Closest U.S. Senate elections in Idaho
The closest U.S. Senate election in Idaho history was in 1980, a margin of 0.96 points. Steve Symms beat Frank Church, 218,701 to 214,439. Next closest are 1948 (1.5 points) and 1944 (2.3 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Idaho has held, special elections included, see the Idaho U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Idaho history?
The Idaho Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1980, 0.96 points. Steve Symms beat Frank Church, 218,701 to 214,439. The next closest were 1948 (1.5 points) and 1944 (2.3 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 Idaho’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Idaho 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 Idaho election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1980 | Steve Symms R def. Frank Church D | 218,701 – 214,439 | 0.96 points |
| 2 | 1948 | Bert H. Miller D def. Henry C. Dworshak R | 107,000 – 103,868 | 1.5 points |
| 3 | 1944 | Glen H. Taylor D def. C. A. Bottolfsen R | 107,096 – 102,373 | 2.3 points |
| 4 | 1942 | John Thomas R def. Glen H. Taylor D | 73,353 – 68,989 | 3.1 points |
| 5 | 1986 | Steve Symms R def. John V Evans D | 196,958 – 185,066 | 3.1 points |
| 6 | 1960 | Henry C. Dworshak R def. R. F. McLaughlin D | 152,648 – 139,448 | 4.5 points |
| 7 | 1914 | James H. Brady R def. James H. Brawley D | 47,486 – 41,266 | 5.8 points |
| 8 | 1972 | James A. McClure R def. William E. Davis D | 161,804 – 140,913 | 6.8 points |
| 9 | 1920 | Frank R. Gooding R def. John F. Nugent D | 75,985 – 64,513 | 8.2 points |
| 10 | 1962 | Frank Church D def. Jack Hawley R | 141,657 – 117,129 | 9.5 points |
| 11 | 1938 | D. Worth Clark D def. Donald A. Callahan R | 99,801 – 81,939 | 9.8 points |
| 12 | 1966 | Leonard B. Jordan R def. Ralph R. Harding D | 139,819 – 112,637 | 10.8 points |
| 13 | 1992 | Dirk Kempthorne R def. Richard H. Stallings D | 270,468 – 208,036 | 13.0 points |
| 14 | 1932 | James P. Pope D def. John Thomas R | 103,020 – 78,225 | 13.4 points |
| 15 | 1974 | Frank Church D def. Robert L. Smith R | 145,140 – 109,072 | 13.9 points |
| 16 | 1926 | Frank R. Gooding R def. H. F. Samuels P | 56,847 – 37,047 | 15.8 points |
| 17 | 1996 | Larry E. Craig R def. Walt Minnick D | 283,532 – 198,422 | 17.1 points |
| 18 | 1956 | Frank Church D def. Herman Welker R | 149,096 – 102,781 | 17.5 points |
| 19 | 1968 | Frank Church D def. George Hansen V R | 173,482 – 114,394 | 20.5 points |
| 20 | 1990 | Larry E. Craig R def. Ron J. Twilegar D | 193,641 – 122,295 | 22.6 points |
| 21 | 1950 | Herman Welker R def. D. Worth Clark D | 124,237 – 77,180 | 23.4 points |
| 22 | 2008 | James E. Risch R def. Larry Larocco D | 371,744 – 219,903 | 23.5 points |
| 23 | 1954 | Henry C. Dworshak R def. Glen H. Taylor D | 142,269 – 84,139 | 25.7 points |
| 24 | 1936 | William E. Borah R def. C. Ben Ross D | 128,723 – 74,444 | 26.7 points |
| 25 | 2020 | James E. Risch R def. Paulette Jordan D | 538,446 – 285,864 | 29.4 points |