1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky

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1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky
Flag of Kentucky.svg
  1992 November 3, 1998 2004  
  Jim-Bunning-108th.jpg Baesler.jpg
Nominee Jim Bunning Scotty Baesler
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote569,817563,051
Percentage49.75%49.16%

1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky results map by county.svg
County results
Bunning:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Baesler:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Wendell Ford
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Jim Bunning
Republican

The 1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held November 3, 1998. It was concurrent with elections to the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Wendell Ford decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican U.S. Representative Jim Bunning narrowly won the open seat, defeating Democratic U.S. Representative Scotty Baesler. By a margin of 0.59%, this election was the second-closest race of the 1998 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in Nevada. Bunning's swearing-in marked the first time since 1973 that Republicans held both United States Senate seats from Kentucky. This was the first open-seat United States Senate election in Kentucky since 1972 and the first open-seat election for this seat since 1968.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Scotty Baesler 194,125 34.16%
Democratic Charlie Owen166,47229.29%
Democratic Steve Henry 156,57627.55%
Democratic Jim Brown19,9753.51%
Democratic David L. Williams 16,3662.88%
Democratic Ken Buchanan Thompson14,7782.60%
Total votes568,292 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Bunning 152,493 74.28%
Republican Barry Metcalf52,79825.72%
Total votes205,291 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

General election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Bunning 569,817 49.75% +13.94%
Democratic Scotty Baesler 563,05149.16%−13.73%
Reform Charles R. Arbegust12,5461.10%
Majority6,7660.59%−26.48%
Total votes1,145,414 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

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References

  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)