1990 United States Senate elections

← 1988 November 6, 1990 1992 →
← 1984 1996 →
35 of the 100 seats in theUnited 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[a] 16,494,624[a] 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 ElectedMajority Leader George Mitchell Democratic

The1990 United States Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990, with the 33 seats ofClass 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. TheDemocratic Party increased its majority with a net gain of one seat from theRepublican Party. The election cycle took place in the middle of PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush's term, and as with most othermidterm 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 since1958.

These elections, along with2022, featured the smallest seat change in history since the passage of theSeventeenth Amendment in 1913, with only one seat changing parties. This election featured DemocratPaul Wellstone defeating incumbent RepublicanRudy Boschwitz in Minnesota. To date, this is the last cycle in which Democratic candidates won U.S. Senate elections in Oklahoma and Tennessee.

The election was held as part of themidterm election cycle ofRepublican PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush's term.^[2] Historically, the President's party struggles during the midterms.^[3]

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 by1 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[a]	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^[1]

Three Republicans retired instead of seeking re-election.

Despite several candidates being in danger of losing their reelection bid,Minnesota Republican SenatorRudy Boschwitz was the only incumbent who ran for re-election to be defeated.^[4][5]

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

Elections are sorted by date, then state and class.

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.

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

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

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 DemocratHowell Heflin won re-election to a third term over RepublicanBill Cabaniss, State Senator and former State Representative. This was the last time the Democrats have won the Class 2 Senate Seat from Alabama untilDoug Jones won the seat in2017.

Alaska election

← 1984 1996 →

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 RepublicanUnited States SenatorTed Stevens sought re-election to a fifth term in theUnited States Senate, which he won easily, besting his opponents in a landslide.

Arkansas election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocratDavid Pryor won re-election uncontested.^[8]

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 senatorWilliam L. Armstrong did not seek re-election to another term. Republican congressmanHank Brown won the open seat, defeating Democratic nominee Josie Heath, formerBoulder County Commissioner^[9]

Delaware election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocraticJoe Biden won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican challenger DeputyAttorney General of DelawareM. Jane Brady. Brady decided to run because she felt that Biden's liberal voting record did not reflect the political positions of Delawareans.^[11] The election had a turnout rate of under 40% of registered voters.^[12] Biden won in a landslide with over 60% of the vote improving on his 1984 margin, winning all three counties and all 41state house districts.^[13][14]

Georgia election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocratSam Nunn won re-election to a fourth term uncontested.^[8]

Hawaii special election

← 1988 1994 →

Nominee Daniel Akaka Pat Saiki Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 188,901 155,978 Percentage 54.0% 44.6%

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

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

Incumbent DemocratDaniel Akaka was elected to finish the term ending in 1995 over Republican U.S. RepresentativePat Saiki. Akaka had been appointed by GovernorJohn Waihee in April 1990 to fill the vacancy created by the death ofSpark Matsunaga.^[15]

Idaho election

← 1984 1996 →

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 legislatorRon Twilegar for the seat of U.S. SenatorJim McClure, who did not seek re-election.

Illinois election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocratPaul Simon sought re-election to theUnited States Senate. Simon was opposed by Republican nomineeLynn Morley Martin, aUnited States Congresswoman fromIllinois's 16th congressional district, whom he easily defeated to win a second and final term in the Senate.

Indiana special election

← 1986 1992 →

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 RepublicanDan Coats, who was recently appointed to this seat two years prior, won election to serve out the remainder of the term, beating Democratic State RepresentativeBaron Hill.

During the1988 presidential election, Republican nomineeVice PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush selectedU.S. SenatorDan Quayle ofIndiana as his vice presidential nominee. The Bush-Quayle ticket defeated theDukakis–Bentsen ticket in the general election by a 53%-46% margin, capturing 40 states and 426electoral votes.

In preparation for the pending vacancy,GovernorRobert D. Orr appointed four-termU.S. RepresentativeDan 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 forIndiana'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 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 DemocratTom Harkin sought re-election to a second term in theUnited States Senate. Harkin was opposed by RepublicanUnited States CongressmanTom Tauke, fromIowa's 2nd congressional district, and both Harkin and Tauke won their primaries uncontested. Though Harkin performed slightly worse than he hadsix years earlier, he was successful in his re-election bid and defeated Tauke.

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 RepublicanNancy Kassebaum won re-election to her third full term, over Democrat Dick Williams, an educator atWichita State University^[21]

Kentucky election

← 1984 1996 →

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 RepublicanMitch McConnell won re-election to a second term over DemocratHarvey Sloane, former Mayor ofLouisville

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 DemocratJ. Bennett Johnston Jr. won re-election to a fourth term and avoided a runoff, beating RepublicanDavid Duke,State Representative and former Grand Wizard of theKu 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.^[24] 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, theNational Republican Senatorial Committee tried to recruit former GovernorDavid Treen to jump into the race. When Treen passed, the effort turned from supporting Bagert to stopping Duke.^[25]

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 SenatorJohn 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.^[26] Bagert's name remained on the ballot, but under state law his votes could not be counted as part of the official tally.^[27] After Bagert dropped out,HUD SecretaryJack Kemp endorsed Johnston, saying "there's no place in the Republican Party for someone who has practiced and practices racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism."^[28]

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 RepublicanWilliam Cohen won re-election to a third term over Democratic State RepresentativeNeil Rolde.

Massachusetts election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocraticU.S. SenatorJohn Kerry was re-elected to his second term over Republican real estate developerJim Rappaport.

Michigan election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocratCarl Levin won re-election to a third term, beating Republican U.S. RepresentativeBill Schuette.

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 RepublicanRudy Boschwitz was defeated by Democratic challengerPaul Wellstone in a tight race. Widely considered an underdog and outspent by a 7-to-1 margin, Wellstone, a professor atCarleton College and nominee forMinnesota State Auditor in 1982 was the only candidate to defeat an incumbent senator in the 1990 election cycle and gained national attention after hisupset victory.

Mississippi election

← 1984 1996 →

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

County results Cochran:     >90% No votes:

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

Incumbent RepublicanThad Cochran won re-election to a third term.^[8]

Montana election

← 1984 1996 →

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 SenatorMax Baucus, who was first elected in1978 and was re-elected in1984, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he moved on to the general election, where he was opposed byAllen Kolstad, theLieutenant Governor of Montana and the Republican nominee. Baucus ultimately ended up defeating Kolstad in a landslide, winning his third term with ease.

Nebraska election

← 1984 1996 →

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 DemocratJ. James Exon won re-election to a third term, beating Republican U.S. RepresentativeHal Daub.

New Hampshire election

← 1984 1996 →

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

County results Municipality results Smith:     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 RepublicanGordon J. Humphrey decided to retire and not run for re-election to a third term. RepublicanBob Smith won the open seat, beating Democratic former SenatorJohn A. Durkin.

New Jersey election

← 1984 1996 →

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 SenatorBill Bradley decided to seek re-election and narrowly edged out little-known RepublicanChristine Todd Whitman, President of theNew Jersey Board of Public Utilities.^[8]

Senator Bill Bradley didn't realize he was in trouble of winning re-election and theNew 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 GovernorJim 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.^[37]

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 RepublicanPete Domenici won re-election to a fourth term over Democratic State Senator Tom Benavidez.^[38]

North Carolina election

← 1984 1996 →

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 incumbentJesse Helms and the Democratic nomineeMayor of CharlotteHarvey Gantt. Helms won re-election to a fourth term by a slightly wider margin than theclose election in 1984.

Helms drewcontroversy for airing what became known as the "Hands" ad produced byAlex 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 ofracism.^[40]

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 DemocratDavid Boren won re-election to a third term over Republican nominee attorneyStephen Jones.^[42][43] Boren won over 80 percent of the vote and all of the states counties.^[44]

With his victory Boren became the last Democrat to represent Oklahoma in the Senate.^[45]