Closest U.S. Senate elections in Wyoming
The closest U.S. Senate election in Wyoming history was in 1988, a margin of 0.74 points. Malcolm Wallop beat John P. Vinich, 91,143 to 89,821. Next closest are 1958 (1.7 points) and 1954 (3.1 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Wyoming has held, special elections included, see the Wyoming U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Wyoming history?
The Wyoming Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1988, 0.74 points. Malcolm Wallop beat John P. Vinich, 91,143 to 89,821. The next closest were 1958 (1.7 points) and 1954 (3.1 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 Wyoming’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Wyoming 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 Wyoming election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1988 | Malcolm Wallop R def. John P. Vinich D | 91,143 – 89,821 | 0.74 points |
| 2 | 1958 | Gale McGee D def. Frank A. Barrett R | 58,035 – 56,122 | 1.7 points |
| 3 | 1954 | Joseph C. O'Mahoney D def. William H. Harrison R | 57,845 – 54,407 | 3.1 points |
| 4 | 1952 | Frank A. Barrett R def. Joseph C. O'Mahoney D | 67,176 – 62,921 | 3.3 points |
| 5 | 1966 | Clifford P. Hansen R def. Teno Roncalio D | 63,548 – 59,141 | 3.6 points |
| 6 | 1916 | John B. Kendrick D def. Clarence D. Clark R | 26,324 – 23,258 | 6.0 points |
| 7 | 1928 | John B. Kendrick R def. Charles E. Winter D | 43,032 – 37,076 | 7.4 points |
| 8 | 1964 | Gale McGee D def. John S. Wold R | 76,485 – 65,185 | 8.0 points |
| 9 | 1942 | Edward Robertson V R def. Harry H. Schwartz D | 41,486 – 34,503 | 9.2 points |
| 10 | 1976 | Malcolm Wallop R def. Gale McGee D | 84,810 – 70,558 | 9.2 points |
| 11 | 1936 | Harry H. Schwartz D def. Robert D. Carey R | 53,919 – 44,483 | 9.5 points |
| 12 | 1924 | Francis E. Warren R def. Robert R. Rose D | 41,293 – 33,536 | 10.0 points |
| 13 | 1970 | Gale McGee D def. John S. Wold R | 67,207 – 53,279 | 11.6 points |
| 14 | 1996 | Michael B. Enzi R def. Kathy Karpan D | 114,116 – 89,103 | 11.9 points |
| 15 | 1946 | Joseph C. O'Mahoney D def. Harry B. Henderson R | 45,843 – 35,714 | 12.4 points |
| 16 | 1960 | Keith Thomson R def. Raymond B. Whitaker D | 78,103 – 60,447 | 12.7 points |
| 17 | 1982 | Malcolm Wallop R def. Rodger McDaniel D | 94,725 – 72,466 | 13.3 points |
| 18 | 1934 | Joseph C. O'Mahoney D def. Vincent Carter R | 53,806 – 40,819 | 13.7 points |
| 19 | 1948 | Lester C. Hunt D def. Edward Robertson V R | 57,953 – 43,527 | 14.2 points |
| 20 | 1922 | John B. Kendrick D def. Frank W. Mondell R | 35,734 – 26,627 | 14.5 points |
| 21 | 1918 | Francis E. Waaren R def. John E. Osborne D | 23,975 – 17,528 | 15.5 points |
| 22 | 1940 | Joseph C. O'Mahoney D def. Milward W. Simpson R | 65,022 – 45,682 | 17.5 points |
| 23 | 1930 | Robert D. Carey R def. Harry H. Schwartz D | 43,626 – 30,259 | 18.1 points |
| 24 | 1994 | Craig Thomas R def. Mike Sullivan D | 118,754 – 79,287 | 19.6 points |
| 25 | 1978 | Raymond B. Whitaker D def. Alan Kooi Simpson R | 82,908 – 50,456 | 24.3 points |