1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

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1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
  1992 November 3, 1998 2004  
  Russ Feingold official photo.jpg Mark Neumann (cropped).jpg
Nominee Russ Feingold Mark Neumann
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote890,059852,272
Percentage50.55%48.40%

1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg
1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin by precinct.svg
Feingold:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Neumann:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     

U.S. senator before election

Russ Feingold
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Russ Feingold
Democratic

The 1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Russ Feingold won re-election to a second term.

Contents

General election

Candidates

Campaign

In September 1997, Neumann announced his candidacy for the United States Senate against Russ Feingold. Both candidates had similar views on the budget surplus, although Neumann was for banning partial-birth abortion while Feingold was against a ban. Both candidates limited themselves to $3.8 million in campaign spending ($1 for every citizen of Wisconsin), although outside groups spent more than $2 million on Neumann; Feingold refused to have outside groups spend their own 'soft money' on his behalf. [1] [2] Feingold defeated Neumann by a slim 2% margin in the election. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Neumann had a 30,000 vote margin outside Milwaukee County, but was overwhelmed by a 68,000 vote margin in Milwaukee County. [3]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Russ
Feingold (D)
Mark
Neumann (R)
Undecided
Market Shares Corporation [4] [A] October 21–24, 1998600 (LV)± 4.0%46%43%11%
St. Norbert College Survey Center [4] [B] October 8–20, 1998415 (LV)± 4.8%47%40%13%
St. Norbert College Survey Center [4] [C] October 8–20, 1998415 (LV)± 4.8%47%40%13%
Journal Sentinel Research
and Public Policy Forum [4]
October 2–9, 1998314 (LV)± 6.0%50%43%7%
WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal [4] August 7–26, 1998271 (LV)± 5.9%54%30%16%
Louis Harris & Associates [4] July 7–18, 19981,000 (A)± 3.0%49%30%21%
WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal [4] May, 1998403 (A)± 5.0%42%31%27%
St. Norbert College Survey Center [4] [C] February 17 – March 24, 1998400 (LV)± 5.0%65%23%12%
Journal Sentinel Research
and Public Policy Forum [4]
February, 1998497 (LV)± 4.5%56%29%15%
St. Norbert College Survey Center [4] [C] Fall, 1997417 (LV)± 5.0%51%29%20%

Results

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Russ Feingold (incumbent) 890,059 50.55%
Republican Mark Neumann 852,27248.40%
U.S. Taxpayers Robert R. Raymond7,9420.45%
Libertarian Tom Ender5,5910.32%
Independent Eugene A. Hem4,2660.24%
Write-in 7060.04%
Total votes1,760,836 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. Poll sponsored by WTMJ-TV
  2. Poll sponsored by the Green Bay News-Chronicle & Wisconsin Public Radio
  3. 1 2 3 Poll sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio

References

  1. "Online NewsHour: Political Wrap - October 30, 1998". Archived from the original on March 5, 2000. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. "Projects | Internet Scout".
  3. Murphy, Bruce (August 4, 2003). "GOP edges into Democratic region". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 15, 2003.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Wisconsin 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.