1992 United States Senate election in North Carolina

The 1992 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 3, 1992 as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. Incumbent Democrat Terry Sanford lost re-election for a second term to Republican Lauch Faircloth.

1992 United States Senate election in North Carolina
November 3, 1992
 
Nominee Lauch Faircloth Terry Sanford
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,297,892 1,194,015
Percentage 50.35% 46.32%
County results
Faircloth:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Tie:      40–50%
Sanford:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Terry Sanford
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Lauch Faircloth
Republican

Elections in North Carolina

Primaries

Democratic

Terry Sanford was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Republican
Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauch Faircloth 129,159 47.74%
Republican Sue Wilkins Myrick 81,801 30.23%
Republican Eugene Johnston 46,112 17.04%
Republican Larry Harrington 13,496 4.99%
Total votes 270,568 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

In 1990, after 40 years as a Democrat, Faircloth switched his party registration and began preparations to seek the Republican Senate nomination in 1992. Enjoying the support of Senator Jesse Helms's political organization, Faircloth defeated Charlotte mayor Sue Myrick and former congressman Walter E. Johnston, III in the primary. His opponent in the general election was his former ally, Terry Sanford. Although Sanford had helped Faircloth raise money for his failed gubernatorial bid in 1984, he angered Faircloth two years later when he allegedly dismissed Faircloth's chances in a statewide contest if the two ran against each other for the Democratic nomination for the Senate. [2] Faircloth withdrew from the 1986 race after Sanford "blindsided" him by announcing his candidacy.[3]

Faircloth attacked Sanford as a tax-and-spend liberal, and despite a poor performance in a September televised debate, Faircloth won the seat by a 100,000-vote margin. Sanford may have been weakened by his unpopular vote against authorizing military force in the Persian Gulf War, and he suffered health problems in the summer of 1992.[4]

Results
1992 United States Senate election in North Carolina[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauch Faircloth 1,297,892 50.35%
Democratic Terry Sanford (incumbent) 1,194,015 46.32%
Libertarian Bobby Yates Emory 85,948 3.33%
Total votes 2,577,855 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

References
  1. "North Carolina DataNet #46" (PDF). University of North Carolina. April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  2. Howard E. Covington, Jr. and Marion A. Ellis, Terry Sanford: Politics, Progress, and Outrageous Ambitions. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1999, 489
  3. Rob Christensen. The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics. pp. 280-281.
  4. New York Times
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