1996 United States Senate election in Maine

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1996 United States Senate election in Maine
Flag of Maine.svg
  1990 November 5, 1996 2002  
  Susan Collins official photo.jpg JosephBrennan.jpg
Nominee Susan Collins Joseph E. Brennan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote298,422266,226
Percentage49.18%43.88%

1996 United States Senate election in Maine results map by county.svg
County results
Collins:     40–50%     50–60%
Brennan:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election

William Cohen
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Susan Collins
Republican

The 1996 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator William Cohen decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. To replace him, U.S. Representative Joseph E. Brennan won the Democratic primary while political consultant Susan Collins won the Republican primary. A competitive general election ensued, but Collins ultimately won out over Brennan, keeping the seat in the Republican column. With Collins' election to the Senate in 1996, Maine became only the second state after California to have two sitting female senators, and the first to have two sitting female Republican senators.

Contents

Brennan and Collins both ran in the 1994 gubernatorial election, and each won their respective party's nomination, but lost the general election to independent Angus King, who would be elected in Maine's other Senate seat in 2012 and become a Senator in 2013, serving alongside Collins.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joseph E. Brennan 48,335 56.68%
Democratic Sean Faircloth 21,20424.87%
Democratic Richard A. Spencer10,23612.00%
Democratic Jean Hay Bright4,5245.31%
Democratic Jerald Leonard9391.10%
Democratic Write-ins350.04%
Total votes85,273 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Susan Collins 53,339 55.50%
Republican W. John Hathaway29,79231.00%
Republican Robert A. G. Monks 12,94313.47%
Republican Write-ins330.03%
Total votes96,107 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Maine, 1996 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Susan Collins 298,422 49.18% -12.16%
Democratic Joseph E. Brennan 266,22643.88%+5.24%
Independent John C. Rensenbrink23,4413.86%N/A
Constitution William P. Clarke18,6183.07%N/A
Write-in 700.01%N/A
Majority32,1965.31%-17.39%
Turnout 606,777
Republican hold

See also

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References

  1. "Maine Primary Election Results - June 11, 1996 - U.S. Senator - Democrat - Summary by County". Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. "Maine Primary Election Results - June 11, 1996 - U.S. Senator - Republican - Summary by County". Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  3. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2013.