United States Senate election, 1996

United States Senate elections, 1996

← 1994 November 5, 1996 1998 →
Class 2 (33 of the 100) seats in the United States Senate and one mid-term vacancy from Class 3 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Trent Lott Tom Daschle Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Mississippi South Dakota Last election 52 seats 48 seats Seats before 53 47 Seats won 55 45 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 24,211,395 23,490,651 Percentage 49.4% 47.9% Swing 0.5% 3.9% Seats up 19 15
Democratic gain   Democratic hold   Republican hold   Republican gain
Majority Leader before election Trent Lott Republican Elected Majority Leader Trent Lott Republican

Trent Lott
Republican

Trent Lott
Republican

The United States Senate elections, 1996 coincided with the presidential election, in which Democrat Bill Clinton was re-elected President.

Despite the re-election of Clinton and Gore, and despite Democrats picking up a net two seats in the elections to the United States House of Representatives held the same day, the Republicans had a net gain of two seats in the Senate, following major Republican gains two years previously in the 1994 elections. As such, Clinton became the first president re-elected since Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 to win either of his terms without any Senate coattails.

The Republicans captured open seats in Alabama, Arkansas, and Nebraska. In South Dakota, Democrat Tim Johnson narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Larry Pressler.

The 1996 election marked the first time since 1980 that the Republican party made gains in the Senate for at least two consecutive election cycles.

Notable freshmen included future United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Does not include Oregon's January 1996 special election, which was not held at the same time as this election.

Sources:

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Wikipedia