Closest U.S. Senate elections in Nevada
The closest U.S. Senate election in Nevada history was in 1964, a margin of 0.04 points. Howard W. Cannon beat Paul Laxalt, 67,336 to 67,288. Next closest are 1998 (0.09 points) and 1914 (0.19 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Nevada has held, special elections included, see the Nevada U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Nevada history?
The Nevada Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1964, 0.04 points. Howard W. Cannon beat Paul Laxalt, 67,336 to 67,288. The next closest were 1998 (0.09 points) and 1914 (0.19 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 Nevada’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Nevada 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 Nevada election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1964 | Howard W. Cannon D def. Paul Laxalt R | 67,336 – 67,288 | 0.04 points |
| 2 | 1998 | Harry Reid D def. John E. Ensign R | 208,621 – 208,220 | 0.09 points |
| 3 | 1914 | Francis G. Newlands D def. Samuel Platt R | 8,078 – 8,038 | 0.19 points |
| 4 | 1974 | Paul Laxalt R def. Harry Reid D | 79,605 – 78,981 | 0.37 points |
| 5 | 2022 | Cortez Masto Catherine D def. Laxalt Adam Paul R | 498,316 – 490,388 | 0.77 points |
| 6 | 2012 | Dean Heller R def. Shelley Berkley D | 457,656 – 446,080 | 1.2 points |
| 7 | 2024 | Jacky S. Rosen D def. Sam Brown R | 701,105 – 677,046 | 1.6 points |
| 8 | 1982 | Chic Hecht R def. Howard W. Cannon D | 120,377 – 114,720 | 2.4 points |
| 9 | 2016 | Catherine Cortez Masto D def. Joseph J. Heck R | 521,994 – 495,079 | 2.4 points |
| 10 | 1952 | George W. Malone R def. Thomas B. Mechling D | 41,906 – 39,184 | 3.4 points |
| 11 | 1932 | Patrick A. McCarran D def. Tasker L. Oddie R | 21,398 – 19,706 | 4.1 points |
| 12 | 1988 | Richard H. Bryan D def. Chic Hecht R | 175,548 – 161,336 | 4.2 points |
| 13 | 1920 | Tasker L. Oddie R def. Charles B. Henderson D | 11,550 – 10,402 | 4.2 points |
| 14 | 2018 | Jacky S. Rosen D def. Dean Heller R | 490,071 – 441,202 | 5.0 points |
| 15 | 1956 | Alan Bible D def. Cliff Young R | 50,677 – 45,712 | 5.2 points |
| 16 | 1986 | Harry Reid D def. Jim Santini R | 130,955 – 116,606 | 5.5 points |
| 17 | 2010 | Harry Reid D def. Sharron Angle R | 362,785 – 321,361 | 5.7 points |
| 18 | 1916 | Key Pittman D def. Samuel Platt R | 12,765 – 10,618 | 6.5 points |
| 19 | 1968 | Alan Bible D def. Ed Fike R | 83,622 – 69,083 | 9.5 points |
| 20 | 1994 | Richard H. Bryan D def. Hal Furman R | 193,804 – 156,020 | 9.9 points |
| 21 | 1946 | George W. Malone R def. Berkeley L. Bunker D | 27,801 – 22,553 | 10.4 points |
| 22 | 1992 | Harry Reid D def. Demar Dahl R | 253,150 – 199,413 | 10.8 points |
| 23 | 1926 | Tasker L. Oddie R def. Raymond T. Baker D | 17,430 – 13,273 | 13.3 points |
| 24 | 2006 | John E. Ensign R def. Jack Carter D | 322,501 – 238,796 | 14.4 points |
| 25 | 1958 | Howard W. Cannon D def. George W. Malone R | 48,732 – 35,760 | 15.4 points |