Closest U.S. Senate elections in New York
The closest U.S. Senate election in New York history was in 1992, a margin of 1.2 points. Alfonse M. D'Amato beat Robert Abrams, 3,166,994 to 3,086,200. Next closest are 1928 (1.2 points) and 1980 (1.3 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race New York has held, special elections included, see the New York U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in New York history?
The New York Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1992, 1.2 points. Alfonse M. D'Amato beat Robert Abrams, 3,166,994 to 3,086,200. The next closest were 1928 (1.2 points) and 1980 (1.3 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 New York’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the New York 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 New York election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1992 | Alfonse M. D'Amato R def. Robert Abrams L | 3,166,994 – 3,086,200 | 1.2 points |
| 2 | 1928 | Royal S. Copeland D def. Alanson B. Houghton R | 2,084,273 – 2,034,014 | 1.2 points |
| 3 | 1980 | Alfonse M. D'Amato R def. Elizabeth Holtzman D | 2,699,652 – 2,618,661 | 1.3 points |
| 4 | 1970 | James L. Buckley I def. Richard L. Ottinger D | 2,288,190 – 2,171,232 | 2.0 points |
| 5 | 1958 | Kenneth B. Keating R def. Frank S. Hogan D | 2,842,942 – 2,709,950 | 2.4 points |
| 6 | 1926 | Robert F. Wagner D def. James W. Wadsworth R | 1,321,463 – 1,205,246 | 4.1 points |
| 7 | 1914 | James W. Wadsworth R def. James W. Gerald D | 639,112 – 571,419 | 5.0 points |
| 8 | 1950 | Herbert H. Lehman D def. Joe R. Hanley R | 2,632,313 – 2,367,353 | 5.1 points |
| 9 | 1946 | Irving M. Ives R def. Herbert H. Lehman D | 2,559,365 – 2,308,112 | 5.2 points |
| 10 | 1944 | Robert F. Wagner D def. Thomas J. Curran R | 3,294,576 – 2,899,497 | 6.4 points |
| 11 | 1956 | Jacob K. Javits R def. Robert F. Wagner D | 3,723,933 – 3,265,159 | 6.6 points |
| 12 | 1974 | Jacob K. Javits R def. Ramsey Clark D | 2,340,188 – 1,973,781 | 7.1 points |
| 13 | 1976 | Daniel Patrick Moynihan L def. James L. Buckley C | 3,422,594 – 2,836,633 | 8.8 points |
| 14 | 1938 | Robert F. Wagner D def. John L. O'Brien R | 2,497,029 – 2,058,615 | 9.6 points |
| 15 | 1998 | Charles E. Schumer I def. Alfonse M. D'Amato R | 2,551,065 – 2,058,988 | 9.8 points |
| 16 | 1964 | Robert F. Kennedy D def. Kenneth B. Keating R | 3,823,749 – 3,104,056 | 10.1 points |
| 17 | 1922 | Royal S. Copeland D def. William M. Calder R | 1,276,667 – 995,421 | 11.6 points |
| 18 | 2000 | Hillary Clinton L def. Rick Lazio C | 3,747,310 – 2,915,730 | 12.0 points |
| 19 | 1994 | Daniel Patrick Moynihan L def. Bernadette Castro C | 2,646,541 – 1,988,308 | 12.4 points |
| 20 | 2022 | Charles E. Schumer D def. Joe Pinion C | 3,320,561 – 2,501,151 | 14.0 points |
| 21 | 1986 | Alfonse M. D'Amato R def. Mark Green D | 2,378,197 – 1,723,216 | 14.6 points |
| 22 | 1916 | William M. Calder R def. William F. McCombs D | 839,314 – 605,933 | 15.1 points |
| 23 | 1968 | Jacob K. Javits R def. Paul O'Dwyer D | 3,269,772 – 2,150,695 | 17.0 points |
| 24 | 1932 | Robert F. Wagner D def. George Z. Medalie R | 2,532,905 – 1,751,186 | 17.2 points |
| 25 | 1962 | Jacob K. Javits R def. James B. Donovan D | 3,272,417 – 2,289,323 | 17.2 points |