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

November 3, 1998

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. [1]

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

• 1998 United States Senate elections
• 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election