Closest U.S. Senate elections in Oregon
The closest U.S. Senate election in Oregon history was in 1968, a margin of 0.40 points. Bob Packwood beat Wayne Morse, 408,646 to 405,353. Next closest are 1954 (0.44 points) and 1936 (1.4 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Oregon has held, special elections included, see the Oregon U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Oregon history?
The Oregon Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1968, 0.40 points. Bob Packwood beat Wayne Morse, 408,646 to 405,353. The next closest were 1954 (0.44 points) and 1936 (1.4 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 Oregon’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Oregon 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 Oregon election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1968 | Bob Packwood R def. Wayne Morse D | 408,646 – 405,353 | 0.40 points |
| 2 | 1954 | Richard L. Neuberger D def. Guy Cordon R | 285,775 – 283,313 | 0.44 points |
| 3 | 1936 | Charles L. McNary R def. Willis Mahoney D | 199,332 – 193,822 | 1.4 points |
| 4 | 2008 | Jeff Merkley D def. Gordon H. Smith R | 864,392 – 805,159 | 3.4 points |
| 5 | 1926 | Frederick Steiwer R def. Bert E. Haney D | 89,007 – 81,301 | 3.4 points |
| 6 | 1966 | Mark O. Hatfield R def. Robert B. Holmes D | 354,391 – 330,374 | 3.5 points |
| 7 | 1996 | Gordon H. Smith R def. Tom Bruggere D | 677,336 – 624,370 | 3.9 points |
| 8 | 1992 | Bob Packwood R def. Les Aucoin D | 717,455 – 639,851 | 5.6 points |
| 9 | 1920 | Robert N. Stanfield R def. George E. Chamberlain D | 116,696 – 100,124 | 7.2 points |
| 10 | 1990 | Mark O. Hatfield R def. Harry Lonsdale D | 590,095 – 507,743 | 7.5 points |
| 11 | 1972 | Mark O. Hatfield R def. Wayne Morse D | 494,671 – 425,036 | 7.6 points |
| 12 | 1980 | Bob Packwood R def. Ted Kulongoski D | 594,290 – 501,963 | 8.1 points |
| 13 | 1962 | Wayne Morse D def. Sig Unander R | 344,716 – 291,587 | 8.3 points |
| 14 | 1956 | Wayne Morse D def. Howard Latourette R | 396,849 – 335,405 | 8.4 points |
| 15 | 1960 | Maurine Neuberger D def. Edgar W. Smith R | 412,757 – 343,009 | 9.2 points |
| 16 | 1914 | George E. Chamberlain D def. R. A. Booch R | 111,748 – 88,297 | 9.5 points |
| 17 | 1938 | Rufus Holman R def. Willis Mahoney D | 203,120 – 167,135 | 9.7 points |
| 18 | 1974 | Bob Packwood R def. Betty Roberts D | 420,984 – 338,591 | 10.8 points |
| 19 | 1918 | Charles L. McNary R def. Oswald West D | 82,360 – 64,303 | 11.9 points |
| 20 | 1932 | Frederick Steiwer R def. Walter B. Gleason D | 186,210 – 137,237 | 13.9 points |
| 21 | 2022 | Wyden Ron D def. Perkins Jo Rae R | 1,076,424 – 788,991 | 14.9 points |
| 22 | 2002 | Gordon H. Smith R def. Bill Bradbury D | 712,287 – 501,898 | 16.6 points |
| 23 | 2020 | Jeff Merkley D def. Jo Rae Perkins R | 1,321,047 – 912,814 | 17.6 points |
| 24 | 2010 | Ron Wyden D def. Jim Huffman R | 825,507 – 566,199 | 18.0 points |
| 25 | 2014 | Jeff Merkley D def. Monica Wehby R | 814,537 – 538,847 | 18.9 points |