1984 United States Senate election in Oregon

The 1984 United States Senate election in Oregon took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield was re-elected to a fourth term in office, defeating Democratic State Senator Margie Hendriksen. As of 2022, this is the last U.S. Senate race in Oregon where every county voted for the same candidate.

1984 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1978 November 6, 1984 1990 →
 
Nominee Mark Hatfield Margie Hendriksen
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 808,152 406,122
Percentage 66.53% 33.43%

County results
Hatfield:      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Mark Hatfield
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Mark Hatfield
Republican

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Mark Hatfield, incumbent Senator
  • Ralph H. Preston
  • Sherry Reynolds
  • John T. Schiess

Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Hatfield (incumbent) 214,114 78.53%
Republican John T. Schiess 26,848 9.85%
Republican Sherry Reynolds 18,590 6.82%
Republican Ralph H. Preston 12,662 4.64%
Write-in All others 423 0.16%
Total votes 272,637 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Margie Hendriksen, State Senator from Portland
  • Sam Kahl

Results

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Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Margie Hendriksen 249,152 75.47%
Democratic Sam Kahl 79,317 24.02%
Write-in All others 1,688 0.51%
Total votes 330,157 100.00%

General election

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Campaign

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During the campaign, Hendriksen primarily attacked Hatfield by stressing what she perceived to be flawed priorities.[3] Hatfield was often criticized for the scandal involving Basil Tsakos, but the controversy of the scandal declined over the course of the campaign.[4] He was also criticized by those who stressed environmental protection for his support of President Reagan's appointment of James G. Watt to the position of Secretary of the Interior.[5] However, Hatfield's in-person campaign strategy proved successful, as he beat Hendricksen by 402,040 votes, and gained nearly double her percentage.

Results

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1984 United States Senate election in Oregon[6]
Republican Mark Hatfield (incumbent) 808,152 66.53%  4.88
Democratic Margie Hendriksen 406,122 33.43%  4.83
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Republican Ralph H. Preston 461 0.04% N/A
Total votes 1,214,735 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate- R Primary Race - May 15, 1984".
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate- D Primary Race - May 15, 1984".
  3. ^ "OPPONENT OF HATFIELD IN OREGON QUESTIONS THE SENATOR'S PRIORITIES". The New York Times. August 10, 1984.
  4. ^ "Hatfield wins re-election handily". November 7, 1984.
  5. ^ "To Hendricksen, Hatfield's foe, the Senate race began long ago". The Christian Science Monitor. August 16, 1984.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1984".