Election
1996 United States Senate special election in Oregon Nominee Ron Wyden Gordon Smith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 571,739 553,519 Percentage 47.78% 46.26%
County resultsWyden : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Smith : 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80%
U.S. senator before election Vacant
Elected U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Democratic
Elections in Oregon
The 1996 United States Senate special election in Oregon was held on January 30, 1996, to fill the seat vacated by Republican Bob Packwood , who had resigned from the Senate due to sexual misconduct allegations.
In the primaries held on December 5, 1995, Democratic U.S. Representative Ron Wyden and Republican President of the Oregon State Senate Gordon H. Smith were nominated. Wyden then defeated Smith in the general election.[1] Smith would win the regularly-scheduled election to the Senate later that year and serve alongside Wyden until 2009. Wyden's victory made him the first Democratic senator from Oregon since 1969, after Wayne Morse very narrowly lost re-election to Packwood.
Democratic primary Candidates Peter DeFazio , U.S. Representative[2] Michael Donnelly, businessman and President of Wild Oregon Water[3] Anna Nevenic, nurse and perennial candidate[4] J.J.T. Van Dooremolen Ron Wyden , U.S. Representative[5] Results Results by county 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Democratic primary results[6] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Ron Wyden 212,532 49.46% Democratic Peter DeFazio 187,411 43.61% Democratic Anna Nevenic 11,201 2.61% Democratic Michael Donnelly 8,340 1.94% Democratic Write-in Candidates 7,959 1.85% Democratic J.J.T. Van Dooremolen 2,279 0.53% Plurality 25,121 5.85% Total votes 429,722 100.00%
Republican primary Candidates Sam Berry, attorney[7] Brian Boquist , businessman and rancher[8] Jeffrey Brady, dentist[9] Valentine Christian, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992 Robert J. Fenton Lex Loeb Norma Paulus , Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction , former Oregon Secretary of State , and nominee for Governor of Oregon in 1986 [10] Jack Roberts, Commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries [11] Gordon H. Smith , President of the Oregon State Senate [12] John Thomas, policeman[13] Tony G. Zangaro Results Results by county 50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Republican primary results[14] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Gordon H. Smith 246,060 63.63 Republican Norma Paulus 98,158 25.38 Republican Jack Roberts 29,687 7.68 Republican John Thomas 3,272 0.85 Republican Brian Boquist 3,228 0.84 Republican Tony G. Zangaro 1,638 0.42 Republican Sam Berry 1,426 0.37 Republican Jeffrey Brady 1,160 0.3 Republican Valentine Christian 943 0.24 Republican Robert J. Fenton 632 0.16 Republican Lex Loeb 508 0.13 Majority 147,902 38.25% Total votes 386,712 100
General election Results General election results[15] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Ron Wyden 571,739 47.78% Republican Gordon H. Smith 553,519 46.26% American Independent Karen Shilling 25,597 2.14% Libertarian Gene Nanni 15,698 1.31% Independent Write-In Candidates 14,958 1.25% Socialist Vickie Valdez 7,872 0.66% Pacific Green Lou Gold 7,225 0.60% Plurality 18,220 1.52% Total votes 1,196,608 100.0% Democratic gain from Republican
See also References ^ "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate - Special Election Race - Jan 30, 1996". ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate - Special D Primary Race - Dec 05, 1995". ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate - Special R Primary Race - Dec 05, 1995". ^ "Content Manager WebDrawer - 1996 Special Election Official Results".
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