Closest U.S. Senate elections in Kentucky
The closest U.S. Senate election in Kentucky history was in 1984, a margin of 0.41 points. Mitch McConnell beat Walter D. Huddleston, 644,990 to 639,721. Next closest are 1920 (0.56 points) and 1998 (0.59 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Kentucky has held, special elections included, see the Kentucky U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Kentucky history?
The Kentucky Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1984, 0.41 points. Mitch McConnell beat Walter D. Huddleston, 644,990 to 639,721. The next closest were 1920 (0.56 points) and 1998 (0.59 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 Kentucky’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Kentucky 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 Kentucky election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1984 | Mitch McConnell R def. Walter D. Huddleston D | 644,990 – 639,721 | 0.41 points |
| 2 | 1920 | Richard P. Ernst R def. John C. Beckham D | 454,226 – 449,244 | 0.56 points |
| 3 | 1998 | Jim Bunning R def. Scotty Baesler D | 569,817 – 563,051 | 0.59 points |
| 4 | 1956 | Thurston B. Morton R def. Earle C. Clements D | 506,903 – 499,922 | 0.70 points |
| 5 | 2004 | Jim Bunning R def. Daniel Mongiardo D | 873,507 – 850,855 | 1.3 points |
| 6 | 1918 | Augustus O. Stanley D def. Ben L. Bruner R | 184,385 – 178,797 | 1.5 points |
| 7 | 1948 | Virgil Chapman D def. John Sherman Cooper R | 408,256 – 383,776 | 3.1 points |
| 8 | 1924 | Fred M. Sackett R def. Augustus O. Stanley D | 406,121 – 381,605 | 3.1 points |
| 9 | 1972 | Walter D. Huddleston D def. Louie B. Nunn R | 528,550 – 494,337 | 3.3 points |
| 10 | 1926 | Alben W. Barkley D def. Richard P. Ernst R | 286,997 – 266,567 | 3.7 points |
| 11 | 1968 | Marlow W. Cook R def. Katherine Peden D | 484,960 – 448,260 | 3.9 points |
| 12 | 1930 | Marvel M. Logan D def. John M. Robsion R | 336,748 – 309,180 | 4.3 points |
| 13 | 1990 | Mitch McConnell R def. G. Harvey Sloane D | 478,034 – 437,976 | 4.4 points |
| 14 | 1962 | Thurston B. Morton R def. Wilson W. Wyatt D | 432,648 – 387,440 | 5.5 points |
| 15 | 2008 | Mitch McConnell R def. Bruce Lunsford D | 953,816 – 847,005 | 5.9 points |
| 16 | 1954 | Alben W. Barkley D def. John Sherman Cooper R | 434,109 – 362,948 | 8.9 points |
| 17 | 1950 | Earle C. Clements D def. Charles I. Dawson R | 334,249 – 278,368 | 9.0 points |
| 18 | 1914 | John C. Beckham D def. Augustus E. Willson R | 176,605 – 144,758 | 9.4 points |
| 19 | 1974 | Wendell H. Ford D def. Marlow W. Cook R | 399,406 – 328,982 | 9.4 points |
| 20 | 1944 | Alben W. Barkley D def. James Park R | 464,053 – 380,425 | 9.9 points |
| 21 | 1942 | Albert B. Chandler D def. Richard J. Colbert R | 216,958 – 175,081 | 10.7 points |
| 22 | 2010 | Rand Paul R def. Jack Conway D | 755,706 – 600,052 | 11.5 points |
| 23 | 1996 | Mitch McConnell R def. Steven L. Beshear D | 724,794 – 560,012 | 12.6 points |
| 24 | 2016 | Rand Paul R def. Jim Gray D | 1,090,177 – 813,246 | 14.6 points |
| 25 | 2014 | Mich McConnell R def. Alison Lundergan Grimes D | 806,787 – 584,698 | 15.5 points |