 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 49.8% (voting eligible)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
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 County and independent city results Congressional district results Precinct/VTD resultsRobb: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% Dawkins: 50-60% 60-70% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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The1988 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 8, 1988.Democratic former governorChuck Robb succeededRepublican SenatorPaul Trible, who opted not to run for re-election. As of 2025[update], this is the last time a Democratic Senatorial candidate won every county and independent city in Virginia.
Paul Trible announced that he would not seek reelection in September 1987, citing frustration with the legislative process and wanting to spend more time with his family.[2]
Maurice Dawkins, a Baptist minister, defeated Andrew Wahlquist, a former assistant to U.S. SenatorJohn Warner, on the first ballot of the Republican convention. Dawkins was the first black person nominated for a senatorial election in the state by a major party.[2]
Chuck Robb won theDemocratic nomination without opposition at the convention held between June 3 to 4.[2]
Robb's campaign raised $3.2 million and spent $2.8 million during the campaign. Dawkins spent $300,000 during the campaign which was less than every incumbent running with opposition in the concurrentU.S. House of Representatives elections.[3]
Robb placed first in all of Virginia's congressional districts. Thethird,fifth, andseventh congressional districts were the only districts that Dawkins received more than 30% of the vote in.[4] Robb received around 70% of the white vote while the overall composition of his voters were 78% white and 12% black compared to Dawkin's 94% white and 6% black. Robb is one of the few Democrats to have won a majority of the white vote after 1969.[5]
Robb's victory was the best performance for a Democratic senatorial candidate in Virginia sinceA. Willis Robertson in1960.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chuck Robb | 1,474,086 | 71.25% | +22.45% | |
| Republican | Maurice A. Dawkins | 593,652 | 28.69% | −22.51% | |
| Write-ins | 1,159 | 0.06% | |||
| Majority | 880,434 | 42.56% | +40.18% | ||
| Turnout | 2,068,897 | ||||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | Swing | ||||
