# 1994 United States Senate elections

The 1994 United States Senate elections were held November 8, 1994, with the 33 seats of Class 1 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. The Republican Party took control of the Senate from the Democrats. Like for most other midterm elections, the opposition, this time being the Republicans, held the traditional advantage. The congressional Republicans campaigned against the early presidency of Bill Clinton, including his unsuccessful healthcare plan. Democrats held a 56–44 majority, after having lost a seat in Texas in a 1993 special election.
The Republicans successfully defended all of their seats and won 8 from the Democrats by defeating the incumbent Senators Harris Wofford (Pennsylvania) and Jim Sasser (Tennessee), in addition to picking 6 open seats up in Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Notably, since Sasser's defeat coincided with a Republican victory in the special election to replace Al Gore, Tennessee's Senate delegation switched from entirely Democratic to entirely Republican in a single election. That would not happen again until 2021, when the Democrats flipped Georgia's delegation in the state's regularly-scheduled and special Senate elections.
The elections marked the first time Republicans controlled the Senate since January 1987 and coincided with the first change of control in the House of Representatives since January 1955 and a Republican net gain of 10 governorships. Furthermore, this was the first popular election in which Republicans won all Senate seats up in the Deep South. Collectively, the Republican gains are known as the Republican Revolution. Minority leader Robert J. Dole became Majority Leader, and on the Democratic side, Tom Daschle became Minority Leader after the retirement of the previous Democratic leader, George J. Mitchell. It was also the first time since 1980 that Republicans made net gains in the Senate but the last time until 2018 the Republicans also made gains among Class 1 senators.
Initially, the balance was 52–48 in favor of the Republicans, but after the power change, Democrats Richard Shelby and Ben Nighthorse Campbell switched parties and brought the balance to 54–46. Democrat Ron Wyden won a 1996 special election to replace Republican Bob Packwood, which left the balance at 53–47 before the next election cycle. As of 2023, it is the last election cycle in which Republicans won Senate elections in Delaware, Michigan, and Washington. These are also the most recent elections from which none of the first-term senators elected remain serving in the Senate as of 2025.

## Results summary

| 48 | 52 |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Parties | Parties | | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Republican | Libertarian | Other | Total |
| Last elections (1992) | Last elections (1992) | 57 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Before these elections | Before these elections | 56 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Not up | Not up | 34 | 31 | — | — | 65 |
| Up | Up | 22 | 13 | — | — | 35 |
| | Class 1 (1988→1994) | 20 | 13 | — | — | 33 |
| | Special: Class 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 6 | 3 | — | — | 9 |
| | Held by same party | 0 | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| | Replaced by other party | 6 Democrats replaced by 6 Republicans | 6 Democrats replaced by 6 Republicans | — | — | 6 |
| | Result | 0 | 9 | — | — | 9 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 16 | 10 | — | — | 26 |
| | Won re-election | 14 | 10 | — | — | 24 |
| | Lost re-election | 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | — | — | 2 |
| | Lost renomination, but held by same party | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 |
| | Result | 14 | 12 | — | — | 26 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Net gain/loss | Net gain/loss | 8 | 8 | | | 8 |
| Nationwide vote | Nationwide vote | 25,627,430 | 29,155,739 | 666,183 | 2,838,559 | 58,287,911 |
| | Share | 43.97% | 50.02% | 1.14% | 4.87% | 100% |
| Result | Result | 48 | 52 | — | — | 100 |
Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

## Change in composition
### Before the elections

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ Md. Ran | D$_{39}$ Maine Retired | D$_{38}$ Hawaii Ran | D$_{37}$ Conn. Ran | D$_{36}$ Calif. Ran | D$_{35}$ Ariz. Retired | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ Mass. Ran | D$_{42}$ Mich. Retired | D$_{43}$ Neb. Ran | D$_{44}$ Nev. Ran | D$_{45}$ N.J. Ran | D$_{46}$ N.M. Ran | D$_{47}$ N.Y. Ran | D$_{48}$ N.D. Ran | D$_{49}$ Ohio Retired | D$_{50}$ Okla. (sp) Resigned |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{51}$ Pa. Ran |
| R$_{41}$ Utah Ran | R$_{42}$ Vt. Ran | R$_{43}$ Wash. Ran | R$_{44}$ Wyo. Retired | D$_{56}$ Wisc. Ran | D$_{55}$ W.Va. Ran | D$_{54}$ Va. Ran | D$_{53}$ Tenn. (sp) Retired | D$_{52}$ Tenn. (reg) Ran | D$_{51}$ Pa. Ran |
| R$_{40}$ Texas Ran | R$_{39}$ R.I. Ran | R$_{38}$ Mont. Ran | R$_{37}$ Mo. Retired | R$_{36}$ Miss. Ran | R$_{35}$ Minn. Retired | R$_{34}$ Indiana Ran | R$_{33}$ Fla. Ran | R$_{32}$ Del. Ran | R$_{31}$ |
| R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ |
| R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |

### After the elections

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ Neb. Re-elected | D$_{39}$ Mass. Re-elected | D$_{38}$ Md. Re-elected | D$_{37}$ Hawaii Re-elected | D$_{36}$ Conn. Re-elected | D$_{35}$ Calif. Re-elected | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ Nev. Re-elected | D$_{42}$ N.J. Re-elected | D$_{43}$ N.M. Re-elected | D$_{44}$ N.Y. Re-elected | D$_{45}$ N.D. Re-elected | D$_{46}$ Va. Re-elected | D$_{47}$ W.Va. Re-elected | D$_{48}$ Wis. Re-elected | R$_{52}$ Tenn. (sp) Gain | R$_{51}$ Tenn. (reg) Gain |
| R$_{51}$ Tenn. (reg) Gain |||||||||
| R$_{41}$ Utah Re-elected | R$_{42}$ Vt. Re-elected | R$_{43}$ Wash. Re-elected | R$_{44}$ Wyo. Hold | R$_{45}$ Ariz. Gain | R$_{46}$ Maine Gain | R$_{47}$ Mich. Gain | R$_{48}$ Ohio Gain | R$_{49}$ Okla. (sp) Gain | R$_{50}$ Pa. Gain |
| R$_{40}$ Texas Re-elected | R$_{39}$ R.I. Re-elected | R$_{38}$ Mont. Re-elected | R$_{37}$ Mo. Hold | R$_{36}$ Miss. Re-elected | R$_{35}$ Minn. Hold | R$_{34}$ Indiana Re-elected | R$_{33}$ Fla. Re-elected | R$_{32}$ Del. Re-elected | R$_{31}$ |
| R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ |
| R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ | D$_{39}$ | D$_{38}$ | D$_{37}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ | D$_{42}$ | D$_{43}$ | D$_{44}$ | D$_{45}$ | D$_{46}$ | R$_{54}$ Colo. Changed | R$_{53}$ Ala. Changed | R$_{52}$ | R$_{51}$ |
| R$_{51}$ |||||||||
| R$_{41}$ | R$_{42}$ | R$_{43}$ | R$_{44}$ | R$_{45}$ | R$_{46}$ | R$_{47}$ | R$_{48}$ | R$_{49}$ | R$_{50}$ |
| R$_{40}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{38}$ | R$_{37}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ |
| R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ |
| R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |
| Key | D$_#$ Democratic R$_#$ Republican |

## Gains and losses
### Retirements

Three Republicans and four Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election. Additionally, one Democrat also retired instead of finishing the unexpired term.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Arizona | Dennis DeConcini | Jon Kyl |
| Maine | George J. Mitchell | Olympia Snowe |
| Michigan | Donald Riegle | Spencer Abraham |
| Minnesota | David Durenberger | Rod Grams |
| Missouri | John Danforth | John Ashcroft |
| Ohio | Howard Metzenbaum | Mike DeWine |
| Tennessee (special) | Harlan Mathews | Fred Thompson |
| Wyoming | Malcolm Wallop | Craig L. Thomas |

### Resignations

One Democrat resigned three years into his six-year term.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Oklahoma (special) | David Boren | Jim Inhofe |

### Defeats

Two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Pennsylvania | Harris Wofford | Rick Santorum |
| Tennessee (regular) | Jim Sasser | Bill Frist |

### Post-election changes

One Republican resigned on June 11, 1996, was replaced by a Republican appointee. Two Democrats switched to the Republican Party shortly after the election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Kansas (Class 3) | Bob Dole | Sheila Frahm |
| Colorado (Class 3) | Ben Nighthorse Campbell | Ben Nighthorse Campbell |
| Alabama (Class 3) | Richard Shelby | Richard Shelby |

## Race summary
### Special elections

In these special elections, the winners were elected and seated during 1994.
Elections are sorted by date then state and class.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Oklahoma (Class 2) | David Boren | Democratic | 1978 1984 1990 | Incumbent resigned November 15, 1994. New senator elected November 8, 1994 and seated November 17, 1994. Republican gain. | ▌Y Jim Inhofe (Republican) 55.2% ▌Dave McCurdy (Democratic) 40.0% ▌Danny Corn (Independent) 4.8% |
| Tennessee (Class 2) | Harlan Mathews | Democratic | 1993 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 8, 1994 and seated December 2, 1994. Republican gain. | ▌Y Fred Thompson (Republican) 60.4% ▌Jim Cooper (Democratic) 38.6% |

### Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1995; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Arizona | Dennis DeConcini | Democratic | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ▌Y Jon Kyl (Republican) 53.7% ▌Sam Coppersmith (Democratic) 39.5% ▌Scott Grainger (Libertarian) 6.8% |
| California | Dianne Feinstein | Democratic | 1992 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Dianne Feinstein (Democratic) 46.7% ▌Michael Huffington (Republican) 44.8% Others ▌Elizabeth Barron (Peace and Freedom) 3% ▌Richard Boddie (Libertarian) 2.1% ▌Paul Meeuwenberg (American Independent) 1.7% ▌Barbara Blong (Green) 1.7% |
| Connecticut | Joe Lieberman | Democratic | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Joe Lieberman (Democratic) 67% ▌Jerry Labriola (Republican) 31% ▌Gary R. Garneau (Concerned Citizens) 1.9% |
| Delaware | William Roth | Republican | 1970 1971 (appointed) 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y William Roth (Republican) 55.8% ▌Charles Oberly (Democratic) 42.5% ▌John C. Dierick (Libertarian) 1.7% |
| Florida | Connie Mack III | Republican | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Connie Mack III (Republican) 70.5% ▌Hugh Rodham (Democratic) 30.5% |
| Hawaii | Daniel Akaka | Democratic | 1990 (appointed) 1990 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Daniel Akaka (Democratic) 71.8% ▌Maria Hustace (Republican) 24.2% ▌Richard Rowland (Libertarian) 4% |
| Indiana | Richard Lugar | Republican | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Richard Lugar (Republican) 67.4% ▌Jim Jontz (Democratic) 30.5% Others ▌Barbara Bourland (Libertarian) 1.1% ▌Mary Catherine Barton (New Alliance) 1% |
| Maine | George J. Mitchell | Democratic | 1980 (appointed) 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ▌Y Olympia Snowe (Republican) 60.2% ▌Thomas Andrews (Democratic) 36.4% ▌Plato Truman (Independent) 3.4% |
| Maryland | Paul Sarbanes | Democratic | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Paul Sarbanes (Democratic) 59.1% ▌Bill Brock (Republican) 40.9% |
| Massachusetts | Ted Kennedy | Democratic | 1962 (special) 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Ted Kennedy (Democratic) 58.1% ▌Mitt Romney (Republican) 41% Others ▌Lauraleigh Dozier (Libertarian) 0.7% ▌William A. Ferguson Jr. (LaRouche Was Right) 0.2% |
| Michigan | Donald Riegle | Democratic | 1976 1976 (appointed) 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ▌Y Spencer Abraham (Republican) 51.9% ▌Bob Carr (Democratic) 42.7% ▌Jon Coon (Libertarian) 4.2% Others ▌William Roundtree (Workers World) 0.7% ▌Chris Wege (Natural Law) 0.5% |
| Minnesota | David Durenberger | Republican | 1978 (special) 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. | ▌Y Rod Grams (Republican) 49.1% ▌Ann Wynia (DFL) 44.1% ▌Dean Barkley (Reform) 5.4% Others ▌Candice E. Sjostrom (Grassroots) 0.9% ▌Stephen Johnson (Natural Law) 0.3% ▌Chris Wege (Socialist Workers) 0.1% |
| Mississippi | Trent Lott | Republican | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Trent Lott (Republican) 68.8% ▌Ken Harper (Democratic) 31.2% |
| Missouri | John Danforth | Republican | 1976 1976 (appointed) 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. | ▌Y John Ashcroft (Republican) 59.8% ▌Alan Wheat (Democratic) 35.7% ▌Bill Johnson (Libertarian) 4.6% |
| Montana | Conrad Burns | Republican | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Conrad Burns (Republican) 62.4% ▌Jack Mudd (Democratic) 37.6% |
| Nebraska | Bob Kerrey | Democratic | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Bob Kerrey (Democratic) 55% ▌Jan Stoney (Republican) 45% |
| Nevada | Richard Bryan | Democratic | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Richard Bryan (Democratic) 50.9% ▌Hal Furman (Republican) 41.0% Others ▌Anna Nevenich (Independent) 1.8% ▌Bob Days (Libertarian) 1.6% ▌Neal A. Grasteit (Independent American) 1.4% |
| New Jersey | Frank Lautenberg | Democratic | 1982 1982 (appointed) 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Frank Lautenberg (Democratic) 50.4% ▌Chuck Haytaian (Republican) 47.0% Others ▌Michael P. Kelly (Keep America First) 0.7% ▌Ben Grindlinger (Libertarian) 0.7% ▌Richard J. Pezzullo (Conservative) 0.4% ▌Andrea Lippi (Jobs, Property Rights) 0.3% ▌George Patrick Predham (Damn Drug Dealers) 0.2% ▌Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers) 0.2% ▌Arlene Gold (Natural Law) 0.2% |
| New Mexico | Jeff Bingaman | Democratic | 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jeff Bingaman (Democratic) 54.0% ▌Colin McMillan (Republican) 46.0% |
| New York | Daniel Patrick Moynihan | Democratic | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Daniel Patrick Moynihan (Democratic) 55.3% ▌Bernadette Castro (Republican) 42.3% ▌Henry Hewes (Right to Life) 1.8% Others ▌Ismael Betancourt Jr. (Independence) 0.5% ▌Norma Segal (Libertarian) 0.3% ▌Naomi L. Craine (Socialist Workers) 0.3% |
| North Dakota | Kent Conrad | Democratic–NPL | 1986 1992 (retired) 1992 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Kent Conrad (Democratic-NPL) 58% ▌Ben Clayburgh (Republican) 42% |
| Ohio | Howard Metzenbaum | Democratic | 1974 (appointed) 1974 (lost) 1974 (resigned) 1976 1976 (appointed) 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ▌Y Mike DeWine (Republican) 53.4% ▌Joel Hyatt (Democratic) 39.2% ▌Joseph Slovenec (Independent) 7.3% |
| Pennsylvania | Harris Wofford | Democratic | 1991 (appointed) 1991 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ▌Y Rick Santorum (Republican) 49.4% ▌Harris Wofford (Democratic) 46.9% Others ▌Diane Blough (Patriot) 2.0% ▌Donald C. Ernsberger (Libertarian) 1.7% |
| Rhode Island | John Chafee | Republican | 1976 1976 (appointed) 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John Chafee (Republican) 64% ▌Linda Kushner (Democratic) 36% |
| Tennessee | Jim Sasser | Democratic | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. | ▌Y Bill Frist (Republican) 56.4% ▌Jim Sasser (Democratic) 42.1% |
| Texas | Kay Bailey Hutchison | Republican | 1993 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Kay Bailey Hutchison (Republican) 60.8% ▌Richard W. Fisher (Democratic) 38.3% ▌Pierre Blondeau (Libertarian) 0.8% |
| Utah | Orrin Hatch | Republican | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Orrin Hatch (Republican) 68.8% ▌Patrick Shea (Democratic) 28.3% Others ▌Craig Oliver (Independent) 1.8% ▌Gary R. Van Horn (American) 0.5% ▌Nelson Gonzalez (Socialist Workers) 0.3% ▌Lawrence Rey Topham (Independent American) 0.3% |
| Vermont | Jim Jeffords | Republican | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jim Jeffords (Republican) 50.3% ▌Jan Backus (Democratic) 40.6% ▌Gavin T. Mills (Independent) 5.9% Others ▌Matthew S. Mulligan (Independent) 1.4% ▌Bob Melamede (Grassroots) 0.7% ▌Jerry Levy (Liberty Union) 0.6% ▌Joseph Victor Pardo (Natural Law) 0.3% |
| Virginia | Chuck Robb | Democratic | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Chuck Robb (Democratic) 45.6% ▌Oliver North (Republican) 42.9% ▌Marshall Coleman (Independent) 11.4% |
| Washington | Slade Gorton | Republican | 1980 1986 (lost) 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Slade Gorton (Republican) 55.75% ▌Ron Sims (Democratic) 44.25% |
| West Virginia | Robert Byrd | Democratic | 1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Robert Byrd (Democratic) 69.0% ▌Stanley L. Klos (Republican) 31.0% |
| Wisconsin | Herb Kohl | Democratic | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Herb Kohl (Democratic) 58.3% ▌Robert Welch (Republican) 40.7% ▌James Dean (Libertarian) 1.0% |
| Wyoming | Malcolm Wallop | Republican | 1976 1982 1988 | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. | ▌Y Craig L. Thomas (Republican) 58.9% ▌Mike Sullivan (Democratic) 39.3% ▌Craig McCune (Libertarian) 1.8% |

## Closest races

| State | Party of winner | Margin |
| California | Democratic | 1.9% |
| Pennsylvania | Republican (flip) | 2.5% |
| Virginia | Democratic | 2.7% |
| New Jersey | Democratic | 3.3% |
| Minnesota | Republican | 5.0% |
| New Mexico | Democratic | 8.0% |
| Michigan | Republican (flip) | 9.1% |
| Vermont | Republican | 9.7% |
| Nebraska | Democratic | 9.8% |
| Nevada | Democratic | 9.9% |

## Arizona

Three-term Democratic incumbent Dennis DeConcini retired after being a member of the Keating Five Scandal. Republican Congressman Jon Kyl defeated his Democratic opponent, fellow Congressman Sam Coppersmith by a comfortable margin.
Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sam Coppersmith | 81,995 | 32.15% |
| | Democratic | Richard Mahoney | 81,863 | 32.10% |
| | Democratic | Cindy Resnick | 75,563 | 29.63% |
| | Democratic | David Moss | 15,612 | 6.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200,120 | 100.00% |
Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jon Kyl | 231,275 | 99.04% |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 2,248 | 0.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 231,733 | 100.00% |
Libertarian primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Scott Grainger | 5,424 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,424 | 100.00% |
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jon Kyl | 600,999 | 53.71% | +12.65% |
| | Democratic | Sam Coppersmith | 442,510 | 39.54% | −17.17% |
| | Libertarian | Scott Grainger | 75,493 | 6.75% | +4.96% |
| | Write-ins | | 58 | 0.00% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 158,489 | 14.16% | −1.50% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,119,060 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | | |

## California

Dianne Feinstein won a special election in 1992 to fill the seat of Governor Pete Wilson. She faced wealthy Republican Congressman Michael Huffington in her race for a full term. Feinstein emerged victorious by less than two points.
1994 United States Senate Democratic primary, California :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Dianne Feinstein (Incumbent) | Dianne Feinstein (Incumbent) | 1,635,837 | 74.20% |
| Ted J. Andromedas | Ted J. Andromedas | 297,128 | 13.48% |
| Daniel O'Dowd | Daniel O'Dowd | 271,615 | 12.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,204,580 | 100.00% |
1994 United States Senate Republican primary, California :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Michael Huffington | Michael Huffington | 1,072,358 | 53.79% |
| William E. Dannemeyer | William E. Dannemeyer | 565,864 | 28.38% |
| Kate Squires | Kate Squires | 202,950 | 10.18% |
| James Peter Gough | James Peter Gough | 58,853 | 2.95% |
| Wolf G. Dalichau | Wolf G. Dalichau | 58,307 | 2.92% |
| John M. Brown | John M. Brown | 35,212 | 1.77% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1,993,544 | 100.00% |
1994 United States Senate Peace & Freedom primary, California :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Elizabeth Cervantes Barron | Elizabeth Cervantes Barron | 3,487 | 70.70% |
| Larry D. Hampshire | Larry D. Hampshire | 1,445 | 29.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 4,932 | 100.00% |
1994 United States Senate primary, California (Others) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Libertarian | Richard Benjamin Boddie | 120,622 | 100.00% |
| American Independent | Paul Meeuwenberg | 13,596 | 100.00% |
| Green | Barbara Blong | N/A | 100.00% |
After one term in the House representing Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, Huffington spent $8 million by the end of August and a total of $28 million during the entire campaign. He became wealthy off oil and gas. The race saw personal attacks on Huffington's wife, Arianna Huffington, who was very involved in the race (the media dubbed her the "Sir Edmund Hillary of social climbing," according to The Almanac of American Politics).
Huffington was called a hypocrite for supporting Proposition 187 and then breaking the law for employing illegal aliens, a story which came out in the race's final days. $44 million was spent in the election. At the time, it was the most expensive campaign in a non-presidential election in American history. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post named the election one of the nastiest senate elections in modern history.
On election day it was a very close race, but Feinstein won Los Angeles County, which may have pulled her ahead. Her sizable win in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area may also be credited to her slim statewide victory.
1994 United States Senate election in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dianne Feinstein (Incumbent) | 3,979,152 | 46.74% |
| | Republican | Michael Huffington | 3,817,025 | 44.83% |
| | Peace and Freedom | Elizabeth Cervantes Barron | 255,301 | 3.00% |
| | Libertarian | Richard Benjamin Boddie | 179,100 | 2.10% |
| | American Independent | Paul Meeuwenberg | 142,771 | 1.68% |
| | Green | Barbara Blong | 140,567 | 1.65% |
| | No party | Write-ins | 173 | <0.01% |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 386,547 | 4.34% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 162,127 | 1.90% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,514,089 | 100.00% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.94% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Connecticut

Freshman Democratic incumbent Joseph Lieberman easily won re-election over Republican physician Jerry Labriola.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Lieberman (Incumbent) | 723,842 | 67.0% |
| | Republican | Jerry Labriola | 334,833 | 31.0% |
| | Concerned Citizens | Gary R. Garneau | 20,988 | 1.9% |
| | Write-In | Write-in candidates (3) | 103 | <0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,079,766 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Delaware

Veteran Republican incumbent William Roth, seeking his fifth term, fended off a challenge from Charles Oberly, the state's three-term Democratic attorney general, beating him by 13 points.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | William Roth (Incumbent) | 111,074 | 55.82% | −6.25% |
| | Democratic | Charles Oberly | 84,540 | 42.48% | +4.54% |
| | Libertarian | John Dierickx | 3,386 | 1.70% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,534 | 13.33% | −10.79% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 199,000 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Florida

Republican incumbent Connie Mack III won a second term by scoring an easy re-election over attorney Hugh Rodham, brother of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Connie Mack | Unopposed | 100.0% |
Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Hugh Rodham | 255,605 | 33.78% |
| | Democratic | Mike Wiley | 188,551 | 24.92% |
| | Democratic | Ellis Rubin | 161,386 | 21.33% |
| | Democratic | A. Perez | 151,121 | 19.97% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 756,663 | 100% |
Democratic primary runoff :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Hugh Rodham | 221,424 | 58.09% |
| | Democratic | Mike Wiley | 159,776 | 41.91% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 381,200 | 100% |
Rodham left the public defenders office to run for the United States Senate in Florida in 1994. He won the Democratic Party nomination by defeating Mike Wiley in a runoff election, after earlier finishing first in a four-person primary field with 34 percent. After the first primary, the third-place finisher, Miami lawyer Ellis Rubin joined forces with Rodham as a "senior executive consultant" and hatchet man. In the presence of Rodham at a press conference, Rubin levelled the accusation that Wiley was hiding his Jewish faith by changing his name from his birth name, Michael Schreibman, and that Wiley "changed his name before the campaign to deceive voters about his Jewish religion." Wiley accordingly refused to endorse Rodham after the runoff. Rodham then lost by a 70%–30% margin to incumbent senator Republican Connie Mack III in the general election. Although Bill and Hillary Clinton both campaigned for him, his organization was unable to take advantage of their help, he had few funds, almost no television commercials, and little support from the Florida Democratic party establishment in a year that saw Republican gains everywhere. After the election, Rubin switched allegiance again and charged Rodham with election law violations in the first primary; the Federal Election Commission eventually dismissed the allegations.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Connie Mack III (incumbent) | 2,895,200 | 70.50% | +20.10% |
| | Democratic | Hugh Rodham | 1,210,577 | 29.48% | −20.12% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,039 | 0.02% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,684,623 | 41.02% | +40.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,106,816 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Hawaii

Democratic incumbent Daniel Akaka was first appointed to this seat April 1990 after the death of senator Spark Matsunaga. He won his first full term by defeating Republican cattle rancher Mary Hustace in a landslide.
1994 Hawaii United States Senate election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel Akaka (Incumbent) | 256,189 | 71.8% |
| | Republican | Maria Hustace | 86,320 | 24.2% |
| | Libertarian | Richard Rowland | 14,393 | 4.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Indiana

Three-term Republican incumbent Richard Lugar scored an overwhelming 37-point win against former Democratic Rep. Jim Jontz, who was attempting a comeback after losing re-election in 1992.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Lugar (Incumbent) | 1,039,625 | 67.4% |
| | Democratic | Jim Jontz | 470,799 | 30.5% |
| | Libertarian | Barbara Bourland | 17,343 | 1.1% |
| | New Alliance | Mary Catherine Barton | 15,801 | 1.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 568,826 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,543,568 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Lugar won 91 of Indiana's 92 counties, Jontz won only the Democratic stronghold of Lake County.

## Maine

One of the Republicans' biggest prizes was the seat of retiring Majority Leader George Mitchell. Longtime Congresswoman Olympia Snowe gained the seat in a landslide victory over Democratic Congressman Thomas Andrews, a stark contrast to retiring senator Mitchell's landslide win six years prior.
Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Andrews | 82,339 | 99.83% |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 140 | 0.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,479 | 100.00% |
Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Olympia Snowe | 79,953 | 99.88% |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 93 | 0.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,046 | 100.00% |
1994 United States Senate election in Maine :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Olympia Snowe | 308,244 | 60.24% | +41.53% |
| | Democratic | Tom Andrews | 186,042 | 36.36% | −44.94% |
| | Independent | Plato Truman | 17,205 | 3.36% | |
| | Write-ins | | 242 | 0.05% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 122,202 | 23.88% | −38.70% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 511,733 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | | |

## Maryland

Democratic incumbent Paul Sarbanes won a third term by soundly defeating Republican Bill Brock, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee (1971–77), RNC chairman (1977–81), U.S. Trade Representative (1981–85) and U.S. Secretary of Labor (1985–87).
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Paul Sarbanes (Incumbent) | 809,125 | 59.1% |
| | Republican | Bill Brock | 559,908 | 40.9% |
| | Independent | Terri Tilghman Deakyne (Write In) | 71 | 0.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 249,217 | 18.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,369,104 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Massachusetts

Ted Kennedy usually coasted to re-election, but in this election he faced an unusually tough challenge from Republican businessman Mitt Romney. Though the final result was a 17-point Kennedy victory, it marked the first time since his initial election in 1962 that Kennedy received less than 60% of the vote.
Romney defeated his closest competitor, John Lakian, to win the Republican primary with over 80% of the vote. He campaigned as a political moderate and Washington outsider, and posed the greatest challenge ever made against Kennedy for the Senate seat since he first took office in 1962. Democratic congressmen across the country were struggling to maintain their seats, and Kennedy in particular was damaged by character concerns and an ongoing divorce controversy. The contest became very close.
Kennedy launched ads criticizing Romney's tenure as the leader of the company known as Bain Capital, accusing him of treating workers unfairly and taking away jobs, while also criticizing what were widely considered to be Romney's shifting political views. Romney also performed inadequately in the debates between the two candidates, and made a number of poorly received statements that reduced his standing in the polls.
In the closest Senate election of his career since after 1962, Kennedy won by a reasonably comfortable margin, despite a series of losses for Democrats around the country.
Romney was initially behind businessman John Lakian in the battle to win the Massachusetts Republican Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate. However, after using his personal wealth to advertise heavily on television, he gained overwhelming support at the state party convention.
Romney then defeated Lakian easily in the September 1994 Republican Party primary with over 80 percent of the vote.
Massachusetts United States Senate Republican primary, 1994 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitt Romney | 188,280 | 82.04% |
| | Republican | John Lakian | 40,898 | 17.82% |
| | | Others | 318 | 0.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 229,496 | 100% |
In the general election, Kennedy faced the first serious re-election challenger of his career in the younger, telegenic, and very well-funded Romney. Romney ran as a successful entrepreneur and Washington outsider with a strong family image and moderate stands on social issues. After two decades out of public view, his father George re-emerged during the campaign. George Romney had urged Mitt to enter the race and moved into his son's house for its duration, serving as an unofficial advisor.
Kennedy was more vulnerable than usual in 1994, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole and also because this was Kennedy's first election since the William Kennedy Smith trial in Florida, in which Kennedy had taken some public relations hits regarding his character. Kennedy was saddled not only with his recent past but the 25th anniversary of the Chappaquiddick incident and his first wife Joan Bennett Kennedy seeking a renegotiated divorce settlement.
Some early polls showed Romney close to Kennedy. By mid-September 1994, polls showed the race to be even. One Boston Herald/WCVB-TV poll taken after the September 20, 1994 primary showed Romney ahead 44 percent to 42 percent, within the poll's sampling margin of error. In another September poll, Romney had a 43 to 42 percent lead. President Bill Clinton traveled to Massachusetts to campaign for Kennedy.
Religion became an issue for a while, after Kennedy's campaign said it was fair to ask Romney about his LDS Church's past policy of not allowing blacks into the priesthood. Romney accused Kennedy of having violated senator John F. Kennedy's famous September 1960 pledge not to allow his own Catholic doctrine to inform policy, made during his ultimately victorious presidential campaign. George Romney forcefully interjected during his son's press conference, "I think it is absolutely wrong to keep hammering on the religious issues. And what Ted is trying to do is bring it into the picture."
After Romney touted his business credentials and his record at creating jobs within his company, Kennedy ran campaign ads showing an Indiana company, Ampad, bought out by Romney's firm, Bain Capital. They showed interviews with its union workers who had been fired and who criticized Romney for the loss of their jobs, with one saying, "I don't think Romney is creating jobs because he took every one of them away." Romney claimed that 10,000 jobs were created because of his work at Bain, but private detectives hired by Kennedy found a factory bought by Bain Capital that had suffered a 350-worker strike after Bain had cut worker pay and benefits. Kennedy's charges were effective, as more voters decided that Romney was interested in profits more than people.
Kennedy's attack ads also focused both on Romney's shifting political views; although both Kennedy and Romney supported the abortion rights established under Roe v. Wade, Kennedy accused Romney of being "multiple choice" on the issue, rather than "pro choice." Romney said his stance dated back to his mother, Lenore Romney, and her position during her 1970 U.S. Senate campaign: "My mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that." Nevertheless, women's groups and Democrats viewed Romney's position with suspicion. (In subsequent years, Romney became anti-abortion and opposed Roe.)
Kennedy's campaign ran short on money, and belying his image as endlessly wealthy, he was forced to take out a second mortgage on his Virginia home. Kennedy's new wife Vicki Reggie Kennedy proved to be a strong asset in campaigning.
By early October, Kennedy was ahead by 49 to 44 percent in a poll by The Boston Globe. In their first televised debate, held at Faneuil Hall on October 25, Kennedy came out charging with his aging but still booming voice; regarding the Ampad deal, he said to Romney, "I don't know why you wouldn't meet with the strikers with that flimflam deal of yours out there in Indiana." Romney charged that Kennedy had benefited from a real-estate deal that had been done on a no-bid basis, but Kennedy responded with a rehearsed line: "Mr. Romney, the Kennedys are not in public service to make money. We have paid too high a price in our commitment to the public service of this country." Each candidate was asked to discuss one of their own failings. In a dramatic moment, Kennedy indirectly referred to his personal problems and acknowledged that he was "painfully aware" that on such occasions he had let his supporters down. By contrast, Romney mentioned work for several local charities he was engaged with on a near daily basis. When the moderator reminded him of the question, Romney responded "I guess what I regret is that I'm not able to provide even more help for those less fortunate than myself.... I wish I could do even more." Kennedy won this key debate as he reconnected with his traditional bases of support: two polls of voters conducted afterwards both showed Kennedy as the victor in the debate. One post-debate October general election poll showed Kennedy leading 50 percent to 32, and another by 56 to 36 percent. A second debate, held two days later at Holyoke Community College, focused more on policy details and lacked the intensity of the first one; Romney failed to gain any traction from it.
In the November general election, despite a very bad result for Democrats overall, Kennedy won re-election by a 58 percent to 41 percent margin, the closest re-election race of his career; only his initial victory in the 1962 Senate special election in Massachusetts was closer.
1994 Massachusetts United States Senate election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Edward M. Kennedy (Incumbent) | 1,265,997 | 58.07% | –6.90% |
| | Republican | Mitt Romney | 894,000 | 41.01% | +7.08% |
| | Libertarian | Lauraleigh Dozier | 14,484 | 0.66% | +0.15% |
| | LaRouche Was Right | William A. Ferguson Jr. | 4,776 | 0.22% | +0.22% |
| | | Others | 688 | 0.03% | +.02% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,179,945 | 100.00% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 371,997 | 17.06% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## Michigan

Democratic senator Donald W. Riegle Jr. retired after three terms. Former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Spencer Abraham defeated Democratic Congressman Milton Robert Carr in the race to succeed Riegle.
Riegle, a three-term incumbent, was considered one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats in the 1994 mid-term elections due to the unpopularity of President Bill Clinton and his being involved as a member of the Keating Five, a group of five senators who were accused of corruption. After months of speculation, Riegle announced he would not seek a 4th term in a speech on the Senate floor.
1994 United States Senate election in Michigan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Spencer Abraham | 1,578,770 | 51.88 |
| | Democratic | Bob Carr | 1,300,960 | 42.75 |
| | Libertarian | Jon Coon | 128,393 | 4.22 |
| | Workers World | William Roundtree | 20,010 | 0.66 |
| | Natural Law | Chris Wege | 14,746 | 0.48 |
| | No party | Others | 506 | 0.02 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 277,810 | 9.13 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,043,385 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Minnesota

Incumbent Republican David Durenberger decided to retire instead of seeking a third full term. Republican Rod Grams won the open seat. After surviving a messy Republican primary, former TV news anchor and one-term Rep. Rod Grams defeated his Democratic opponent, former state assembly minority leader Ann Wynia by five points for the seat being vacated by incumbent Republican Dave Durenberger.
1994 United States Senate election in Minnesota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rod Grams | 869,653 | 49.05 |
| | Democratic | Ann Wynia | 781,860 | 44.10 |
| | Independence | Dean Barkley | 95,400 | 5.38 |
| | Independent | Candice E. Sjostrom | 15,920 | 0.90 |
| | Natural Law | Stephen Johnson | 5,054 | 0.29 |
| | Socialist Workers | Marea Himelgrin | 2,428 | 0.14 |
| | No party | Write-ins | 2,614 | 0.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87,793 | 4.95 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,772,929 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Mississippi

Republican incumbent Trent Lott won a second term by easily defeating former Democratic state senator Ken Harper.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Lott (Incumbent) | 418,333 | 68.8% |
| | Democratic | Ken Harper | 189,752 | 31.2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 228,581 | 37.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 608,085 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Missouri

Republican senator John Danforth retired after three terms. Former Republican Gov. John Ashcroft defeated his Democratic opponent, six-term Rep. Alan Wheat by more than twenty points.
1994 Missouri United States Senate election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Ashcroft | 1,060,149 | 59.72% |
| | Democratic | Alan Wheat | 633,697 | 35.70% |
| | Libertarian | Bill Johnson | 81,264 | 4.58% |
| | | Write-In Votes | 6 | 0.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 426,452 | 24.02% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,775,116 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Montana

Democrat Jack Mudd, former dean of the University of Montana law school, defeated former U.S. senator John Melcher in the Democratic primary and then went on to lose to Republican incumbent Conrad Burns, who was seeking a second term.
Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Mudd | 58,371 | 47.20% |
| | Democratic | John Melcher | 39,607 | 32.03% |
| | Democratic | Becky Shaw | 25,688 | 20.77% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 123,666 | 100.00% |
Republican Party primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Conrad Burns (Incumbent) | 82,827 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,827 | 100.00% |
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Conrad Burns (Incumbent) | 218,542 | 62.37% | +10.50% |
| | Democratic | Jack Mudd | 131,845 | 37.63% | −10.50% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86,697 | 24.74% | 21.01% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 350,387 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Nebraska

Democrat Bob Kerrey won re-election over Republican Jan Stoney, Vice President of Personnel at Northwestern Bell, by ten points.
1994 Nebraska U.S. Senate Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Kerrey (Incumbent) | 317,297 | 54.78% |
| | Republican | Jan Stoney | 260,668 | 45.00% |
| | Independent | Write Ins | 1,240 | 0.21% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56,629 | 9.78% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 579,205 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Nevada

Democratic incumbent Richard H. Bryan scored a ten-point win over Republican Hal Furman, a water policy advisor for the Interior Department.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Bryan (Incumbent) | 193,804 | 50.9% |
| | Republican | Hal Furman | 156,020 | 41.0% |
| | Independent | None of the Above | 12,626 | 3.3% |
| | Independent | Anna Nevenic | 6,666 | 1.8% |
| | Libertarian | Bob Days | 5,964 | 1.6% |
| | Independent | Neal A. Grasteit | 5,450 | 1.4% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37,784 | 9.9% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 380,530 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New Jersey

Two-term Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg narrowly defeated his Republican opponent, state assembly speaker Chuck Haytaian by three points.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) | 1,033,487 | 50.29% |
| | Republican | Chuck Haytaian | 966,244 | 47.02% |
| | Independent | Michael P. Kelly | 14,343 | 0.70% |
| | Libertarian | Ben Grindlinger | 14,042 | 0.68% |
| | Conservative | Richard J. Pezzullo | 9,387 | 0.46% |
| | Independent | Andrea Lippi | 6,303 | 0.31% |
| | Independent | George Patrick Predham | 4,226 | 0.21% |
| | Socialist Workers | Joanne Kuniansky | 3,606 | 0.18% |
| | Natural Law | Arlene Gold | 3,249 | 0.16% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67,243 | 3.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,054,887 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New Mexico

Two-term Democratic incumbent Jeff Bingaman defeated his Republican opponent, former George H. W. Bush Assistant Secretary of Defense Colin McMillan by eight points.
Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeff Bingaman (Incumbent) | 165,148 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 165,148 | 100.00% |
Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Colin R. McMillan | 65,119 | 72.57% |
| | Republican | Bill Turner | 13,178 | 14.69% |
| | Republican | Robin Dozier Otten | 11,439 | 12.75% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,736 | 100.00% |
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jeff Bingaman (Incumbent) | 249,989 | 53.97% | −9.34% |
| | Republican | Colin R. McMillan | 213,025 | 45.99% | +9.31% |
| | Write-ins | | 182 | 0.04% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36,964 | 7.98% | −18.64% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 463,196 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## New York

Veteran Democratic incumbent Daniel Patrick Moynihan easily defeated his Republican opponent, businesswoman Bernadette Castro.
1994 was significant for the Republican Revolution, mostly as a referendum against President Bill Clinton and his health care plan, and was seen as a tough year for Democratic incumbents. Moynihan, however, was New York State's most popular politician at the time, and ran ahead of all other Democrats competing statewide.
Republican Castro was running for office for the first time and had trouble raising funds due to being seen as unlikely to win; at times during the race she trailed by up to 30 percentage points. She portrayed herself as a fiscally conservative, socially moderate Republican in the mold of Governor of New Jersey Christie Todd Whitman, and attempted to portray Moynihan as excessively liberal and prone to government spending. But Moynihan repeated his past strong performance among upstate voters, in addition to the usual Democratic strongholds in New York City.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel Patrick Moynihan (Incumbent) | 2,646,541 | 55.3% |
| | Republican | Bernadette Castro | 1,988,308 | 41.5% |
| | Right to Life | Henry Hewes | 95,954 | 2.0% |
| | Independence Fusion | Ismael Betancourt Jr. | 26,650 | 0.6% |
| | Libertarian | Norma Segal | 17,991 | 0.4% |
| | Socialist Workers | Naomi Craine | 14,892 | 0.3% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 658,233 | 13.8% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,790,336 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## North Dakota

Incumbent Dem-NPL-er Kent Conrad won re-election to his first full term as senior senator, although technically his second third in the position, having served the end of Quentin Burdick's term after his death. Conrad also had served an additional term as senator, but as junior senator from 1986 to 1992.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kent Conrad (Incumbent) | 137,157 | 57.98% |
| | Republican | Ben Clayburgh | 99,390 | 42.02% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37,767 | 15.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 236,547 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Ohio

Senator Howard Metzenbaum retired and his son-in-law Joel Hyatt received the Democratic nomination to succeed him. Hyatt would go on to be badly defeated by Lieutenant Governor Mike DeWine.
Ohio United States Senate Election, 1994 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike DeWine | 1,836,556 | 53.4% | +10.1% |
| | Democratic | Joel Hyatt | 1,348,213 | 39.2% | −17.2% |
| | Independent | Joe Slovenec | 252,031 | 7.3% | +0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 488,343 | 14.2% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,436,800 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | | |

## Oklahoma (special)

Incumbent Democrat David L. Boren decided to resign his position to accept the position as President of the University of Oklahoma, which prompted a special election. Republican Congressman Jim Inhofe defeated the Democratic Congressman Dave McCurdy.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Inhofe | 542,390 | 55.21% |
| | Democratic | Dave McCurdy | 392,488 | 39.95% |
| | Independent | Danny Corn | 47,552 | 4.84% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 149,902 | 15.26% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 982,430 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Pennsylvania

Democrat Harris Wofford was appointed to the Senate when three-term Republican H. John Heinz III died in a 1991 plane crash. He won a special election to hold that seat later that year. In his tough re-election against Republican Congressman Rick Santorum, the pro-choice Wofford lost the endorsement of anti-abortion Democratic Governor Robert Casey. This contributed to his loss to Santorum by two percentage points.
Wofford's campaign was hurt from the outset by his strong connection with President Bill Clinton's failed healthcare reform proposals; Wofford had made working toward universal healthcare a crucial issue in his prior campaign and was one of the executive's strongest allies on the issue. After this failure, however, the senator ran a relatively passive campaign. He instead attempted to focus attention on his challenger, an arch-conservative who did not attempt to moderate his views after the primary election. The polarizing Santorum took strong positions against abortion, gay rights, and affirmative action, and he even clashed with some of the traditional fixtures of the state's moderate Republican establishment. Early in the campaign and with little statewide name recognition, Santorum made a critical error by attacking Social Security, and Wofford appeared to be in relatively safe position. However, Santorum ran an effective grassroots campaign and specifically targeted many union Democrats who had reservations about the liberal social values advocated by many of their party's leaders.
In the closing weeks of the campaign, Santorum was greatly helped by strong Republican enthusiasm because of anger over Clinton's failed initiatives. He solidified his status by running a series of positive ads that attempted to define his character strengths and to contrast with Wofford's negative commercials. Santorum eventually received a close victory by performing well (and nearly winning) his home in the suburban Pittsburgh region and through particularly low turnout in Democratic strongholds, such as Philadelphia, Scranton, and Pittsburgh cities.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rick Santorum | 1,735,691 | 49.40% | +4.41% |
| | Democratic | Harris Wofford (Incumbent) | 1,648,481 | 46.92% | −8.09% |
| | Patriot Party | Diane G. Blough | 69,825 | 1.99% | +1.99% |
| | Libertarian | Donald Ernsberger | 59,115 | 1.68% | +1.68% |
| | N/A | Write-In Votes | 249 | 0.01% | +0.01% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87,210 | 2.48% | −7.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,513,361 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | | |

## Rhode Island

Moderate Republican incumbent John Chafee, seeking a fourth term, defeated Democratic state representative Linda Kushner by 28-points.
Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Chafee (Incumbent) | 27,906 | 69.03% |
| | Republican | Robert A. Post Jr. | 12,517 | 30.97% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,423 | 100.00% |
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John Chafee (Incumbent) | 222,856 | 64.52% | +9.93% |
| | Democratic | Linda Kushner | 122,532 | 35.48% | −9.93% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100,324 | 29.05% | +19.86% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 345,388 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Tennessee

Due to the resignation of Al Gore in 1993 to become vice president, there were two senate elections in Tennessee as both seats were up for election.

### Tennessee (regular)

One of the biggest upsets of the night was the defeat of three-term Democrat Jim Sasser. Sasser had been the influential Chairman of the Budget Committee and was among the leading candidates to replace Mitchell as Democratic Floor Leader. Sasser, however, would be defeated by prominent Nashville heart surgeon Bill Frist by 14 points.
There were two unforeseen events that affected the campaign. One was the large scale of discontent that the American people seemed to have toward the first two years of the Clinton administration, especially the proposal for a national healthcare system largely put together and advocated by Clinton's wife, Hillary Clinton. The other was the somewhat unexpected nomination of Nashville heart transplant surgeon Bill Frist for the seat by the Republicans.
Frist, who had never voted until he was 36, was a political unknown and a total novice at campaigning, but was from one of Nashville's most prominent and wealthiest medical families, which gave him some name recognition, as well as adequate enough resources to match the campaign war chest built up by the three-term incumbent, a challenge most "insurgent" candidates find to be impossible. A further factor working to Frist's advantage was a simultaneous Republican campaign by actor and attorney Fred Thompson for the other Tennessee Senate seat, which was open due to Al Gore resigning to become Vice President of the United States. Another factor in Frist's favor was that Sasser was never seen as possessing much charisma of his own. During the campaign Nashville radio stations were derisive towards Sasser to the point of stating that he could only win "a Kermit The Frog lookalike contest." In one of the largest upsets in a night of political upsets in the November 1994 U.S. general elections, Frist defeated the incumbent Sasser by approximately 14 percentage points.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Frist | 834,226 | 56.35% |
| | Democratic | Jim Sasser (Incumbent) | 623,164 | 42.10% |
| | Independent | John Jay Hooker | 13,244 | 0.90% |
| | Independent | Charles F. Johnson | 6,631 | 0.45% |
| | Independent | Philip Kienlen | 3,087 | 0.21% |
| | | Write-In Candidates | 39 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 211,062 | 14.26% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,480,391 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### Tennessee (special)

Less surprising was the Republican victory in the other Tennessee Senate contest. Harlan Matthews had held the seat since Al Gore's resignation to assume the Vice Presidency in 1993, but chose not to seek the Democratic nomination in the special election. The Republican actor and attorney Fred Thompson, defeated six-term Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper in an overwhelming landslide.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Fred Thompson | 885,998 | 60.44% | +30.63% |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper | 565,930 | 38.61% | −29.12% |
| | Independent | Charles N. Hancock | 4,169 | 0.28% | |
| | Independent | Charles Moore | 2,219 | 0.15% | |
| | Independent | Terry Lytle | 1,934 | 0.13% | |
| | Independent | Kerry Martin | 1,719 | 0.12% | |
| | Independent | Jon Walls | 1,532 | 0.10% | |
| | Independent | Hobart Lumpkin | 1,184 | 0.08% | |
| | Independent | Don Schneller | 1,150 | 0.08% | |
| | Write-ins | | 27 | 0.00% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 320,068 | 21.83% | −16.08% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,465,862 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Texas

Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, having just won a special election the previous June for the seat vacated by Democrat Lloyd Bentsen, easily defeated Democrat Richard W. Fisher, an investment banker.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kay Bailey Hutchison (incumbent) | 2,604,218 | 60.85% |
| | Democratic | Richard W. Fisher | 1,639,615 | 38.31% |
| | Libertarian | Pierre Blondeau | 36,107 | 0.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,279,940 | 100.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 964,603 | 22.54% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Utah

Veteran Republican incumbent Orrin Hatch delivered a 40-point defeat to his Democratic opponent, attorney Patrick Shea.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Orrin Hatch (Incumbent) | 357,297 | 68.80% | |
| | Democratic | Patrick A. Shea | 146,938 | 28.30% | |
| | Independent | Craig Oliver | 9,550 | 1.84% | |
| | American | Gary Van Horn | 2,543 | 0.49% | |
| | Socialist Workers | Nelson Gonzalez | 1,514 | 0.29% | |
| | Independent American | Lawrence Topham | 1,462 | 0.48% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 210,359 | 40.50% | {{{change}}} |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 519,304 | | {{{change}}} |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Vermont

Moderate Republican Jim Jeffords won a second term, defeating Democratic state senator Jan Backus and independent Gavin Mills. He won every county in the state.
Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jan Backus | 16,217 | 53.65% |
| | Democratic | Doug Costle | 13,139 | 43.46% |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 873 | 2.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,229 | 100.00% |
Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Jeffords (Incumbent) | 24,795 | 91.56% |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 2,285 | 8.44% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,080 | 100.00% |
Liberty Union primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberty Union | Jerry Levy | 289 | 90.03% |
| | Liberty Union | Write-ins | 32 | 9.97% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 321 | 100.00% |
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jim Jeffords (Incumbent) | 106,505 | 50.32% | −17.65% |
| | Democratic | Jan Backus | 85,868 | 40.57% | +10.80% |
| | Independent | Gavin T. Mills | 12,465 | 5.89% | |
| | Independent | Matthew S. Mulligan | 3,141 | 1.48% | |
| | Grassroots | Bob Melamede | 1,416 | 0.67% | |
| | Liberty Union | Jerry Levy | 1,376 | 0.65% | −0.40% |
| | Natural Law | Joseph Victor Pardo | 709 | 0.33% | |
| | Write-ins | | 192 | 0.09% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,637 | 9.75% | −28.45% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 211,672 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Virginia

Democrat Chuck Robb received over 70% of the vote when first elected in 1988, but struggled to win re-election. Furor over Robb's alleged affair with model Tai Collins provided plenty of momentum for the Republican Iran-Contra figure Oliver North. A factor to Robb's advantage was the independent candidacy of attorney J. Marshall Coleman. North likely lost votes to Coleman especially when Virginia's other senator, Republican John Warner, endorsed Coleman over North. Robb received 46% of the vote to North's 43% with Coleman garnering 11%.
Oliver North was a very controversial figure as he was involved in the Iran-Contra Affair, a scandal during Ronald Reagan's presidency. Marshall Coleman attempted to seize the middle ground between Robb and North. Republican senator John Warner of Virginia endorsed Marshall Coleman. On the eve of the election, former first lady Nancy Reagan told a reporter that North had lied to her husband when discussing Iran-Contra with the former president, effectively eviscerating him. North's candidacy was documented in the 1996 film A Perfect Candidate.
In his failed bid to unseat Robb, North raised $20.3 million in a single year through nationwide direct mail solicitations, telemarketing, fundraising events, and contributions from major donors. About $16 million of that amount was from direct mail alone. This was the biggest accumulation of direct mail funds for a statewide campaign to that date, and it made North the top direct mail political fundraiser in the country in 1994.
Douglas Wilder, the first black Governor of Virginia, who served from 1990 to 1994, originally entered the Senate race as an independent before dropping out.
1994 United States Senate election in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Chuck Robb (Incumbent) | 938,376 | 45.61% | −25.64% |
| | Republican | Oliver North | 882,213 | 42.88% | +14.18% |
| | Independent | J. Marshall Coleman | 235,324 | 11.44% | |
| | Independent | L. Douglas Wilder | 113 | 0.01% | |
| | Write-ins | | 1,437 | 0.07% | +0.01% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56,163 | 2.73% | −39.83% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,057,463 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## Washington

Republican incumbent Slade Gorton, seeking his third non-consecutive term, defeated his Democratic opponent, King County Councilman Ron Sims.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Slade Gorton (Incumbent) | 947,821 | 55.8% | +4.71% |
| | Democratic | Ron Sims | 752,352 | 44.3% | −4.61% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 195,469 | 11.5% | +155,293% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,700,173 | | −148,369% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## West Virginia

Democratic incumbent Robert Byrd, first elected in 1958, easily defeated his Republican opponent State Committee Finance Chairman Stanley L. Klos.
Klos campaigned as a "sacrificial lamb" against Robert C. Byrd participating in the Republican U.S. Senatorial Committee's strategy to re-capture a majority in the United States Senate in 1994. Byrd spent $1,550,354 to Klos' $267,165. Additionally the Democratic Party invested over $1 million in that state's campaign to the Republican Party's $15,000. The GOP captured a majority in the U.S. Senate. The highlights of the campaign included the hiring of an actor to play Robert C. Byrd who toured in staged Statewide Debates when the incumbent refused Klos's invitation for a series of formal senate debates. The campaign also organized successful demonstrations against the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Health Care Bus as it traveled through West Virginia in the summer of 1994. Senator Byrd, while the bill was being debated on the Senate floor rose suggesting the brakes be put on approving National Health Care measure while the bus was completing its tour in WV. To Klos's credit, the campaign did not implement the "Death by a Thousand Cuts" plan proposed by strategists which was later acknowledged in speeches given and letters written by U.S. senator Byrd.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Byrd (Incumbent) | 290,495 | 69.0% |
| | Republican | Stan Klos | 130,441 | 31.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160,054 | 38.0% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 420,936 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Wisconsin

Democratic incumbent Herb Kohl had little trouble winning a second term over former Republican state assemblyman Robert Welch.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Herb Kohl (Incumbent) | 912,662 | 58.3% |
| | Republican | Robert T. Welch | 636,989 | 40.7% |
| | Libertarian | James R. Dean | 15,439 | 1.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 275,673 | 17.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,565,090 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Wyoming

Republican incumbent Malcolm Wallop retired after three terms. Republican Rep. Craig Thomas trounced Mike Sullivan, the state's two-term Democratic governor by twenty points.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Craig L. Thomas | 118,754 | 58.87% |
| | Democratic | Mike Sullivan | 79,287 | 39.31% |
| | Libertarian | Craig Alan McClune | 3,669 | 1.82% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39,467 | 19.57% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 201,710 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |