1990 United States Senate special election in Indiana

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1990 United States Senate special election in Indiana
Flag of Indiana.svg
←  1986 November 6, 1990 1992  →
  Dan Coats (R-IN) (cropped).jpg Baronhill (cropped2).jpg
Nominee Dan Coats Baron Hill
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote806,048696,639
Percentage53.64%46.36%
1990 United States Senate special election in Indiana results map by county.svg
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

The 1990 United States Senate special election in Indiana was a special election held on November 6, 1990, in order to fill Indiana's Class III Senate seat in the United States Senate. Incumbent Republican Senator Dan Coats, who was appointed to replace Dan Quayle two years prior, was challenged by Democratic nominee Baron Hill, a state representative from Seymour, Indiana won the election to serve out the remainder of the term.

Contents

Background

In 1986, incumbent Senator Dan Quayle sought reelection facing Democratic challenger Jill Long and was reelected in a landslide. [1] During the 1988 presidential election, Republican nominee George H. W. Bush selected Quayle as his running mate. [2] The Bush-Quayle ticket defeated the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket in the general election by a 53% to 46% margin, capturing 40 states and 426 electoral votes. [3] After being elected, Quayle resigned from the Senate. Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr appointed Representative Dan Coats of Indiana's 4th congressional district was to fill the vacancy. [4]

The 1990 election was held as part of the midterm election cycle of Republican President George H. W. Bush's term. [5] Historically, the President's party struggles during the midterms. [6]

Primaries

Coats and Hill both won their respective party's nomination unopposed. [7]

General election

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.

Results

The election was held on November 6, 1990. [8] [9] Coats, like most incumbents in the 1990 United States Senate elections, [10] was able to hold his seat, winning the remainder of Quayle's term. [11] [12]

1990 United States Senate special election in Indiana [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dan Coats (incumbent) 806,048 53.64% −6.93%
Democratic Baron Hill 696,63946.36%+7.85%
Total votes1,502,687 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

Aftermath

On January 3, 1991, Coats was sworn in to the 102nd United States Congress by then–Vice President Quayle alongside his fellow Senator-elect. [14] In the 1992 United States Senate election in Indiana, Coats was elected for a full term. [15]

References

  1. ↑ "Did 1986 election show a trend or just confusion?". The Reporter-Times . United Press International. December 30, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved September 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Margolis, Jon (August 18, 1988). "Why Bush Cast Aside VP Tradition". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  3. ↑ Liep, Dave. "1988 Presidential General Election Results". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ "State Demos cautiously eye '90 Senate race". The Indianapolis Star . December 13, 1988. p. 14. Retrieved September 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Dewar, Helen; Yang, John E. (November 6, 1990). "The Senate Incumbents Win Control Remains with Democrats". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ Elving, Ron (November 13, 2022). "The midterms didn't produce a wave. Here's what that's meant historically". NPR . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Richardson, Doug (May 8, 2025). "Voters return after 18-month absense". The Star Press . p. 17. Retrieved October 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "McWherter, Gore coast to victories". Bristol Herald Courier . November 7, 1990. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved September 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Espo, David (November 7, 1990). "Demos win Texas, Florida, four other Governships; Helms wins". The Times and Democrat . pp. 1, 4. Retrieved September 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Dewar, Helen; Yang, John E. (November 6, 1990). "The Senate Incumbents Win Control Remains with Democrats". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ O'Neill, John R. (November 5, 1990). "Old political foes back home to fight for party". The Indianapolis Star . p. 26. Retrieved September 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "At a glance". The Indianapolis Star . November 7, 1990. p. 1. Retrieved September 23, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Dendy, Dallas L. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF).
  14. ↑ Swearing-In of Senate Members (Video). C-SPAN. January 3, 1991. Event occurs at 5:27.
  15. ↑ Leip, Dave. "1992 Senatorial General Election Results - Indiana". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections . Retrieved October 31, 2025.
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