1998 United States Senate election in Colorado

Last updated

1998 United States Senate election in Colorado
Flag of Colorado.svg
  1992 November 3, 1998 2004  
  BenNCampbell.jpg Dottie Lamm (16905157897) (cropped).jpg
Nominee Ben Nighthorse Campbell Dottie Lamm
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote829,370464,754
Percentage62.49%35.02%

1998 United States Senate election in Colorado results map by county.svg
County results
Nighthorse Campbell:
     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Lamm:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Republican

The 1998 United States Senate election in Colorado was held November 3, 1998, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell won re-election to a second term by a landslide. This was Campbell's first election as a Republican as he left the Democratic Party in 1995.

Contents

This was the only time since 1968 that Republicans have won the Class 3 Senate seat from Colorado, and the last time that a Native American was elected to the United States Senate until 2022.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dottie Lamm 84,929 57.98%
Democratic Gil Romero 61,54842.02%
Total votes146,477 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Incumbent) 154,702 70.62%
Republican Bill Eggert 64,34729.38%
Total votes219,049 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Campbell, who was elected in 1992 as a Democrat, switched parties after the 1994 Republican Revolution. He faced a primary challenger, but won with over 70% of the vote. In the general election, Democratic nominee Dottie Lamm criticized Campbell of flip flopping from being a moderate liberal to moderate conservative. [2] [3] In fact, throughout the entire campaign, Lamm mostly sent out negative attack advertisements about Campbell. [4]

Results

General election [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Incumbent) 829,370 62.49% +19.78%
Democratic Dottie Lamm 464,75435.02%-16.76%
Libertarian David S. Segal14,0241.06%+1.06%
Constitution Kevin Swanson 9,7750.74%
Natural Law Jeffrey Peckham4,1010.31%
Independent John Heckman3,2300.24%
Independent Gary Swing1,9810.15%
Majority364,61627.47%+18.40%
Turnout 1,327,235
Republican hold Swing

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Nighthorse Campbell</span> American politician, athlete and rancher (born 1933)

    Ben Nighthorse Campbell is an American Cheyenne politician who represented Colorado's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993 and was a United States Senator from Colorado from 1993 to 2005. He serves as one of 44 members of the Council of Chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe. During his time in office, he was the only Native American serving in Congress. He was the last Native American elected to the U.S. Senate until the 2022 election of Cherokee Markwayne Mullin.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States Senate elections</span>

    The 2004 United States Senate elections were held on November 2, 2004, with all Class 3 Senate seats being contested. They coincided with the re-election of George W. Bush as president and the United States House elections, as well as many state and local elections. Senators who were elected in 1998, known as Senate Class 3, were seeking re-election or retiring in 2004.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Lamm</span> American politician (1935–2021)

    Richard Douglas Lamm was an American politician, writer, and attorney. He served three terms as 38th Governor of Colorado as a Democrat (1975–1987) and ran for the Reform Party's nomination for President of the United States in 1996. Lamm was a Certified Public Accountant and was the Co-Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies at the University of Denver.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 United States Senate elections</span>

    The 2000 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2000. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including the presidential election which was won by Republican George W. Bush. These elections took place six years after Republicans had won a net gain of eight seats in Senate Class 1. Despite George W. Bush's victory in the presidential election, the GOP lost 4 senate seats, the most a winning president's party has lost since the passage of the 17th amendment. This election marked the first election year since 1990 where Democrats made net gains in the Senate. Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans in Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Washington, and they won an open seat in Florida. In Missouri, the winner was elected posthumously. The Republicans defeated a Democratic incumbent in Virginia, and won an open seat in Nevada. Additionally, a Republican in Georgia died earlier in the year and a Democrat was appointed to replace him, who then went on to win the special election.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 United States Senate elections</span>

    The 1994 United States Senate elections were held November 8, 1994, with the 33 seats of Class 1 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. The Republican Party took control of the Senate from the Democrats. Like for most other midterm elections, the opposition, this time being the Republicans, held the traditional advantage. The congressional Republicans campaigned against the early presidency of Bill Clinton, including his unsuccessful health care plan. Democrats held a 56-44 majority, after having lost a seat in Texas in a 1993 special election.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 United States Senate elections</span>

    The 1998 United States Senate elections were held on November 3, with the 34 seats of Class 3 contested in regular elections. This was seen as an even contest between the Republican Party and Democratic Party. While the Democrats had to defend more seats up for election, Republican attacks on the morality of President Bill Clinton failed to connect with voters and anticipated Republican gains did not materialize. The Republicans picked up open seats in Ohio and Kentucky and narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Carol Moseley Braun (Illinois), but these were cancelled out by the Democrats' gain of an open seat in Indiana and defeats of Republican Senators Al D'Amato and Lauch Faircloth. The balance of the Senate remained unchanged at 55–45 in favor of the Republicans.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States Senate elections</span>

    The 1996 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They coincided with the presidential election of the same year, in which Democrat Bill Clinton was re-elected president.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 United States Senate elections</span>

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 United States Senate elections</span> U.S. Senate election in Alabama

    The 1984 United States Senate elections were held on November 6, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with the landslide re-election of President Ronald Reagan in the presidential election. In spite of the lopsided presidential race, Reagan's Republican Party suffered a net loss of two Senate seats to the Democrats, 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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 United States Senate elections</span>

    The 1972 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's landslide victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. The Democrats picked up open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeated four incumbent senators: Gordon Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. The Republicans picked up open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and defeated one incumbent, William B. Spong Jr. of Virginia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States Senate election in Virginia</span>

    The 1996 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Warner won re-election to a fourth term over Democratic challenger Mark Warner (unrelated), who later served as Governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and won this Senate seat in 2008 after John Warner declined to run for re-election that year.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States Senate election in Colorado</span>

    The 2004 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 2004 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Ken Salazar won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Pete Coors.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska</span>

    The 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. James Exon decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican nominee Chuck Hagel won the open seat by 14 points, defeating incumbent Democratic governor Ben Nelson. Nelson would later be elected to Nebraska's other U.S. Senate seat in 2000 when Bob Kerrey retired and served alongside Hagel until 2009, when Hagel left the Senate after retiring.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Colorado gubernatorial election</span>

    The 1998 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998 to select the governor of the state of Colorado. Under newly applicable term limits, incumbent Governor Roy Romer, a Democrat, was unable to seek re-election. Lieutenant Governor Gail Schoettler, ran to succeed Romer, and won the Democratic primary; her running mate, Bernie Buescher, won the lieutenant-gubernatorial primary unopposed. In the Republican primary, Bill Owens, the State Treasurer, and his eventual running mate, Joe Rogers, won their respective primaries by wide margins.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 United States Senate election in Colorado</span>

    The 1992 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Wirth decided to retire instead of seeking a second term. Democratic nominee Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a U.S. Representative, won the open seat. Campbell switched parties in 1995 and was re-elected as a Republican in 1998.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 United States Senate election in Idaho</span> Election

    The 1998 United States Senate election in Idaho was held November 3, 1998 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dirk Kempthorne decided to retire after one term to run for governor. Republican nominee Mike Crapo won the open seat.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States Senate election in Colorado</span>

    The 1996 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Hank Brown decided to retire instead of seeking a second term. Republican Wayne Allard won the open seat.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States Senate special election in Kansas</span> US election

    The 1996 United States Senate special election in Kansas was held November 5, 1996, concurrently with the presidential election and the regularly scheduled election for the state's Class 2 seat. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the Republican nominee for president, had resigned on June 11, 1996, in order to focus on his presidential campaign. Lieutenant Governor Sheila Frahm was appointed to the seat upon Dole's resignation, but she was defeated in the primary by Representative Sam Brownback, who went on to win the general election.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Colorado</span>

    The 2022 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic Senator Michael Bennet won reelection to a third full term, defeating Republican businessman Joe O'Dea. Originally appointed to the seat in 2009, Bennet won full terms in 2010 and 2016.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Dottie Lamm</span> American feminist

    Dorothy Louise Vennard Lamm is an American feminist, women's rights activist, educator, author, and speaker. She was First Lady of Colorado during her husband Richard Lamm's three terms as Governor of Colorado (1975–1987), and unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate as the Colorado Democratic candidate in 1998. She wrote a weekly column for The Denver Post from 1979 to 1996 and later published three books. She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1985.

    References

    1. 1 2 http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ElectionArchives/1998/Primary/1998UnitedStatesSenateResults.pdf%5B%5D
    2. By Blake, Peter; 700+ words. "Data". Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    3. "Archives : The Rocky Mountain News". nl.newsbank.com.
    4. "Denver Post: Archive Results". nl.newsbank.com.
    5. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved May 4, 2021.