1984 United States Senate elections

← 1982 November 6, 1984 1986 →
← 1978 Class 2 1990 →
33 of the 100 seats in theUnited States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Howard Baker (retired) Robert Byrd Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 5, 1980 January 3, 1977 Leader's seat Tennessee West Virginia Seats before 55 45 Seats won 53 47 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 22,850,493 23,079,278 Percentage 49.3% 49.8% Seats up 19 14 Races won 17 16
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain     Republican gain      Democratic hold     Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Howard Baker Republican ElectedMajority Leader Bob Dole Republican

The1984 United States Senate elections were held on November 6, with the 33 seats ofClass 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with thelandslide re-election ofPresidentRonald Reagan in thepresidential election. In spite of the lopsided presidential race, Reagan'sRepublican Party suffered a net loss of two Senate seats to theDemocrats, although it retained control of the Senate with a reduced 53–47 majority.

Democrats defeated incumbents in Illinois and Iowa, and won an open seat in Tennessee, while Republicans defeated an incumbent in Kentucky. This was the first time since1972 that Democrats gained Class 2 Senate seats.

Parties						Total
		Democratic	Republican	Libertarian	Other
Last elections (1982)		46	54	0	0	100
Before these elections		45	55	0	0	100
Not up		31	36	—	—	67
Up Class 2 (1978→1984)		14	19	—	—	33
Incumbent retired		2	2	—	—	4
	Held by same party	2	1	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat		—	—	1
	Result	3	1	—	—	4
Incumbent ran		12	17	—	—	29
	Won re-election	11	15	—	—	26
	Lost re-election	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	3
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	0	0	—	—	0
	Result	13	16	—	—	29
Total elected		16	17	0	0	33
Net gain/loss		2	2			2
Nationwide vote		23,079,278	22,850,493	160,798	232,231	46,322,800
	Share	49.82%	49.33%	0.35%	0.50%	100%
Result		47	53	0	0	100

Source: Office of the Clerk^[1]

Two Republicans and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Two Republicans and one Democrat sought re-election but lost in the general election.

There were no special elections to the U.S. Senate in 1984.

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1985; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

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

Minnesota was the tipping point state with a margin of victory of 16.8%.

1984 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1978 November 6, 1984 1990 →

Nominee Howell Heflin Albert L. Smith Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 857,535 498,508 Percentage 62.7% 36.4%

County results Heflin:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Smith:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

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

The1984 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Democratic SenatorHowell Heflin was easily re-elected to a second term. Heflin received 94% of the black vote.^[2]

Alaska election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Ted Stevens John Havelock Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 146,919 58,804 Percentage 71.17% 28.49%

Results by state house district Stevens:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

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

Incumbent RepublicanTed Stevens sought re-election to a fourth term. Owing to his popularity and the conservative bent of Alaska, Stevens did not face major opposition, and easily defeated formerAlaska Attorney GeneralJohn Havelock in the general election.

Arkansas election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee David Pryor Ed Bethune Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 502,341 373,615 Percentage 57.35% 42.65%

County results Pryor:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Bethune:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election David Pryor Democratic Elected U.S. Senator David Pryor Democratic

Incumbent DemocratDavid Pryor won re-election to a second term over Republican U.S. RepresentativeEd Bethune.

Colorado election

← 1978 November 6, 1984 1990 →

Nominee William L. Armstrong Nancy E. Dick Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 833,821 449,327 Percentage 64.25% 34.62%

County results Armstrong:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Dick:     50–60%     60–70%

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

Incumbent RepublicanWilliam L. Armstrong won re-election to a second term over DemocraticLieutenant Governor of ColoradoNancy E. Dick.

Delaware election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Joe Biden John M. Burris Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 147,831 98,101 Percentage 60.11% 39.89%

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

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

Incumbent Democrat and futurePresident of the United StatesJoe Biden won re-election to a third term, defeating Republican challenger John M. Burris, former Majority Leader of theDelaware House of Representatives.

Georgia election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Sam Nunn Mike Hicks Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,344,104 337,196 Percentage 79.9% 20.1%

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

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

Incumbent DemocratSam Nunn won re-election to a third term over Republican educator, Mike Hicks^[5][6]

Idaho election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee James A. McClure Peter M. Busch Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 293,193 105,591 Percentage 72.19% 26.00%

County Results McClure:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100%

U.S. senator before election James A. McClure Republican Elected U.S. Senator James A. McClure Republican

Incumbent RepublicanJames A. McClure won re-election to a third term over Democratic Vietnam War veteran,Peter M. Busch.

Illinois election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Paul Simon Charles Percy Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,397,165 2,308,039 Percentage 50.07% 48.21%

County results Simon:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Percy:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Paul Simon Democratic

Incumbent RepublicanCharles H. Percy ran for re-election to a fourth term in theUnited States Senate. Senator Percy was opposed by Democratic nomineePaul Simon, who was aUnited States Congressman fromIllinois's 22nd congressional district. The campaign between Percy and Simon was brutal and toughly-fought, and ended up with Simon ousting Percy by fewer than 90,000 votes, which was, at the time, considered an upset.

The election was very close. Simon prevailed by only 89,126 votes, or 1.86%. Incumbent Percy did well all throughout the state, including theChicago collar counties. However, Simon received huge numbers out of the heavily populated and DemocraticCook County, which encompasses most of theChicago Metropolitan Area. Percy led early on and well into the night, but asCook County began to count all of its votes, Simon pulled ahead. Simon won despite then-president Reagan winning the state easily. Percy called Simon at around 5 A.M. the next day and conceded. Percy also congratulated Simon on his hard-earned victory. Simon was sworn in on January 3, 1985, and served in the senate until January 3, 1997, when he retired. Simon was later succeeded byDick Durbin, a close friend and fellowDemocrat.

Iowa election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Tom Harkin Roger Jepsen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 716,883 564,381 Percentage 55.46% 43.66%

County results Harkin:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Jepsen:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election Roger Jepsen Republican Elected U.S. Senator Tom Harkin Democratic

Incumbent RepublicanRoger Jepsen ran for re-election to a second term in theUnited States Senate. Jepsen was opposed byUnited States CongressmanTom Harkin, fromIowa's 5th congressional district, who won the Democratic primary uncontested. The general election was full of mudslinging and personal attacks, including the embellishment by both candidates of their military records; Harkin attacked Jepsen for failing to keep his promise to not sellAWACS aircraft toSaudi Arabia.^[7] Ultimately, Harkin defeated Jepsen by a wide margin, winning the first of five terms in the Senate.

Kansas election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Nancy Kassebaum James R. Maher Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 757,402 211,664 Percentage 75.99% 21.24%

County Results Kassebaum:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%

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

Incumbent RepublicanNancy Kassebaum won re-election to a second term over Democrat James R. Maher, a financial consultant.

Kentucky election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Mitch McConnell Walter Huddleston Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 644,990 639,721 Percentage 49.9% 49.5%

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

U.S. senator before election Walter Huddleston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell Republican

Incumbent DemocratWalter Huddleston ran for re-election to a third term, but lost by less than 0.5% toJefferson County ExecutiveMitch McConnell.

Huddleston was unopposed in theDemocratic Party's primary.

1984 United States Senate election in Louisiana

← 1978 September 29, 1984 1990 →

Nominee J. Bennett Johnston Robert M. Ross Larry Napoleon Cooper Party Democratic Republican Republican Popular vote 838,181 86,546 52,746 Percentage 85.75% 8.85% 5.4%

Parish results Johnston:     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

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

Incumbent DemocraticJ. Bennett Johnston won unopposed to a third term.

Maine election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee William Cohen Libby Mitchell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 404,414 142,626 Percentage 73.3% 25.9%

County results Cohen:     60–70%     70–80%

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

Incumbent RepublicanWilliam Cohen won re-election to a second term over DemocratLibby Mitchell, State Representative.

Massachusetts election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee John Kerry Ray Shamie Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,393,150 1,136,913 Percentage 55.06% 44.94%

County results Municipality results Kerry   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Shamie   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%

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

The election was won byDemocratJohn Kerry, theLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts who remained Senator until 2013 when he resigned to becomeU.S. Secretary of State. One-term incumbentPaul Tsongas declined to seek re-election and retired from the Senate following a battle with cancer.

Michigan election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Carl Levin Jack Lousma Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,915,831 1,745,302 Percentage 51.8% 47.2%

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

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

Incumbent DemocratCarl Levin won re-election to a second term.

Minnesota election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Rudy Boschwitz Joan Growe Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 1,199,926 852,844 Percentage 58.08% 41.28%

County results Boschwitz:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Growe:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Rudy Boschwitz Republican Elected U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz Republican

Incumbent RepublicanRudy Boschwitz defeated Democratic challengerJoan Growe,Minnesota Secretary of State.

Mississippi election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Thad Cochran William Winter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 580,314 371,926 Percentage 60.9% 39.1%

Cochran:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Winter:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

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

Incumbent RepublicanThad Cochran won re-election to a second term over former Democratic GovernorWilliam Winter.

Montana election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Max Baucus Chuck Cozzens Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 215,704 154,308 Percentage 56.89% 40.70%

County results Baucus:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Cozzens:     40–50%     50–60%

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

IncumbentMax Baucus ran for re-election. He easily won renomination in the Democratic primary, and advanced to the general election, where he faced Chuck Cozzens, a formerState Representative and the Republican nominee. Despite PresidentRonald Reagan's strong performance in the statethat year, Baucus was able to easily win a second term over Cozzens.

Nebraska election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee J. James Exon Nancy Hoch Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 332,117 307,147 Percentage 51.9% 48.0%

County results Exon:     50–60%     60–70% Hoch:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

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

Incumbent DemocratJ. James Exon won re-election to a second term over Republican businesswoman Nancy Hoch.

New Hampshire election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Gordon J. Humphrey Norman D'Amours Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 225,828 157,447 Percentage 58.75% 40.96%

County results Municipality results Humphrey:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% D'Amours:     50–60%     60–70%     80–90%     >90%

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

Incumbent RepublicanGordon J. Humphrey won re-election to a second term over Democratic U.S. RepresentativeNorman D'Amours.

New Jersey election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Bill Bradley Mary V. Mochary Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,986,644 1,080,100 Percentage 64.16% 34.88%

County results Bradley:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

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

Incumbent DemocratBill Bradley ran for re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Mayor of MontclairMary V. Mochary.

New Mexico election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Pete Domenici Judith Pratt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 361,371 141,253 Percentage 71.9% 28.1%

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 RepublicanPete Domenici ran for re-election to a third term, defeating DemocratJudith Pratt.

North Carolina election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Jesse Helms Jim Hunt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,156,768 1,070,488 Percentage 51.7% 47.8%

County results Helms:     50– 60%     60–70%     70–80% Hunt:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

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

The election was fought between the Republican incumbentJesse Helms and DemocraticGovernorJim Hunt. Helms won the election, the most expensive non-presidential election in United States history up to that point, by a margin significantly reduced from that that Helms achievedin 1978.

Hunt had a commanding lead in opinion polls for much of the campaign, with one poll in 1983 putting him nineteen points clear of Helms.^[19] However, that was changed by the most bitterly contested election in the country that year.^[19] Hunt ran acampaign ad connecting Helms todeath squads inEl Salvador through his association with theNationalist Republican Alliance, for whomRoberto d'Aubuisson had recently run for thePresident of El Salvador.^[19] In the short time before election day, however, the highly popular incumbent US President Ronald Reagan gave Helms a significant boost^[20] by campaigning for him and running a local TV ad praising Helms and asking registered voters in North Carolina to re-elect him.^[21]

The election cost a total of $26,379,483 in total reported spending (over twelve times as much as the1980 race), of which, 64% ($16.9m) was spent by Helms.^[22]

Voters Education Project (VEP) in Atlanta study showed that Helms received 63 percent of the white vote and was particularly successful in small towns and rural areas, while receiving less than 1 percent of the black vote in 35 almost-all-black precincts.^[23] "Hunt got 37 percent of the white and 98.8 percent of the black vote, according to VEP. But only 61 percent of registered blacks voted, down from 63 percent in 1980."^[23] While, It had among the lowest industrial wages in the United States and was third in terms of mobile homes.^[23]

Incumbent DemocratDavid Boren won re-election to a second term.

Oklahoma election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee David Boren Will E. Bill Crozier Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 906,131 280,638 Percentage 75.6% 23.4%

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

U.S. senator before election David Boren Democratic Elected U.S. Senator David Boren Democratic

Oregon election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Mark Hatfield Margie Hendriksen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 808,152 406,112 Percentage 66.56% 33.45%

County results Hatfield:     60–70%     70–80%

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

Incumbent RepublicanMark Hatfield sought re-election, defeating Democratic State Senator Margie Hendricksen.

Rhode Island election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Claiborne Pell Barbara Leonard Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 285,811 107,545 Percentage 72.7% 27.3%

County results Municipality results Pell:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

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

Incumbent DemocratClaiborne Pell sought re-election, defeating RepublicanBarbara M. Leonard.

South Carolina election

← 1978 1990 →

Nominee Strom Thurmond Melvin Purvis Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 644,814 306,982 Percentage 66.8% 31.8%

County results Thurmond:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Purvis:     40–50%

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