1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

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.

1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1992
November 3, 1998
2004 →
 
Nominee Russ Feingold Mark Neumann
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 890,059 852,272
Percentage 50.55% 48.40%

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

General election

Candidates

  • Tom Ender (Libertarian)
  • Russ Feingold, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
  • Eugene A. Hem, former educator (Independent)
  • Mark Neumann, U.S. Representative from Milton (Republican)
  • Robert R. Raymond (U.S. Taxpayers)

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. 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.

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Russ
Feingold (D)
Mark
Neumann (R)
Undecided
Market Shares Corporation October 21–24, 1998 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 43% 11%
St. Norbert College Survey Center October 8–20, 1998 415 (LV) ± 4.8% 47% 40% 13%
St. Norbert College Survey Center October 8–20, 1998 415 (LV) ± 4.8% 47% 40% 13%
Journal Sentinel Research
and Public Policy Forum
October 2–9, 1998 314 (LV) ± 6.0% 50% 43% 7%
WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal August 7–26, 1998 271 (LV) ± 5.9% 54% 30% 16%
Louis Harris & Associates July 7–18, 1998 1,000 (A) ± 3.0% 49% 30% 21%
WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal May, 1998 403 (A) ± 5.0% 42% 31% 27%
St. Norbert College Survey Center February 17 – March 24, 1998 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 65% 23% 12%
Journal Sentinel Research
and Public Policy Forum
February, 1998 497 (LV) ± 4.5% 56% 29% 15%
St. Norbert College Survey Center Fall, 1997 417 (LV) ± 5.0% 51% 29% 20%

Results

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russ Feingold (incumbent) 890,059 50.55%
Republican Mark Neumann 852,272 48.40%
U.S. Taxpayers Robert R. Raymond 7,942 0.45%
Libertarian Tom Ender 5,591 0.32%
Independent Eugene A. Hem 4,266 0.24%
Write-in 706 0.04%
Total votes 1,760,836 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

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