1984 United States Senate election in Oregon

1984 United States Senate election in Oregon

←  1978 November 6, 1984 1990  →

Nominee Mark Hatfield Margie Hendriksen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 808,152 406,122 Percentage 66.53% 33.43%

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

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

The 1984 United States Senate election in Oregon took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield was re-elected to a fourth term in office, defeating Democratic State Senator Margie Hendriksen. As of 2022, this is the last U.S. Senate race in Oregon where every county voted for the same candidate.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Hatfield, incumbent Senator
• Ralph H. Preston
• Sherry Reynolds
• John T. Schiess

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Hatfield (incumbent)	214,114	78.53%
	Republican	John T. Schiess	26,848	9.85%
	Republican	Sherry Reynolds	18,590	6.82%
	Republican	Ralph H. Preston	12,662	4.64%
	Write-in	All others	423	0.16%
Total votes			272,637	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Margie Hendriksen, State Senator from Portland
• Sam Kahl

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Margie Hendriksen	249,152	75.47%
	Democratic	Sam Kahl	79,317	24.02%
	Write-in	All others	1,688	0.51%
Total votes			330,157	100.00%

General election

Campaign

During the campaign, Hendriksen primarily attacked Hatfield by stressing what she perceived to be flawed priorities. ^[3] Hatfield was often criticized for the scandal involving Basil Tsakos, but the controversy of the scandal declined over the course of the campaign. ^[4] He was also criticized by those who stressed environmental protection for his support of President Reagan's appointment of James G. Watt to the position of Secretary of the Interior. ^[5] However, Hatfield's in-person campaign strategy proved successful, as he beat Hendricksen by 402,040 votes, and gained nearly double her percentage.

Results

1984 United States Senate election in Oregon ^[6]

	Republican	Mark Hatfield (incumbent)	808,152	66.53%	4.88
	Democratic	Margie Hendriksen	406,122	33.43%	4.83
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent Republican	Ralph H. Preston	461	0.04%	N/A
Total votes			1,214,735	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1984 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate- R Primary Race - May 15, 1984".
2. "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate- D Primary Race - May 15, 1984".
3. "OPPONENT OF HATFIELD IN OREGON QUESTIONS THE SENATOR'S PRIORITIES". The New York Times. August 10, 1984.
4. "Hatfield wins re-election handily". November 7, 1984.
5. "To Hendricksen, Hatfield's foe, the Senate race began long ago". The Christian Science Monitor. August 16, 1984.
6. "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1984".