1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
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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: | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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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.
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.[1][2] 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.[3]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Russ Feingold (D) |
Mark Neumann (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Shares Corporation[4][A] | October 21–24, 1998 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 43% | 11% |
| St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][B] | October 8–20, 1998 | 415 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 47% | 40% | 13% |
| St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][C] | October 8–20, 1998 | 415 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 47% | 40% | 13% |
| Journal Sentinel Research and Public Policy Forum[4] |
October 2–9, 1998 | 314 (LV) | ± 6.0% | 50% | 43% | 7% |
| WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal[4] | August 7–26, 1998 | 271 (LV) | ± 5.9% | 54% | 30% | 16% |
| Louis Harris & Associates[4] | July 7–18, 1998 | 1,000 (A) | ± 3.0% | 49% | 30% | 21% |
| WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal[4] | May, 1998 | 403 (A) | ± 5.0% | 42% | 31% | 27% |
| St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][C] | February 17 – March 24, 1998 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 65% | 23% | 12% |
| Journal Sentinel Research and Public Policy Forum[4] |
February, 1998 | 497 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 56% | 29% | 15% |
| St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][C] | Fall, 1997 | 417 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 51% | 29% | 20% |
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
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
- Partisan clients
- ^ Poll sponsored by WTMJ-TV
- ^ Poll sponsored by the Green Bay News-Chronicle & Wisconsin Public Radio
- ^ a b c Poll sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio
References
- ^ "Online NewsHour: Political Wrap - October 30, 1998". Archived from the original on March 5, 2000. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "Projects | Internet Scout".
- ^ Murphy, Bruce (August 4, 2003). "GOP edges into Democratic region". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 15, 2003.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Wisconsin 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.