Iowa — 1996 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1996 Senate electionIowa · U.S. SenateHarkinD+5.1
How it voted
Share of the 1996 vote
| Tom Harkin (i) ✓Democrat | 51.8% | 634,166 |
|---|---|---|
| Jim LightfootRepublican | 46.7% | 571,807 |
| Sue AtkinsonNominated By Petition | 0.8% | 9,768 |
1996Senate margin
D+60R+60
99 counties, each filled by 1996 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (99 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ADAIR, IA | Republican | R+10.5 |
| ADAMS, IA | Republican | R+8.8 |
| ALLAMAKEE, IA | Republican | R+8.4 |
| APPANOOSE, IA | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| AUDUBON, IA | Republican | R+1.2 |
| BENTON, IA | Democratic | D+13.6 |
| BLACK HAWK, IA | Democratic | D+18.1 |
| BOONE, IA | Democratic | D+15.3 |
| BREMER, IA | Democratic | D+4.8 |
| BUCHANAN, IA | Democratic | D+18.2 |
| BUENA VISTA, IA | Republican | R+11.4 |
| BUTLER, IA | Republican | R+5.8 |
| CALHOUN, IA | Republican | R+9.4 |
| CARROLL, IA | Republican | R+11.0 |
| CASS, IA | Republican | R+20.7 |
| CEDAR, IA | Democratic | D+7.6 |
| CERRO GORDO, IA | Democratic | D+11.9 |
| CHEROKEE, IA | Republican | R+9.1 |
| CHICKASAW, IA | Democratic | D+10.8 |
| CLARKE, IA | Democratic | D+1.9 |
| CLAY, IA | Republican | R+7.3 |
| CLAYTON, IA | Democratic | D+11.6 |
| CLINTON, IA | Democratic | D+9.9 |
| CRAWFORD, IA | Republican | R+6.3 |
| DALLAS, IA | Democratic | D+5.9 |
| DAVIS, IA | Democratic | D+9.3 |
| DECATUR, IA | Republican | R+1.0 |
| DELAWARE, IA | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| DES MOINES, IA | Democratic | D+20.9 |
| DICKINSON, IA | Republican | R+5.4 |
| DUBUQUE, IA | Democratic | D+13.9 |
| EMMET, IA | Democratic | D+4.1 |
| FAYETTE, IA | Democratic | D+6.6 |
| FLOYD, IA | Democratic | D+11.0 |
| FRANKLIN, IA | Republican | R+2.0 |
| FREMONT, IA | Republican | R+29.1 |
| GREENE, IA | Democratic | D+3.5 |
| GRUNDY, IA | Republican | R+14.1 |
| GUTHRIE, IA | Republican | R+0.8 |
| HAMILTON, IA | Democratic | D+1.0 |
| HANCOCK, IA | Republican | R+11.7 |
| HARDIN, IA | Republican | R+1.6 |
| HARRISON, IA | Republican | R+11.3 |
| HENRY, IA | Democratic | D+2.5 |
| HOWARD, IA | Democratic | D+1.1 |
| HUMBOLDT, IA | Republican | R+6.8 |
| IDA, IA | Republican | R+18.0 |
| IOWA, IA | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| JACKSON, IA | Democratic | D+14.0 |
| JASPER, IA | Democratic | D+8.5 |
| JEFFERSON, IA | Democratic | D+0.5 |
| JOHNSON, IA | Democratic | D+35.4 |
| JONES, IA | Democratic | D+16.2 |
| KEOKUK, IA | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| KOSSUTH, IA | Republican | R+3.3 |
| LEE, IA | Democratic | D+25.3 |
| LINN, IA | Democratic | D+17.3 |
| LOUISA, IA | Republican | R+0.7 |
| LUCAS, IA | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| LYON, IA | Republican | R+45.1 |
| MADISON, IA | Democratic | D+1.0 |
| MAHASKA, IA | Republican | R+15.4 |
| MARION, IA | Republican | R+8.0 |
| MARSHALL, IA | Democratic | D+6.7 |
| MILLS, IA | Republican | R+25.4 |
| MITCHELL, IA | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| MONONA, IA | Republican | R+4.6 |
| MONROE, IA | Democratic | D+8.7 |
| MONTGOMERY, IA | Republican | R+33.2 |
| MUSCATINE, IA | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| OBRIEN, IA | Republican | R+37.0 |
| OSCEOLA, IA | Republican | R+35.3 |
| PAGE, IA | Republican | R+48.0 |
| PALO ALTO, IA | Democratic | D+3.0 |
| PLYMOUTH, IA | Republican | R+28.4 |
| POCAHONTAS, IA | Republican | R+5.8 |
| POLK, IA | Democratic | D+12.4 |
| POTTAWATTAMIE, IA | Republican | R+8.0 |
| POWESHIEK, IA | Democratic | D+6.9 |
| RINGGOLD, IA | Republican | R+2.8 |
| SAC, IA | Republican | R+15.8 |
| SCOTT, IA | Democratic | D+5.1 |
| SHELBY, IA | Republican | R+23.4 |
| SIOUX, IA | Republican | R+66.5 |
| STORY, IA | Democratic | D+13.4 |
| TAMA, IA | Democratic | D+9.5 |
| TAYLOR, IA | Republican | R+21.6 |
| UNION, IA | Republican | R+2.0 |
| VAN BUREN, IA | Republican | R+3.2 |
| WAPELLO, IA | Democratic | D+17.4 |
| WARREN, IA | Democratic | D+6.4 |
| WASHINGTON, IA | Democratic | D+1.1 |
| WAYNE, IA | Republican | R+4.7 |
| WEBSTER, IA | Democratic | D+5.4 |
| WINNEBAGO, IA | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| WINNESHIEK, IA | Democratic | D+1.2 |
| WOODBURY, IA | Republican | R+5.4 |
| WORTH, IA | Democratic | D+11.2 |
| WRIGHT, IA | Republican | R+5.7 |
presidential baselinePresident 1996D+10.3Senate 1996D+5.1vs. baselineR+5.2
Iowa's 1996 Senate race ran 5.2 points more Republican than the presidential race on the same ballot.
Iowa's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1978–2022
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1978 | −3.2% |
| 1980 | −7.9% |
| 1984 | +11.8% |
| 1986 | −32.5% |
| 1990 | +9.1% |
| 1992 | −42.4% |
| 1996 | +5.1% |
| 1998 | −37.9% |
| 2002 | +10.4% |
| 2004 | −42.3% |
| 2008 | +25.4% |
| 2010 | −31.1% |
| 2014 | −8.3% |
| 2016 | −24.5% |
| 2020 | −6.6% |
| 2022 | −12.2% |
Same ballot, 1996IA
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1996 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.