1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut

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1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut
Flag of Connecticut.svg
  1982 November 8, 1988 1994  
  Joe Lieberman.jpg Lweicker.jpg
Nominee Joe Lieberman Lowell Weicker
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote688,499677,903
Percentage49.91%49.15%

1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut results map by county.svg
1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut results map by municipality.svg
Lieberman:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Weicker:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Tie:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election

Lowell Weicker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Joe Lieberman
Democratic

The 1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was narrowly defeated by Democrat Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut Attorney General and eventual 2000 nominee for Vice President of the United States, who would remain in office until 2013. This is the last time a Connecticut Senator lost re-election.

Contents

Both Weicker and Lieberman would go on to win state-wide elections as independents, in 1990 for governor and in 2006 for Senate respectively. Joe Lieberman's swearing-in marked the first time since 1971 that Democrats held both Senate seats from Connecticut.

Lieberman was often considered to the right of Weicker, with him benefiting from the support of National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr., and his brother, former U.S. Senator from New York James Buckley, with William Buckley running columns in support of Lieberman.

General election

Candidates

Debates

DatesLiebermanWeickerLink
October 22, 1988ParticipantParticipant C-SPAN

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31st, 1988
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Joe Lieberman (D)$2,650,603$2,570,779$79,824
Lowell Weicker (R)$2,781,538$2,681,294$52,517
Source: Federal Election Commission [1]

Results

General election results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joe Lieberman 688,499 49.91%
Republican Lowell Weicker (incumbent)677,90349.15%
Libertarian Howard A. Grayson Jr.12,4090.90%
New Alliance Melissa M. Fisher4,1540.30%
Total votes1,379,362 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

  1. "Candidate financial totals". Federal Election Commission .
  2. "Our Campaigns - CT US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1988".