Closest U.S. Senate elections in Utah
The closest U.S. Senate election in Utah history was in 1922, a margin of 0.47 points. William H. King beat Ernest Bamberger, 58,749 to 58,188. Next closest are 1946 (2.5 points) and 1914 (2.8 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Utah has held, special elections included, see the Utah U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Utah history?
The Utah Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1922, 0.47 points. William H. King beat Ernest Bamberger, 58,749 to 58,188. The next closest were 1946 (2.5 points) and 1914 (2.8 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 Utah’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Utah 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 Utah election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1922 | William H. King D def. Ernest Bamberger R | 58,749 – 58,188 | 0.47 points |
| 2 | 1946 | Arthur Watkins V R def. Abe Murdock D | 101,142 – 96,257 | 2.5 points |
| 3 | 1914 | Reed Smoot R def. James H. Moyle D | 56,281 – 53,128 | 2.8 points |
| 4 | 1958 | Frank E. Moss D def. Arthur Watkins V R | 112,827 – 101,471 | 3.9 points |
| 5 | 1962 | Wallace F. Bennett R def. David S. King D | 166,755 – 151,656 | 4.7 points |
| 6 | 1974 | E. J. Jake Garn R def. Wayne Owens D | 210,299 – 185,377 | 5.9 points |
| 7 | 1934 | William H. King D def. Don B. Colton R | 95,131 – 82,154 | 7.2 points |
| 8 | 1956 | Wallace F. Bennett R def. Alonzo F. Hopkin D | 178,261 – 152,120 | 7.9 points |
| 9 | 1950 | Wallace F. Bennett R def. Elbert D. Thomas D | 142,427 – 121,198 | 8.0 points |
| 10 | 1968 | Wallace F. Bennett R def. Milton L. Weilenmann D | 225,075 – 191,168 | 8.1 points |
| 11 | 1952 | Arthur Watkins V R def. Walker K. Granger D | 177,435 – 149,598 | 8.5 points |
| 12 | 2022 | Mike Lee R def. Evan McMullin I | 571,974 – 459,958 | 10.4 points |
| 13 | 1938 | Elbert D. Thomas D def. Franklin S. Harris R | 102,353 – 81,071 | 11.6 points |
| 14 | 1928 | William H. King D def. Ernest Bamberger R | 97,436 – 77,073 | 11.6 points |
| 15 | 1976 | Orrin G. Hatch R def. Frank E. Moss D | 290,221 – 223,948 | 12.7 points |
| 16 | 1970 | Frank E. Moss D def. Laurence J. Burton R | 210,207 – 159,004 | 13.7 points |
| 17 | 1964 | Frank E. Moss D def. Ernest L. Wilkinson R | 227,822 – 169,562 | 14.7 points |
| 18 | 1932 | Elbert D. Thomas D def. Reed Smoot R | 116,909 – 86,066 | 14.9 points |
| 19 | 1992 | Robert F. Bennett R def. Wayne Owens D | 420,069 – 301,228 | 15.7 points |
| 20 | 1982 | Orrin G. Hatch R def. Ted Wilson D | 309,332 – 219,482 | 16.9 points |
| 21 | 1916 | William H. King D def. George Sutherland R | 81,057 – 56,862 | 17.0 points |
| 22 | 1920 | Reed Smoot R def. Milton H. Welling D | 82,566 – 56,280 | 18.0 points |
| 23 | 1944 | Elbert D. Thomas D def. Adam S. Bennion R | 148,748 – 99,532 | 19.8 points |
| 24 | 1926 | Reed Smoot R def. Ashby Snow D | 88,101 – 53,809 | 23.9 points |
| 25 | 1940 | Abe Murdock D def. Philo T. Fransworth R | 155,499 – 91,931 | 25.7 points |