1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Russ Feingold won re-election to a second term.

1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1992 November 3, 1998 2004 →

Nominee Russ Feingold Mark Neumann Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 890,059 852,272 Percentage 50.55% 48.40%

County results Precinct results Feingold:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Neumann:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:

U.S. senator before election Russ Feingold Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Russ Feingold Democratic

General election

Candidates

• Tom Ender (Libertarian)
• Russ Feingold, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
• Eugene A. Hem, former educator (Independent)
• Mark Neumann, U.S. Representative from Milton (Republican)
• Robert R. Raymond (U.S. Taxpayers)

Campaign

In September 1997, Neumann announced his candidacy for the United States Senate against Russ Feingold. Both candidates had similar views on the budget surplus, although Neumann was for banning partial-birth abortion while Feingold was against a ban. Both candidates limited themselves to $3.8 million in campaign spending ($1 for every citizen of Wisconsin), although outside groups spent more than $2 million on Neumann; Feingold refused to have outside groups spend their own 'soft money' on his behalf.^[1][2] Feingold defeated Neumann by a slim 2% margin in the election. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Neumann had a 30,000 vote margin outside Milwaukee County, but was overwhelmed by a 68,000 vote margin in Milwaukee County.^[3]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Russ Feingold (D)	Mark Neumann (R)	Undecided
Market Shares Corporation[4][A]	October 21–24, 1998	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	46%	43%	11%
St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][B]	October 8–20, 1998	415 (LV)	± 4.8%	47%	40%	13%
St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][C]	October 8–20, 1998	415 (LV)	± 4.8%	47%	40%	13%
Journal Sentinel Research and Public Policy Forum[4]	October 2–9, 1998	314 (LV)	± 6.0%	50%	43%	7%
WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal[4]	August 7–26, 1998	271 (LV)	± 5.9%	54%	30%	16%
Louis Harris & Associates[4]	July 7–18, 1998	1,000 (A)	± 3.0%	49%	30%	21%
WISC-TV/Wisconsin State Journal[4]	May, 1998	403 (A)	± 5.0%	42%	31%	27%
St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][C]	February 17 – March 24, 1998	400 (LV)	± 5.0%	65%	23%	12%
Journal Sentinel Research and Public Policy Forum[4]	February, 1998	497 (LV)	± 4.5%	56%	29%	15%
St. Norbert College Survey Center[4][C]	Fall, 1997	417 (LV)	± 5.0%	51%	29%	20%

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Russ Feingold (incumbent)	890,059	50.55%
	Republican	Mark Neumann	852,272	48.40%
	U.S. Taxpayers	Robert R. Raymond	7,942	0.45%
	Libertarian	Tom Ender	5,591	0.32%
	Independent	Eugene A. Hem	4,266	0.24%
	Write-in		706	0.04%
Total votes			1,760,836	100.00%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1998 United States Senate elections
• 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by WTMJ-TV
2. Poll sponsored by the Green Bay News-Chronicle & Wisconsin Public Radio
3. Poll sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio