United States Senate elections, 1982
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results of November 1982 elections Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The United States Senate elections of 1982 were held on November 2, 1982. They were elections for the United States Senate following Republican gains in 1980. A total of four seats changed hands between parties, and the lone independent, Senator Harry Byrd, retired. Democrats made a net gain of one seat in the elections. A special election in 1983 was then held after the winner of Washington's 1982 election died at the beginning of the term.
Results summary
Parties | Total Seats | Popular Vote | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | 1982 | +/- | Vote | % | ||
Democratic Party | 46 | 46 | 27,899,651 | 54.08% | ||
Republican Party | 53 | 54 | 22,412,928 | 43.44% | ||
Libertarian Party | 0 | 0 | 291,576 | 0.57% | ||
Others | 1 | 0 | 985,840 | 1.91% | ||
Total | 100 | 100 | 51,589,995 | 100.0% |
Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
54 | 46 |
Republican | Democratic |
Gains and losses
Incumbents Howard Cannon of Nevada and Harrison Schmitt of New Mexico lost seats to the opposite party, the open seat in Virginia that had been held by independent Harry F. Byrd, Jr. was taken by a Republican, and the open seat in New Jersey that was held by an appointed Republican was taken by a Democrat.
Later changes
In 1983, Henry M. Jackson (D-WA) died, and a Republican, Dan Evans, was appointed to fill the vacancy, holding on to the seat in a special election later that year.
Change in Senate composition
Before the elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
D20 | D19 | D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 |
D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 Ran |
D28 Ran |
D29 Ran |
D30 Ran |
D40 Ran |
D39 Ran |
D38 Ran |
D37 Ran |
D36 Ran |
D35 Ran |
D34 Ran |
D33 Ran |
D32 Ran |
D31 Ran |
D41 Ran |
D42 Ran |
D43 Ran |
D44 Ran |
D45 Ran |
I1 Retired |
R54 Retired |
R53 Retired |
R52 Ran |
R51 Ran |
Majority → | |||||||||
R41 | R42 Ran |
R43 Ran |
R44 Ran |
R45 Ran |
R46 Ran |
R47 Ran |
R48 Ran |
R49 Ran |
R50 Ran |
R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 |
R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 |
R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 |
After the elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
D20 | D19 | D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 |
D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 Re-elected |
D28 Re-elected |
D29 Re-elected |
D30 Re-elected |
D40 Re-elected |
D39 Re-elected |
D38 Re-elected |
D37 Re-elected |
D36 Re-elected |
D35 Re-elected |
D34 Re-elected |
D33 Re-elected |
D32 Re-elected |
D31 Re-elected |
D41 Re-elected |
D42 Re-elected |
D43 Re-elected |
D44 Re-elected |
D45 Gain |
D46 Gain |
R54 Gain |
R53 Gain |
R52 Hold |
R51 Re-elected |
Majority → | |||||||||
R41 | R42 Re-elected |
R43 Re-elected |
R44 Re-elected |
R45 Re-elected |
R46 Re-elected |
R47 Re-elected |
R48 Re-elected |
R49 Re-elected |
R50 Re-elected |
R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 |
R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 |
R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 |
Key: |
|
---|
Race summaries
Special elections during the 97th Congress
There were no special elections during 1982 or before January 3, 1983.
Elections leading to the next Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1983; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Arizona | Dennis DeConcini | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Dennis DeConcini (Democratic) 56.9% Pete Dunn (Republican) 40.3% Randall Clamons (Libertarian) 2.8% |
California | S. I. Hayakawa | Republican | 1976 1977 (Appointed) |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
√ Pete Wilson (Republican) 51.5% Jerry Brown (Democratic) 44.8% Tena Dietrich (American Ind.) 1.4% David Wald (Peace & Freedom) 1.2% Joseph Fuhrig (Libertarian) 1.1% |
Connecticut | Lowell P. Weicker Jr. | Republican | 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Lowell Weicker (Republican) 50.4% Toby Moffett (Democratic) 46.1% Lucien DiFazio (Conservative) 2.8% James A. Lewis (Libertarian) 0.7% |
Delaware | William Roth | Republican | 1970 1971 (Appointed) 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Bill Roth (Republican) 55.2% David N. Levinson (Democratic) 44.2% |
Florida | Lawton Chiles | Democratic | 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Lawton Chiles (Democratic) 61.7% Van B. Poole (Republican) 38.3% |
Hawaii | Spark Matsunaga | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Spark Matsunaga (Democratic) 80.1% Clarence J. Brown (Republican) 17.0% E. Bernier-Nachtwey (Independent) 2.9% |
Indiana | Richard Lugar | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Richard Lugar (Republican) 53.8% Floyd Fithian (Democratic) 45.6% Raymond James (American) 0.6% |
Maine | George J. Mitchell | Democratic | 1980 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected. | √ George Mitchell (Democratic) 60.9% David F. Emery (Republican) 39.1% |
Maryland | Paul Sarbanes | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Paul Sarbanes (Democratic) 63.5% Lawrence Hogan (Republican) 36.5% |
Massachusetts | Ted Kennedy | Democratic | 1962 (Special) 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Ted Kennedy (Democratic) 60.8% Ray Shamie (Republican) 38.3% Howard S. Katz (Libertarian) 0.9% |
Michigan | Donald W. Riegle Jr. | Democratic | 1976 1976 (Appointed) |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Don Riegle (Democratic) 57.7% Philip Ruppe (Republican) 40.9% |
Minnesota | David Durenberger | Republican | 1978 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected. | √ David Durenberger (Republican) 52.6% Mark Dayton (Democratic) 46.6% |
Mississippi | John C. Stennis | Democratic | 1947 (Special) 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ John C. Stennis (Democratic) 64.2% Haley Barbour (Republican) 35.8% |
Missouri | John Danforth | Republican | 1976 1976 (Appointed) |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ John Danforth (Republican) 50.8% Harriett Woods (Democratic) 49.1% |
Montana | John Melcher | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ John Melcher (Democratic) 54.4% Larry R. Williams (Republican) 41.7% Larry Dodge (Libertarian) 3.9% |
Nebraska | Edward Zorinsky | Democratic | 1976 1976 (Appointed) |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Edward Zorinsky (Democratic) 66.6% Jim Keck (Republican) 28.5% Virginia Walsh (Independent) 4.9% |
Nevada | Howard Cannon | Democratic | 1958 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Chic Hecht (Republican) 50.1% Howard Cannon (Democratic) 47.7% |
New Jersey | Nicholas F. Brady | Republican | 1982 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Incumbent resigned December 20, 1976 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed December 27, 1976. |
√ Frank Lautenberg (Democratic) 50.9% Millicent Fenwick (Republican) 47.8% |
New Mexico | Harrison Schmitt | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
√ Jeff Bingaman (Democratic) 53.8% Harrison Schmitt (Republican) 46.2% |
New York | Daniel Patrick Moynihan | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Daniel P. Moynihan (Democratic) 65.1% Florence M. Sullivan (Republican) 34.2% |
North Dakota | Quentin N. Burdick | Democratic | 1960 (Special) 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Quentin N. Burdick (Democratic) 62.8% Gene Knorr (Republican) 34.0% Anna B. Bourgois (Independent) 3.1% |
Ohio | Howard Metzenbaum | Democratic | 1974 (Appointed) 1974 (Lost) 1974 (Resigned) 1976 1976 (Appointed) |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Howard Metzenbaum (Democratic) 56.7% Paul E. Pfeifer (Republican) 41.1% |
Pennsylvania | H. John Heinz III | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ H. John Heinz III (Republican) 59.3% Cyril Wecht (Democratic) 39.2% |
Rhode Island | John Chafee | Republican | 1976 1976 (Appointed) |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ John Chafee (Republican) 51.2% Julius C. Michaelson (Democratic) 48.8% |
Tennessee | Jim Sasser | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Jim Sasser (Democratic) 61.9% Robin Beard (Republican) 38.1% |
Texas | Lloyd Bentsen | Democratic | 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Lloyd Bentsen (Democratic) 58.6% James M. Collins (Republican) 40.5% |
Utah | Orrin Hatch | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Orrin G. Hatch (Republican) 58.3% Ted Wilson (Democratic) 41.3% George Mercier (Libertarian) 0.2% Lawrence R Kauffman (American) 0.2% |
Vermont | Robert Stafford | Republican | 1971 (Appointed) 1972 (Special) 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Robert Stafford (Republican) 50.3% James A. Guest (Democratic) 47.2% |
Virginia | Harry F. Byrd Jr. | Independent | 1933 (Appointed) 1933 (Special) 1934 1940 1946 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Paul Trible (Republican) 51.2% Dick Davis (Democratic) 48.8% |
Washington | Henry M. Jackson | Democratic | 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Henry M. Jackson (Democratic) 68.9% Doug Jewett (Republican) 24.3% King Lysen (Independent) 5.3% Jesse Chiang (Libertarian) 1.5% |
West Virginia | Robert Byrd | Democratic | 1958 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Robert Byrd (Democratic) 68.5% Cleve Benedict (Republican) 30.8% William B. Howland (Socialist Workers) 0.7% |
Wisconsin | William Proxmire | Democratic | 1957 (Special) 1958 1964 1970 1976 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ E. William Proxmire (Democratic) 63.6% Scott McCallum (Republican) 34.1% |
Wyoming | Malcolm Wallop | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Malcolm Wallop (Republican) 56.7% Rodger McDaniel (Democratic) 43.3% |
Special election during the 98th Congress
In this special election, the winner was elected after January 3, 1983.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Washington (Class 1) |
Daniel J. Evans | Republican | 1983 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 3, 1983. | √ Daniel J. Evans (Republican) 55.4% Mike Lowry (Democratic) 44.6% |
Arizona
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
U.S. Senate election results map. Blue denotes counties won by DeConcini. Red denotes those won by Dunn. | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Dennis DeConcini won re-election to a second term over Republican Pete Dunn, State Representative.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dennis DeConcini (Incumbent) | 411,970 | 56.91% | +2.90% | |
Republican | Peter Dunn | 291,749 | 40.30% | -3.04% | |
Libertarian | Randall Clamons | 20,100 | 2.78% | +1.79% | |
Write-ins | 66 | 0.01% | |||
Majority | 120,221 | 16.61% | +5.94% | ||
Turnout | 723,885 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing |
California
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican S. I. Hayakawa decided to retire after one term. Republican Pete Wilson, Mayor of San Diego and former Assemblyman, won the open seat over Democratic Governor Jerry Brown.
Wilson was known as a fiscal conservative who supported Proposition 13, although Wilson had opposed the measure while mayor of San Diego. However, Brown ran on his gubernatorial record of building the largest state budget surpluses in California history. Both Wilson and Brown were moderate-to-liberal on social issues, including support for abortion rights. The election was expected to be close, with Brown holding a slim lead in most of the polls leading up to Election Day. Wilson hammered away at Brown's appointment of California Chief Justice Rose Bird, using this to portray himself as tougher on crime than Brown was. Brown's late entry into the 1980 Democratic presidential primary, after promising not to run, was also an issue. President Ronald Reagan made a number of visits to California late in the race to campaign for Wilson. Reagan quipped that the last thing he wanted to see was one of his home state's U.S. Senate seats falling into Democrats' hands, especially to be occupied by the man who succeeded him as governor. Despite exit polls indicating a narrow Brown victory, Wilson won by a wide margin.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Pete Wilson | 4,022,565 | 51.5% | |
Democratic | Jerry Brown | 3,494,968 | 44.8% | |
Libertarian | Joseph Fuhrig | 107,720 | 1.4% | |
Peace and Freedom | David Wald | 96,388 | 1.2% | |
American Independent | Theresa Dietrich | 83,809 | 1.1% | |
Independent | Thomas Kendall (Write In) | 36 | 0.0% | |
Independent | Ben Leonik (Write In) | 34 | 0.0% |
Connecticut
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. won re-election to a third term over Democratic Congressman Toby Moffett.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lowell Weicker (Incumbent) | 545,987 | 50.4% | |
Democratic | Toby Moffett | 499,146 | 46.1% | |
Conservative | Lucien DiFazio | 30,212 | 2.8% | |
Libertarian | James Lewis | 8,163 | 0.8% |
Delaware
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican Bill V. Roth won reelection to a third term over the state's Democratic Insurance Commissioner David N. Levinson.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bill V. Roth (Incumbent) | 105,357 | 55.17% | -0.64% | |
Democratic | David N. Levinson | 84,413 | 44.20% | +0.59% | |
Libertarian | Lawrence Sullivan | 653 | 0.34% | ||
American Independent | Charles Baker | 537 | 0.28% | -0.01% | |
Majority | 20,944 | 10.97% | -1.23% | ||
Turnout | 190,960 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing |
Florida
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Lawton Chiles won re-election to a third term over Republican state senator Van B. Poole.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lawton Chiles | 1,044,246 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Van B. Poole | 154,163 | 41.57 | |
Republican | David H. Bludworth | 116,040 | 31.29 | |
Republican | George Snyder | 100,609 | 27.13 | |
Total votes | 370,812 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Van B. Poole | 131,655 | 58.08 | |
Republican | David H. Bludworth | 95,035 | 41.92 | |
Total votes | 226,690 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lawton Chiles | 1,637,667 | 61.72% | -1.26% | |
Republican | Van B. Poole | 1,015,330 | 38.26% | +1.24% | |
Write-ins | 422 | 0.02% | |||
Majority | 622,337 | 23.45% | -2.50% | ||
Total votes | 2,653,419 | 100 | |||
Democratic hold | Swing |
Hawaii
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Spark Matsunaga won re-election to a second term[6] over Republican Clarence Brown, a retired Foreign Service officer[7]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Spark Matsunaga (Incumbent) | 245,386 | 80.1% | |
Republican | Clarence Brown | 52,071 | 17.0% | |
Independent Democrat | E. Bernier-Nachtwey | 8,953 | 2.9% |
Indiana
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican Richard Lugar faced Democratic United States Representative Floyd Fithian in the general election. Lugar won with a margin of 54% of the vote, compared to Fithian's 46%.
After the 1980 Census, the Indiana General Assembly redistricted Indiana's congressional districts, pushing Democratic representative Floyd Fithian's district into more conservative territory.[9] After redistricting, Fithian, the three term incumbent of Indiana's 2nd congressional district, decided to run for Secretary of State of Indiana, but withdrew from the primary to ultimately run for the United States Senate.[10] He challenged fellow Democrat and one term Indiana State Senator Michael Kendall of Jasper, Indiana, who Fithian earlier encouraged to run for the Senate.[11] Kendall, who represented Indiana's 47th Senate district and formed the Notre Dame Students for Robert Kennedy organization during the 1968 presidential election,[12] was seen a young progressive alternative to Fithian, who he called the "ideological twin of Richard Lugar."[13] After the bitterly contested primary, Fithian prevailed over Kendall, winning with 59% of the vote.[14]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Floyd Fithian | 262,644 | 59.51 | |
Democratic | Michael Kendall | 178,702 | 40.49 | |
Total votes | 441,346 | 100 |
Incumbent United States Senator Richard Lugar won the republican nomination in an uncontested primary on May 4, 1982.[15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Richard Lugar (Incumbent) | 498,248 | 100 | |
Total votes | 498,248 |
In the general election, Lugar faced Fithian and American Party candidate Raymond James.[1]
On November 5, 1982, Lugar defeated Fithian and James in the general election, winning 74 of Indiana's 93 counties.[16]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Richard Lugar (Incumbent) | 978,301 | 53.83 | |
Democratic | Floyd Fithian | 828,400 | 45.58 | |
American | Raymond James | 0.58 |
Maine
Maryland
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Paul Sarbanes won re-election to a second term in office. He defeated the Republican former Representative from Maryland's 5th district and Prince George's County Executive Lawrence Hogan.[17]
Massachusetts
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Results by town. Red indicates towns carried by Ray Shamie, blue indicates towns carried by Ted Kennedy. | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Ted Kennedy won re-election to his fourth full term over Republican Ray Shamie, a millionaire businessman and metalwork entrepreneur.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ted Kennedy (Incumbent) | 1,247,084 | 60.81 | -8.50 | |
Republican | Ray Shamie | 784,602 | 38.26 | +9.25 | |
Libertarian | Howard S. Katz | 18,878 | 0.92 | +0.92 | |
All others | 205 | 0.01 | +0.00 | ||
Total votes | 2,050,769 | 70.26% |
Michigan
Minnesota
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican David Durenberger won re-election to his first full term over Democratic businessman Mark Dayton.[18]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Mark Dayton | 359,014 | 69.06 | |
Democratic | Eugene McCarthy | 125,229 | 24.09 | |
Democratic | Charles E. Pearson | 19,855 | 3.82 | |
Democratic | William A. Branstner | 15,754 | 3.03 |
Dayton, 35, self-financed his campaign. Married to a Rockefeller and heir to a department store, his net worth was an estimated $30 million. Durenberger, who in 1978 and won the special election to finish the term of the late Hubert Humphrey, was largely unknown. He was considered a moderate, but supported Reagan's tax cuts. Dayton ran against Reaganomics. He has also campaigned against tax breaks for the wealthy and even promised "to close tax loopholes for the rich and the corporations—and if you think that includes the Daytons, you're right."[19] By the end of September, the senate election already became the most expensive election of all-time, with over $8 million being spent. Dayton spent over $5 million,[20] while Durenberger spent over $2 million.[21]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Durenberger | 949,207 | 52.60 | |
Democratic | Mark Dayton | 840,401 | 46.57 | |
Socialist Workers | Bill Onasch | 5,897 | 0.33 | |
Libertarian | Frederick Hewitt | 5,870 | 0.33 | |
New Union Party | Jeffrey M. Miller | 3,300 | 0.18 | |
Majority | 108,806 | 6.03 | ||
Turnout | 1,804,675 |
Mississippi
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat John C. Stennis won re-election to his seventh term over Republican Haley Barbour, apolitical operative who campaigned for U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Stennis (Incumbent) | 414,099 | 64.2 | |
Republican | Haley Barbour | 230,927 | 35.8 |
Missouri
Montana
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent John Melcher, who was first elected to the Senate in 1976, opted to run for re-election. He won the Democratic primary after he faced a tough intraparty challenger, and advanced to the general election, where he faced Larry R. Williams, an author and the Republican nominee, and Larry Dodge, the Libertarian nominee. Though his margin was reduced significantly from his initial election, Melcher still comfortably won re-election to his second and final term in the Senate.
During his first term in the Senate, Melcher's relative conservatism for a Democrat prompted a primary challenger in Michael Bond, a housing contractor who campaigned on his opposition to nuclear war. Bond attacked Melcher for voting to increase spending on nuclear arms, and pledged to reduce military spending to $60 billion and to use the savings to reduce interest rates.[23] During the campaign, Bond came under fire from the state branches of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans for turning in his draft card in 1967 to protest the Vietnam War, who put out a statement, saying, "There is no place in the U.S. Senate for any draft dodger, draft card burner or draft protester of any kind."[24]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jack Melcher (inc.) | 83,539 | 68.27 | |
Democratic | Mike Bond | 33,565 | 27.43 | |
Total votes | 122,369 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Larry Williams | 49,615 | 88.11 | |
Republican | Willie Dee Morris | 6,696 | 11.89 | |
Total votes | 56,311 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Melcher (Incumbent) | 174,861 | 54.46% | -9.69% | |
Republican | Larry Williams | 133,789 | 41.67% | +5.83% | |
Libertarian | Larry Dodge | 12,412 | 3.87% | ||
Majority | 41,072 | 12.79% | -15.52% | ||
Turnout | 321,062 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing |
Nebraska
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Edward Zorinsky won re-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Edward Zorinsky | 363,350 (66.59%) | 66.59% | |
Republican | Jim Keck | 155,760 | 28.55% | |
Independent | Virginia Walsh | 26,443 | 4.85% | |
Majority | ||||
Turnout |
Nevada
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
U.S. Senate election results map. Red denotes those won by Hecht. Blue denotes counties won by Cannon.
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Howard Cannon ran for re-election to a fifth term, but lost to Republican State Senator Chic Hecht.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Chic Hecht | 120,377 | 50.1 | ||
Democratic | Howard Cannon | 114,720 | 47.7 | ||
None of These Candidates | 5,297 | 2.2 | ? |
New Jersey
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Democrat Frank Lautenberg won for the seat held by retiring incumbent Republican Senator Nicholas Brady. Lautenberg won the seat with a margin of 3.19% over Congressperson Millicent Fenwick.
Cresitello dropped out of the race on May 27 but remained on the June 8 primary ballot.[27]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank Lautenberg | 104,666 | 25.97 | |
Democratic | Andrew Maguire | 92,878 | 23.05 | |
Democratic | Joseph A. LeFante | 81,440 | 20.21 | |
Democratic | Barbara Boggs Sigmund | 45,708 | 11.34 | |
Democratic | Howard Rosen | 28,427 | 7.05 | |
Democratic | Angelo Bianchi | 17,684 | 4.39 | |
Democratic | Cyril Yannarelli | 10,188 | 2.53 | |
Democratic | Frank Forst | 9,563 | 2.37 | |
Democratic | Richard D. McAleer | 8,110 | 2.01 | |
Democratic | Donald Cresitello | 4,295 | 1.07 | |
Total votes | 402,959 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Millicent Fenwick | 193,683 | 54.28 | |
Republican | Jeff Bell | 163,145 | 45.72 | |
Total votes | 356,828 | 100.00 |
The seat had been occupied by Democrat Harrison A. Williams, who resigned on March 11, 1982, after being implicated in the Abscam scandal. After Williams' resignation, Republican Governor Thomas Kean appointed Republican Nicholas F. Brady to the seat. Brady served in the Senate through the primary and general elections but did not run for the seat himself.
In the general election, Lautenberg faced popular Republican congresswoman Millicent Fenwick. She ran on a very progressive platform and polls in the Summer of 1982 put her ahead by 18 points. Even Lautenberg quipped that she was "the most popular candidate in the country."[29] Lautenberg spent more of his own money, eventually out-spending Fenwick two-to-one. He emphasised President Reagan's unpopularity, reminded the voters that she would be a vote for a Republican majority in the Senate and called Fenwick, who was 72, "eccentric" and "erratic" but denied that he was referring to her age.[29][30] He did however point out that she would be almost 80 at the end of her first term and was therefore unlikely to gain much seniority in the Senate.[29] Coincidentally, the age issue would be used against Lautenberg in his own re-election bid in 2008.
Lautenberg won by 51% to 48%, in what was considered a major upset.[29] Brady, who had just a few days left in his appointed term, resigned on December 27, 1982, allowing Lautenberg to take office several days before the traditional swearing-in of senators, which gave him an edge in seniority over the other freshman senators.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank Lautenberg | 1,117,549 | 50.94% | ||
Republican | Millicent Fenwick | 1,047,626 | 47.75% | ||
Libertarian | Henry Koch | 9,934 | 0.45% | ||
Socialist Labor | Julius Levin | 5,580 | 0.25% | ||
Independent | Martin E. Wendelken | 4,745 | 0.22% | ||
Socialist Workers | Claire Moriarty | 3,726 | 0.17% | ||
Grassroots | Robert T. Bastien | 2,955 | 0.14% | ||
Repeal TF 807 | Rose Zeidwerg Monyek | 1,830 | 0.08% | ||
Turnout | 2,193,945 | 100.00% | |||
Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
New Mexico
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County Results | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican Harrison Schmitt was running for re-election to a second term, but lost to Democrat Jeff Bingaman, Attorney General of New Mexico.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jeff Bingaman | 217,682 | 53.77% | +11.07% | |
Republican | Harrison Schmitt (Incumbent) | 187,128 | 46.23% | -10.59% | |
Majority | 30,554 | 7.55% | -6.57% | ||
Turnout | 404,810 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
New York
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan won re-election to a second term over Republican Assemblywoman Florence Sullivan.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Daniel Patrick Moynihan (Incumbent) | 3,232,146 | 65.1 | |
Republican | Florence Sullivan | 1,696,766 | 34.2 | |
Libertarian | James J. McKeown | 23,379 | 0.5 | |
Socialist Workers | Steven Wattenmaker | 15,206 | 0.5 |
North Dakota
The incumbent, North Dakota Democratic NPL Party (Dem-NPL) Quentin Burdick, sought and received re-election to his fifth term, defeating Republican candidate Gene Knorr.[1]
Only Burdick filed as a Dem-NPLer, and the endorsed Republican candidate was cattle rancher Gene Knorr. Burdick and Knorr won the primary elections for their respective parties. Burdick's campaign was known for employing more television advertisement spending when compared with his campaigns in the past, as well as making several negative portrayals. Knorr had the support of Vice President George H. W. Bush, who campaigned in state to support his candidacy. The election was also noted as the first where Burdick's age began to become an issue. Burdick, who was 74 during the year of the election, faced a much younger Knorr, who was 41. At one point, Burdick challenged Knorr to a fistfight to prove his vitality; but the challenge, assumed to be a joke, never occurred. After being defeated, Knorr moved to Washington, D.C., where he took the position of staff vice president with Philip Morris International.
One independent candidate, Anna B. Bourgois, also filed before the deadline, running under her self-created party titled God, Family, and Country. Bourgois would later run for North Dakota's other United States Senate seat as an independent in 1986, challenging Mark Andrews. She received over 8,000 votes in the election, which is rather high for an independent. Some attribute her large number of votes to the name of her party – which was based on things that North Dakotans valued. Despite the result, Bourgois' campaign still had little impact on the outcome.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Quentin Burdick (Incumbent) | 164,873 | 62.84 | |
Republican | Gene Knorr | 89,304 | 34.03 | |
Independent | Anna B. Bourgois | 8,288 | 3.13 | |
Majority | ||||
Turnout | 262,465 |
Prior to the 1982 Senate campaign, Knorr had been working in Washington, DC since 1970 when he worked for the Department of Treasury. He began working in Washington, DC, residing in McLean, Virginia after receiving a Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University where he was celebrated in debate. From Treasury, he worked as a lobbyist with Charls E. Walker Associates.
Ohio
Pennsylvania
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican H. John Heinz III successfully sought re-election to another term, defeating Democratic nominee Cyril Wecht, member of the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners.
John Heinz's Democratic opponent in the 1982 election was Allegheny County commissioner and former coroner Cyril Wecht, who lacked significant name recognition outside of Pittsburgh, his home town. Although the 1982 elections were a setback nationally for incumbent President Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party, neither Heinz nor incumbent Republican governor Dick Thornburgh, who was also up for re-election in 1982, were challenged by Democrats with statewide prominence. Wecht ran a low-budget campaign lacking the assets to boost his name recognition; the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a headline dubbing the race "The Race for Senator No One Seemed to Notice."[33] Despite this, Heinz ran a cautious campaign, running as a moderate due to Pennsylvania's unemployment, 11%, one of the highest in the nation at the time, as well as the declining health of Pennsylvania's coal mining, manufacturing and steel industries. In the end, Heinz won the election by a wide margin, winning 59.3% of the popular vote. Wecht won 39.2% of the popular vote.[33]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | H. John Heinz III (Incumbent) | 2,136,418 | 59.28% | +6.89% | |
Democratic | Cyril Wecht | 1,412,965 | 39.20% | -7.59% | |
Libertarian | Barbara I. Karkutt | 19,244 | 0.53% | +0.53% | |
Socialist Workers | William H. Thomas | 18,951 | 0.53 | +0.41% | |
Consumer | Liane Norman | 16,530 | 0.46% | +0.46% | |
Majority | 723,453 | 20.08% | +14.48% | ||
Totals | 3,604,108 | 100.00% | align="right" |
Rhode Island
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results | |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican John Chafee successfully sought re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Julius C. Michaelson, former Attorney General of Rhode Island.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Julius C. Michaelson | 56,800 | 82.37 | |
Democratic | Helen E. Flynn | 12,159 | 17.63 | |
Majority | 44,641 | 64.74% | ||
Total votes | 68,959 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John Chafee | 175,495 | 51.20 | |
Democratic | Julius C. Michaelson | 167,283 | 48.80 | |
Majority | 8,212 | 2.40% | ||
Total votes | 342,778 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold |
Tennessee
Democrat Jim Sasser was re-elected with 61.9% over Republican Robin Beard, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Texas
Utah
Vermont
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican Robert Stafford successfully ran for re-election to another term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic candidate James A. Guest.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert Stafford (Incumbent) | 26,323 | 46.2 | |
Republican | Stewart M. Ledbetter | 19,743 | 34.7 | |
Republican | John McClaughry | 10,692 | 18.8 | |
Republican | Other | 162 | 0.3 | |
Total votes | '65,920' | '100' |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | James A. Guest | 11,352 | 67.1 | |
Democratic | Thomas E. McGregor | 3,749 | 22.2 | |
Democratic | Earl S. Gardner | 1,281 | 7.6 | |
Democratic | Other | 536 | 3.2 | |
Total votes | '16,918' | '100' |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert Stafford (Incumbent) | 84,450 | 50.3 | |
Democratic | James A. Guest | 79,340 | 47.2 | |
Independent | Michael Edward Hackett | 1,463 | 1.0 | |
Independent | Ion Laskaris | 897 | 0.5 | |
Libertarian | Bo Adlerbert | 892 | 0.5 | |
N/A | Other | 961 | 0.6 | |
Total votes | '168,003' | '100' |
Virginia
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 35.7% (voting eligible)[38] | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||
U.S. Senate election results map. Red denotes counties/districts won by Trible. Blue denotes those won by Davis. | |||||||||||||||||
|
U.S. Representative from Virginia's 1st district, Paul Trible replaced Independent Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr., who was stepping down after three terms. He beat Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Richard Joseph Davis.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Paul Trible | 724,571 | 51.18% | +51.18% | |
Democratic | Dick Davis | 690,839 | 48.80% | +10.53% | |
Write-ins | 212 | 0.01% | |||
Majority | 33,732 | 2.38% | -16.55% | ||
Turnout | 1,415,622 | ||||
Republican gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Washington
Washington (Special)
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results | |||||||||||||||||
|
There was a special election to fill the seat which had been held by longtime Senator Henry Jackson. Daniel J. Evans, who had been appointed by Governor John Spellman, won the special election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Daniel Evans | 672,326 | 55.41 | |
Democratic | Mike Lowry | 540,981 | 44.59 |
West Virginia
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Robert Byrd won re-election to a fifth term over Republican Cleve Benedict, a freshman congressman.
Benedict made great note of Byrd's record of high office in the Ku Klux Klan, his avoidance of service in World War II, and the fact that Byrd, then alone among members of Congress, owned no home in the state he represented. His campaign represented the last serious and well-funded effort to unseat Byrd, spending $1,098,218. Byrd was Minority Leader at the time.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Robert Byrd (Incumbent) | 387,170 | 68.5% | |
Republican | Cleve Benedict | 173,910 | 30.8% |
Wisconsin
Wyoming
See also
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1983). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1982" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office.
- ↑ "CA US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "CT US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "HI US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1988". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ↑ "HI US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Floyd Fithian, 76; Congressman, Farmer, Purdue Professor". latimes.com. July 4, 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Floyd James Fithian Commander, United States Navy Member of Congress". arlingtoncemetery.net. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ Associated Press (May 5, 1982). "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade. news.google.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ Ray E. Boomhower (February 27, 2008). Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary. Indiana University Press. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. May 5, 1982. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ "IN US Senate- D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. June 13, 2005. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ Monica Davey (April 17, 2012). "Once Every 36 Years, Primary Fight for Indiana Senator". nytimes.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ "IN US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. June 15, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1982/federalelections82.pdf
- ↑ "MN US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Senators: Questions About Campaign Spending". TIME. 1982-09-27. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Lodi News-Sentinel - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ↑ "The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ↑ "MS US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Melcher Faces Difficult Test in Montana's Senate Primary". The New York Times. June 6, 1982. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Vets ask draft-protesting candidate to call it quits". The Spokesman-Review. May 31, 1982. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 1, 1976". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ↑ "NV US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ↑ "Cresitello Quits Jersey Senate Race". The New York Times. May 28, 1982. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
TRENTON, May 27— Former Mayor Donald Cresitello of Morristown withdrew today from the race for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator and endorsed former Representative Joseph A. LeFante of Bayonne.
- 1 2 "Republican and Democratic Candidates for the Office of United States Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1982. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Kornacki, Steve (January 14, 2013). "When Lautenberg's Age Met Booker's Ambition: An Elegy for the Swamp Dog". Capital New York. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ↑ Arnold, Laurence (June 3, 2013). "Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senator From New Jersey, Dies at 89". Bloomberg News. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Votes Cast for the Office of United States Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1982. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ↑ "NY US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- 1 2 Sundquist, Renée M. Lamis ; with a foreword by James L. (2009). The realignment of Pennsylvania politics since 1960 : two-party competition in a battleground state. University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State University Press. p. 109. ISBN 027103419X.
- ↑ "RI US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- ↑ "RI US Senate". OurCampaigns. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- 1 2 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ↑ "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ↑ Dr. Michael McDonald (March 25, 2013). "Turnout 1980-2012". George Mason University. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ↑ 40229Olympia, Contact Us Washington Secretary of StateElections Division520 Union Ave SEPO Box; Policy, WA 98504-0229902-4180 Privacy. "Election Search Results - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State". Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ↑ "WV US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 8, 2013.