1988 United States Senate election in Virginia

The 1988 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 8, 1988. Democratic former governor Chuck Robb succeeded Republican Senator Paul Trible, who opted not to run for re-election. As of 2025^[update], this is the last time a Democratic Senatorial candidate won every county and independent city in Virginia.

1988 United States Senate election in Virginia

← 1982 November 8, 1988 1994 →
Turnout	49.8% (voting eligible)[1]
Nominee Chuck Robb Maurice A. Dawkins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,474,086 593,652 Percentage 71.25% 28.69%
County and independent city results Congressional district results Precinct/VTD results Robb:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90% Dawkins:      50-60%      60-70%      No votes
U.S. senator before election Paul Trible Republican Elected U.S. Senator Chuck Robb Democratic

Background

Paul Trible announced that he would not seek reelection in September 1987, citing frustration with the legislative process and wanting to spend more time with his family.^[2]

Republican nomination

Maurice Dawkins, a Baptist minister, defeated Andrew Wahlquist, a former assistant to U.S. Senator John Warner, on the first ballot of the Republican convention. Dawkins was the first black person nominated for a senatorial election in the state by a major party.^[2]

Democratic nomination

Chuck Robb won the Democratic nomination without opposition at the convention held between June 3 to 4.^[2]

General election

Candidates

• Maurice A. Dawkins, minister and black activist (Republican)
• Chuck Robb, former Governor of Virginia (Democratic)

Campaign

Robb's campaign raised $3.2 million and spent $2.8 million during the campaign. Dawkins spent $300,000 during the campaign which was less than every incumbent running with opposition in the concurrent U.S. House of Representatives elections.^[3]

Results

Robb placed first in all of Virginia's congressional districts. The third, fifth, and seventh congressional districts were the only districts that Dawkins received more than 30% of the vote in.^[4] Robb received around 70% of the white vote while the overall composition of his voters were 78% white and 12% black compared to Dawkin's 94% white and 6% black. Robb is one of the few Democrats to have won a majority of the white vote after 1969.^[5]

Robb's victory was the best performance for a Democratic senatorial candidate in Virginia since A. Willis Robertson in 1960.

United States Senate election in Virginia, 1988^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chuck Robb	1,474,086	71.25%	+22.45%
	Republican	Maurice A. Dawkins	593,652	28.69%	−22.51%
	Write-ins		1,159	0.06%
Majority			880,434	42.56%	+40.18%
Turnout			2,068,897
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

See also

• 1988 United States Senate elections