of October, some polls showed Lonsdale in the lead.

With the polls running against him and time running out, Hatfield, who had not been seriously challenged since first being elected in 1966 and had never lost an election, abandoned his tactic of staying above the fray and not engaging Lonsdale directly. In the media and in television ads, he charged Lonsdale with hypocrisy in his environmental stand, alleging that Lonsdale had allowed his company to illegally dump toxic chemicals into the environment. Lonsdale vigorously denied the charges, which were later shown to have violated no laws, but the tactic may have stalled Lonsdale's momentum. Hatfield went on to win in all but Multnomah, Jackson, Baker, and Lincoln counties to win by more than 7 percentage points statewide.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Claiborne Pell Claudine Schneider Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 225,105 138,947 Percentage 61.8% 38.2%

County results Municipality resultsPell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Schneider:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Claiborne Pell Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell Democratic

Democratic Incumbent Claiborne Pell defeated Republican Representative Claudine Schneider in a landslide.

South Carolina

South Carolina election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Strom Thurmond Bob Cunningham Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 482,032 244,112 Percentage 64.2% 32.5%

County results Thurmond:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Cunningham:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Strom Thurmond Republican Elected U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond Republican

Popular incumbent Republican Strom Thurmond cruised to re-election against Democratic challenger and perennial candidate Bob Cunningham.

Senator Strom Thurmond faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election. The state Democrats saw this as an unwinnable race so when Bob Cunningham sought the Democratic nomination, he was unopposed in his bid.

Cunningham launched his second bid to unseat Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond after switching from the GOP to the Democratic Party in early 1990. Though he faced a formidable opponent, Cunningham planned no fund-raising activities. "I don't plan to ask for anything and I won't accept any money from PACs", he said. Cunninghman said his campaign strategy was to "go to places where I was invited and spread out my ideas." If elected, Cummingham said he would push to limit consecutive congressional service to 12 years and reform the tax system. He supported greater environmental activism. "I think we're going at it in much too lukewarm a fashion. I think we should work hard to find a substitute for the internal combustion engine."

The election was never a serious contest. Thurmond overwhelmingly outspent Cunningham in his re-election campaign.

South Dakota

South Dakota election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Larry Pressler Ted Muenster Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 135,682 116,727 Percentage 52.4% 45.1%

County results Pressler:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Muenster:      40–50%      50–60%

Incumbent Republican Larry Pressler won a narrow re-election battle against Democratic opponent Ted Muenster and Independent candidate Dean Sinclair, in contrast to his easy win in 1984.

Tennessee

Tennessee election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1994 (special) →

Nominee Al Gore William R. Hawkins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 529,914 233,324 Percentage 67.72% 29.82%

County results Gore:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Al Gore Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Al Gore Democratic

Democratic Senator Al Gore won re-election to a second term over Republican William R. Hawkins, a conservative author. As of 2023, this is the last Senate election in Tennessee that was won by a Democrat and the last time they won the state's Class 2 Senate Seat.

Texas

Texas election

← 19841996 →

Nominee Phil Gramm Hugh Parmer Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,302,357 1,429,986 Percentage 60.2% 37.4%

County results Gramm:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Parmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Phil Gramm Republican Elected U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Republican

Incumbent Republican Phil Gramm won re-election to a second term, beating Hugh Parmer, State Senator and former Mayor of Fort Worth

Gramm, a popular incumbent who switched parties a few years prior, had over $5 million on hand.

Virginia

Virginia election

← 19841996 →
Turnout	25.5% (voting eligible)
Nominee John Warner Nancy Spannaus Party Republican Independent Popular vote 876,782 196,755 Percentage 80.9% 18.2%
County and independent city results Warner:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
U.S. senator before election John Warner Republican Elected U.S. Senator John Warner Republican

Incumbent Republican John W. Warner won re-election to a third term. No Democrat filed to run against him as he won every single county and city in the state with over 60% of the vote. Independent Nancy B. Spannaus (an affiliate of the controversial Lyndon LaRouche) got 18% of the vote, as she was the only other candidate on the ballot besides Warner.

West Virginia

West Virginia election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Jay Rockefeller John C. Yoder Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 276,234 128,071 Percentage 68.32% 31.68%

County results Rockefeller:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Yoder:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Jay Rockefeller Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller Democratic

The 1990 United States Senate election in West Virginia was held November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller won re-election to a second term.

Wyoming

Wyoming election

← 1984 November 6, 1990 1996 →

Nominee Alan K. Simpson Kathy Helling Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 100,784 56,848 Percentage 63.94% 36.06%

County Results Simpson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Alan K. Simpson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2017)

Incumbent Republican Alan Simpson easily won re-election to a third term over Democratic challenger Kathy Helling.

See also

• 1990 United States elections
  • 1990 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 1990 United States House of Representatives elections
• 101st United States Congress
• 102nd United States Congress

Notes

1. ^ As J. Bennett Johnston won Louisiana's jungle primary outright with a majority on October 6, he was listed unopposed for the general election on November 6. State law does not require tabulation of unopposed votes, thus the nationwide vote totals exclude Louisiana.
2. ^ Appointee elected
3. Senator Strom Thurmond was originally elected as a Democrat in 1954, but as a write-in candidate, a special election in 1956 and 1960 before switching to a Republican in 1964. Thurmond won re-election as a Republican in 1966, 1972, 1978 and 1984.

References

1. ^ Clerk of the House of Representatives (1991-04-29). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 49.
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3. "State of Alaska: Official Returns" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
4. ^ Clerk of the House of Representatives (1991). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
5. "Colorado Voters Pick Candidates for Senate Race". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 16, 1990. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
6. Leip, David. "1992 U.S. Senatorial General Election Results - Colorado". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
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8. "ID US Senate- R Primary Race - May 22, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
9. "ID US Senate- D Primary Race - May 22, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
10. "ID US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
11. ^ Baxter, Elaine (June 5, 1990). "Primary Election" (PDF). Retrieved January 24, 2022.
12. "Williams picked to run agasinst Kassebaum". The Fort Scott Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2017 – via Google News Archive Search.
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14. ^ "U.S. Senator: Primary Election". Archived from the original on 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
15. "Louisiana GOP Refuses to Back Duke for Senate". LA Times. Associated Press. 14 January 1990. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
16. BROWNSTEIN, RONALD (7 October 1990). "Johnston Beats Duke, 54-43%, in Louisiana". LA Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
17. Applebome, Peter (5 October 1990). "Republican Quits Louisiana Race In Effort to Defeat Ex-Klansman". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
18. "Johnston Takes Lead Over Duke in Louisiana". LA Times. Associated Press. 7 October 1990. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
19. Applebome, Peter (7 October 1990). "Former Klan Figure Loses to Incumbent In Louisiana Voting". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
20. "Louisiana Secretary of State – Election Results".
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25. The Bizarre Story of How a Hardcore Texas Leftist Became a Frontline Putin Propagandist, Tim Dickinson Rolling Stone, March 3, 2022 (archive)
26. ^ "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 5, 1990" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
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28. King, Wayne; Times, Special to The New York (8 November 1990). "THE 1990 ELECTIONS: What Went Wrong?; Bradley Says He Sensed Voter Fury But It Was Too Late to Do Anything". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
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31. Bouie, Jamelle (27 July 2012). "Apparently, the 'Real Racists' Are… Anti-Racists?". The Nation. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
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33. "1990 Oklahoma Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. 1990. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
34. ^ Attle, Rick (March 5, 1990). "Lonsdale blast launches Senate campaign". The Bulletin. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
35. ^ "If you're looking for Hatfield..." The Register-Guard. March 16, 1990. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
36. ^ "Oregon US Senate Republican Primary Race, May 15, 1990". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
37. ^ Walth, Brent (October 21, 1990). "Hatfield shifts gears in race". The Register-Guard. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
38. Boyd, Jim (March 9, 1990). "2nd Eugene man enters Senate race". The Register-Guard. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
39. ^ "Oregon US Senate Democratic Primary Race, May 15, 1990". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
40. Walth, Brent (October 23, 1990). "Lonsdale leads race, poll shows". The Register-Guard. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
41. ^ "Hatfield overcomes Lonsdale, anti-incumbent mood to win". The Bulletin. November 7, 1990. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
42. "State will look at claims of Bend Research dumping". The Register-Guard. October 19, 1990. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
43. Walth, Brent (March 21, 1992). "Lonsdale Firm's Hazardous Waste Violated No Rules". The Register-Guard. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
44. "Oregon US Senate Race, Nov 6, 1990". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
45. "Our Campaigns - RI US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
46. South Dakota Secretary of State, Historical Election Data. Accessed December 12, 2018.
47. "1990 Senatorial General Election Results - Tennessee". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26.
48. "Archives | Austin American-Statesman | Statesman.com". Nl.newsbank.com. July 1, 1990. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
49. "dallasnews.com | Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. October 17, 1990. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
50. "TX US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
51. Dr. Michael McDonald (March 25, 2013). "Turnout 1980-2012". George Mason University. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
52. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips= 54&year= 1990&f= 0&off= 3&elect= 0&class= 2

• State Election Commission (1991). South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1990-1991. Columbia, South Carolina: The Commission. p. 91.