1996 United States Senate election in Virginia

The 1996 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Warner won re-election to a fourth term over Democratic challenger Mark Warner, who is of no relation.

1996 United States Senate election in Virginia

November 5, 1996
Turnout	50.2% (voting eligible)[1]
Nominee John Warner Mark Warner Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,235,743 1,115,981 Percentage 52.5% 47.4%
County and independent city results J. Warner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% M. Warner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election John Warner Republican Elected U.S. Senator John Warner Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Leslie Byrne, former U.S. Representative
• Mark Warner, businessman
• Nancy Spannaus, independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1990

Results

Democratic convention vote[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Warner	626	66.53%
	Democratic	Leslie Byrne	301	31.99%
	Democratic	Nancy B. Spannaus	14	1.49%
Total votes			941	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Warner, incumbent U.S. Senator
• James C. Miller III, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Campaign

John Warner, a moderate Republican who held this Senate seat from 1979, remained a popular and powerful political figure. A former United States Secretary of the Navy, he was at this time Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.

He easily won renomination, despite opposition by a number of conservative Republicans, who distrusted him because of his moderate positions (Warner is pro-choice, pro-gun control and refused to support 1994 Senate nominee Oliver North due to his role in the Iran-Contra Affair).

Warner was endorsed by such notable figures as Bob Dole, George H.W. Bush, and Colin Powell, while Miller was endorsed by the NRA.[3]

Results

Republican primary results[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Warner (incumbent)	323,520	65.55%
	Republican	James C. Miller III	170,015	34.45%
Total votes			493,535	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Mark Warner (D), businessman
• John Warner (R), incumbent U.S. Senator

Campaign

The two Warners (no relation) competed in one of the closest Senate elections in Virginia history. The incumbent, who was a moderate Republican, was very popular and did not even face a major opponent in 1990. Although Mark Warner was relatively unknown, he became one of John Warner's strongest challengers. The Democrat self-financed his campaign and ended up outspending the Republican. In October, the Democrat outspent the incumbent 5-1.[5]

The incumbent had to compete in a primary against a more conservative candidate because he had endorsed an independent in the 1994 U.S. Senate election, instead of controversial Republican nominee Oliver North. Despite this, North did endorse John Warner in the 1996 election.[6] In the general election, the incumbent called the Democrat a "robber baron," "Carpetbagger," and a "Connecticut Yankee" who raised money from outside the state.[7][8][9] Mark Warner tried to compete in the Southern part of the state, which is traditionally Republican territory. He earned the endorsement from the Reform Party of Virginia.[10]

Polling

In June, the incumbent was leading 58%-24%.[11] On September 19, the incumbent led 54%-34%.[12]

Results

United States Senate election in Virginia, 1996[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	John Warner (incumbent)	1,235,744	52.48%	-28.43%
	Democratic	Mark Warner	1,115,982	47.39%	+47.39%
	Write-ins		2,989	0.13%	+0.81%
Majority			119,762	5.09%	-57.67%
Turnout			2,354,715
	Republican hold		Swing

Analysis

Mark Warner lost the parts of the state that are outside the three largest metropolitan areas, 51%-49%, a very impressive result for a Democrat in this heavily Republican territory. However, John Warner’s strength among moderates enabled him to carry Northern Virginia 55%-45%, which led to him winning the general election 52%-47%.[14] This was the closest reelection margin of John Warner's career.

Aftermath

In 2002, John Warner was reelected with no Democratic challenger, defeating independent candidate Spannaus by a wide margin. He declined to run for re-election in 2008.

In 2001, Mark Warner was elected Governor, serving from 2002 to 2006. He left office with a high approval rating and many believed he was a potential candidate for the 2008 presidential election. After declining to run, he was mentioned as a potential vice presidential nominee. However, John Warner retired in 2008, and Mark Warner won the open Senate seat. In 2014, John Warner endorsed Mark Warner in his successful reelection campaign.[15]

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1996

References

1. Dr. Michael McDonald (March 25, 2013). "Turnout 1980-2012". George Mason University. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
2. "VA US Senate - D Senate Convention Race - Jun 08, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
3. "VA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
4. "Federal Elections 96: 1996 U.S. Senate Results by State". Fec.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
5. "The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
6. "The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
7. "The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
8. "NewsLibrary Search Results". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
9. "The Virginian-Pilot Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. October 16, 1996. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
10. "The Virginian-Pilot Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. October 23, 1996. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
11. "The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
12. "NewsLibrary Search Results". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
13. "96 PRESIDENTIAL and CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION STATISTICS". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
15. James Hohmann (January 27, 2014). "Warner endorses Warner". Politico. Retrieved June 2, 2018.