1996 United States Senate election in Maine

1996 United States Senate election in Maine

November 5, 1996

Nominee Susan Collins Joseph E. Brennan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 298,422 266,226 Percentage 49.18% 43.88%

County results Collins:      40–50%      50–60% Brennan:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election William Cohen Republican Elected U.S. Senator Susan Collins Republican

The 1996 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator William Cohen decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. To replace him, U.S. Representative Joseph E. Brennan won the Democratic primary while political consultant Susan Collins won the Republican primary. A competitive general election ensued, but Collins ultimately won out over Brennan, keeping the seat in the Republican column. With Collins' election to the Senate in 1996, Maine became the third state after California and Kansas to have two sitting female senators, and the first to have two elected female Republican senators.

Brennan and Collins both ran in the 1994 gubernatorial election, and each won their respective party's nomination, but lost the general election to independent Angus King, who would be elected in Maine's other Senate seat in 2012 and become a Senator in 2013, serving alongside Collins.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Joseph E. Brennan, former U.S. Representative from Maine's 1st congressional district and former Governor of Maine
• Jean Hay Bright, activist
• Sean Faircloth, State Senator
• Jerald Leonard
• Richard A. Spencer, former congressional candidate

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph E. Brennan	48,335	56.68%
	Democratic	Sean Faircloth	21,204	24.87%
	Democratic	Richard A. Spencer	10,236	12.00%
	Democratic	Jean Hay Bright	4,524	5.31%
	Democratic	Jerald Leonard	939	1.10%
	Democratic	Write-ins	35	0.04%
Total votes			85,273	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Susan Collins, former Deputy Treasurer of Massachusetts and nominee for Governor in 1994
• W. John Hathaway, State Senator
• Robert A. G. Monks, nominee for the United States Senate in 1976

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Susan Collins	53,339	55.50%
	Republican	W. John Hathaway	29,792	31.00%
	Republican	Robert A. G. Monks	12,943	13.47%
	Republican	Write-ins	33	0.03%
Total votes			96,107	100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Maine, 1996

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Susan Collins	298,422	49.18%	−12.16%
	Democratic	Joseph E. Brennan	266,226	43.88%	+5.24%
	Independent	John C. Rensenbrink	23,441	3.86%	N/A
	Constitution	William P. Clarke	18,618	3.07%	N/A
	Write-in		70	0.01%	N/A
Majority			32,196	5.31%	−17.39%
Turnout			606,777
	Republican hold

See also

• 1996 United States Senate elections