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Closest U.S. Senate elections in history

The tightest races for the United States Senate, ranked by the narrowest margin between the top two candidates.

What is the closest U.S. Senate election in history?

New Hampshire in 1974, when Louis Wyman edged John Durkin by just 2 votes out of over 223,000 cast (110,926 to 110,924). The result was so close the Senate itself could not agree on a winner and ordered a new election, which Durkin won outright in 1975. Al Franken’s 312-vote win over Norm Coleman in Minnesota in 2008 is the closest election actually seated on the first count.

The closest U.S. Senate race on record came down to 2 votes: New Hampshire in 1974 was so close that the Senate left the seat vacant and ordered a new election.
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Closest U.S. Senate elections in history
#ElectionResultMargin
11974 New HampshireLouis C. Wyman def. John A. Durkin0.00 pts
22008 MinnesotaAl Franken def. Norm Coleman0.01 pts
31964 NevadaHoward W. Cannon def. Paul Laxalt0.04 pts
41974 North DakotaMilton R. Young def. William L. Guy0.07 pts
51924 IowaSmith W. Brookhart def. Daniel F. Steck0.08 pts
61998 NevadaHarry Reid def. John E. Ensign0.09 pts
72000 WashingtonMaria Cantwell def. Slade Gorton0.09 pts
81944 MissouriForrest C. Donnell def. Roy McKittrick0.12 pts
92018 FloridaRick Scott def. Bill Nelson0.12 pts
102016 New HampshireMaggie Hassan def. Kelly Ayotte0.14 pts
112002 South DakotaTim Johnson def. John R. Thune0.15 pts
121954 New JerseyClifford P. Case def. Charles R. Howell0.19 pts
132024 PennsylvaniaDave McCormick def. Robert P. Casey Jr.0.22 pts
141962 South DakotaGeorge McGovern def. Joe Bottum0.24 pts
151970 IndianaVance Hartke def. Richard L. Roudebush0.24 pts
161914 WisconsinPaul O. Husting def. Francis E. McGovern0.31 pts
171938 IndianaFrederick Van Nuys def. Raymond E. Willis0.33 pts
181938 IowaGuy M. Gilette def. Lester J. Dickinson0.33 pts
191996 LouisianaMary L. Landrieu def. Louis Woody Jenkins0.34 pts
202024 MichiganElissa Slotkin def. Mike Rogers0.34 pts
211946 MarylandHerbert R. O'Conor def. David J. Markey0.36 pts
221974 NevadaPaul Laxalt def. Harry Reid0.37 pts
231978 VirginiaJohn William Warner def. Andrew P. Miller0.38 pts
241956 PennsylvaniaJoseph S. Clark def. James H. Duff0.39 pts
252006 VirginiaJames H. Jim Webb Jr. def. George F. Allen0.39 pts

How this ranking is measured

U.S. Senate general elections ranked by the smallest gap in vote share between the top two finishers (1914–present, the popular-vote era for the Senate). Limited to full statewide popular elections; recounts and runoffs aren’t separated out, and the figure is the certified general-election margin.

Compiled by PolitiFinder · published June 14, 2026 · sources: Data & sources · data last verified August 15, 2026.