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This is a list of notable performances of third party and independent candidates in elections to the United States Senate.

It is rare for candidates, other than those of the six parties which have succeeded as major parties (Federalist Party, Democratic-Republican Party, National Republican Party, Democratic Party, Whig Party, Republican Party), to take large shares of the vote in elections.

In some of the listed cases a faction or factions of a state's major party ran against each other, often making it difficult to ascertain which was the mainline candidate and which was the bolter; in such cases, those candidates which are not listed on a standard major party line are still listed, but are not considered traditional third party victories as often these candidates sat in Congress as affiliated party members (barring cases like Joe Lieberman who, upon winning re-election in 2006 as a third-party candidate, sat as an Independent Democrat).

Listed below are Senate elections in which a third party or independent candidate won at least 5.0% of the vote. Winners are shown in bold and marked "elected" or "re-elected".

Indirect elections (before 1918)

Prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment, most states did not hold direct elections to the Senate, with senators instead being elected by the state legislatures. The results listed below are cases in which a third-party candidate won at least 5.0% of the legislative vote.

Direct elections (after 1905)

1900–1930

1931–1960

1961–1990

1991–2020

2021–present

See also

• List of third-party performances in United States House elections

Notes and references

1. Technically designation is Unknown
2. Listed on ballot as "Popular Government Candidate"
3. Listed on ballot as "Pro-League Independent Party"
4. Listed on ballot as "La Follette Progressive Republican National Platform"
5. Listed on ballot as "Agricultural Relief Republican"
6. Listed on ballot as "Republican for Beer and Wine"
7. Listed on ballot as "Good Government and Clean Elections"
8. Listed as "Nonpartisan, Progressive, Old Age Pension"
9. Listed as "Progressive Republican for Clean Government"
10. Affiliated with the Workers World Party
11. Affiliated with the Libertarian Party
12. Also listed as the de facto Democratic nominee.

• United States Senate elections
• Lists of elections in the United States
• Third party (United States)