Closest U.S. Senate elections in Connecticut
The closest U.S. Senate election in Connecticut history was in 1932, a margin of 0.72 points. Augustine Lonergan beat Hiram Bingham, 282,327 to 278,061. Next closest are 1988 (0.72 points) and 1962 (2.5 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Connecticut has held, special elections included, see the Connecticut U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Connecticut history?
The Connecticut Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1932, 0.72 points. Augustine Lonergan beat Hiram Bingham, 282,327 to 278,061. The next closest were 1988 (0.72 points) and 1962 (2.5 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 Connecticut’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Connecticut 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 Connecticut election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1932 | Augustine Lonergan D def. Hiram Bingham R | 282,327 – 278,061 | 0.72 points |
| 2 | 1988 | Joe Lieberman D def. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. R | 688,499 – 678,454 | 0.72 points |
| 3 | 1962 | Abraham A. Ribicoff D def. Horace Seely-Brown R | 527,522 – 501,694 | 2.5 points |
| 4 | 1938 | John A. Danaher R def. Augustine Lonergan D | 270,413 – 252,426 | 2.9 points |
| 5 | 1934 | Francis T. Maloney D def. Frederic C. Walcott R | 265,552 – 247,623 | 3.3 points |
| 6 | 1916 | George P. McLean R def. Homer S. Cummings D | 107,020 – 98,649 | 3.9 points |
| 7 | 1982 | Lowell P. Weicker Jr. R def. Anthony Toby Moffett D | 545,987 – 499,146 | 4.3 points |
| 8 | 1944 | Brien McMahon D def. John A. Danaher R | 430,716 – 391,748 | 4.7 points |
| 9 | 1950 | Brien McMahon D def. Joseph E. Talbot R | 453,646 – 409,053 | 5.1 points |
| 10 | 1922 | George P. McLean R def. Thomas J. Spellacy D | 169,524 – 147,276 | 6.9 points |
| 11 | 1940 | Francis T. Mahoney D def. Paul L. Cornell R | 416,740 – 358,313 | 7.4 points |
| 12 | 1914 | Frank B. Brandegee R def. Simeon E. Baldwin D | 89,983 – 76,081 | 7.7 points |
| 13 | 1970 | Lowell P. Weicker Jr. R def. Joseph D. Duffey D | 454,721 – 368,111 | 8.0 points |
| 14 | 1952 | William A. Purtell R def. William Benton D | 573,854 – 485,066 | 8.1 points |
| 15 | 1928 | Frederic C. Walcott R def. Augustine Lonergan D | 296,958 – 251,429 | 8.3 points |
| 16 | 1968 | Abraham A. Ribicoff D def. Edwin H. May R | 655,043 – 551,455 | 8.6 points |
| 17 | 2006 | Joe Lieberman C def. Ned Lamont D | 564,095 – 450,844 | 10.0 points |
| 18 | 2012 | Christopher S. Murphy D def. Linda E. McMahon I | 828,761 – 651,089 | 11.8 points |
| 19 | 1956 | Prescott Bush R def. Thomas J. Dodd D | 610,829 – 479,460 | 11.8 points |
| 20 | 2010 | Richard Blumenthal D def. Linda E. McMahon R | 636,040 – 498,341 | 11.9 points |
| 21 | 1980 | Christopher J. Dodd D def. James L. Buckley R | 763,969 – 581,884 | 13.4 points |
| 22 | 1958 | Thomas J. Dodd D def. William A. Purtell R | 554,841 – 410,622 | 14.9 points |
| 23 | 1946 | Raymond E. Baldwin R def. Joseph M. Tone D | 381,328 – 276,424 | 15.4 points |
| 24 | 1976 | Lowell P. Weicker Jr. R def. Gloria Schaffer D | 785,683 – 561,018 | 16.5 points |
| 25 | 2024 | Christopher S. Murphy D def. Matthew M. Corey R | 1,000,695 – 678,256 | 18.9 points |