1996 United States Senate election in Iowa

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1996 United States Senate election in Iowa
Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg
  1990 November 5, 1996 2002  
  Tom Harkin portrait (cropped).jpg Lightfoot.jpg
Nominee Tom Harkin Jim Ross Lightfoot
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote634,166571,807
Percentage51.81%46.71%

1996 United States Senate election in Iowa results map by county.svg
County results
Harkin:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Lightfoot:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Tom Harkin
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Tom Harkin
Democratic

The 1996 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Harkin sought re-election to a third term in office, and he was challenged by U.S. Congressman Jim Ross Lightfoot from Iowa's 3rd congressional district. Lightfoot had won the Republican primary against two opponents, while Harkin had won his primary uncontested, so both moved on to the general election, where they engaged in a toughly fought campaign. Ultimately, Harkin was successful in his bid and defeated Lightfoot, albeit by the narrowest margin of his career.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tom Harkin (incumbent) 98,737 99.19%
Democratic Write-ins8100.81%
Total votes99,547 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Ross Lightfoot 101,608 61.48%
Republican Maggie Tinsman40,95524.78%
Republican Steve Grubbs22,55413.65%
Republican Write-ins1530.09%
Total votes165,270 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Iowa, 1996 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Tom Harkin (incumbent) 634,166 51.81% -2.66%
Republican Jim Ross Lightfoot 571,80746.71%+1.30%
Independent Sue Atkinson9,7680.80%
Natural Law Fred Gratzon4,2480.35%
Independent Joe Sulentic1,9410.16%
Socialist Workers Shirley E. Pena1,8440.15%
Write-in 2800.02%
Majority62,3595.09%-3.96%
Turnout 1,224,054
Democratic hold Swing

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Iowa Primary Election - June 4, 1996" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State.
  2. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 23.