Closest U.S. Senate elections in Arizona
The closest U.S. Senate election in Arizona history was in 1980, a margin of 1.1 points. Barry Goldwater beat Bill Schulz, 432,371 to 422,972. Next closest are 2018 (2.4 points) and 2024 (2.4 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Arizona has held, special elections included, see the Arizona U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Arizona history?
The Arizona Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1980, 1.1 points. Barry Goldwater beat Bill Schulz, 432,371 to 422,972. The next closest were 2018 (2.4 points) and 2024 (2.4 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Arizona’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Arizona Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Arizona election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1980 | Barry Goldwater R def. Bill Schulz D | 432,371 – 422,972 | 1.1 points |
| 2 | 2018 | Kyrsten Sinema D def. Martha McSally R | 1,191,100 – 1,135,200 | 2.4 points |
| 3 | 2024 | Ruben Gallego D def. Kari Lake R | 1,676,335 – 1,595,761 | 2.4 points |
| 4 | 1952 | Barry Goldwater R def. Ernest W. McFarland D | 132,063 – 125,338 | 2.6 points |
| 5 | 1964 | Paul J. Fannin R def. Roy L. Elson D | 241,089 – 227,712 | 2.9 points |
| 6 | 2012 | Jeff Flake R def. Richard Carmona D | 1,104,457 – 1,036,542 | 3.0 points |
| 7 | 2022 | Mark Kelly D def. Blake Masters R | 1,322,027 – 1,196,308 | 4.9 points |
| 8 | 1928 | Henry F. Ashurst D def. Ralph H. Cameron R | 47,013 – 39,651 | 8.5 points |
| 9 | 2006 | Jon Kyl R def. Jim Pederson D | 814,398 – 664,141 | 9.8 points |
| 10 | 1960 | Carl Hayden D def. Evan Mecham R | 199,217 – 163,388 | 9.9 points |
| 11 | 1920 | Ralph H. Cameron R def. Marcus A. Smith D | 35,893 – 29,169 | 10.3 points |
| 12 | 1976 | Dennis Deconcini D def. Sam Steiger R | 400,334 – 321,236 | 10.7 points |
| 13 | 1970 | Paul J. Fannin R def. Sam Grossman D | 228,284 – 179,512 | 12.0 points |
| 14 | 1958 | Barry Goldwater R def. Ernest W. McFarland D | 164,593 – 129,030 | 12.1 points |
| 15 | 2016 | John McCain R def. Ann Kirkpatrick D | 1,359,267 – 1,031,245 | 13.0 points |
| 16 | 1994 | Jon Kyl R def. Sam Coppersmith D | 600,999 – 442,510 | 14.2 points |
| 17 | 1968 | Barry Goldwater R def. Roy L. Elson D | 274,607 – 205,338 | 14.4 points |
| 18 | 1988 | Dennis Deconcini D def. Keith Degreen R | 660,403 – 478,060 | 15.7 points |
| 19 | 1916 | Henry F. Ashurst D def. Joseph H. Kibbey R | 29,873 – 21,261 | 16.0 points |
| 20 | 1974 | Barry Goldwater R def. Jonathan Marshall D | 320,396 – 229,523 | 16.5 points |
| 21 | 1982 | Dennis Deconcini D def. Pete Dunn R | 411,970 – 291,749 | 16.6 points |
| 22 | 1926 | Carl Hayden D def. Ralph H. Cameron R | 44,591 – 31,845 | 16.7 points |
| 23 | 1986 | John McCain R def. Richard Kimball D | 521,850 – 340,965 | 21.0 points |
| 24 | 1956 | Carl Hayden D def. Ross F. Jones R | 170,816 – 107,447 | 22.8 points |
| 25 | 2010 | John McCain R def. Rodney Glassman D | 1,005,615 – 592,011 | 24.2 points |