The 1998 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ron Wyden won re-election to his first full term, defeating Republican nominee John Lim, a state senator in a landslide (Lim only carried Malheur County). As of 2022, this is the last time Grant County and Harney County have supported a Democrat in a U.S. Senate election.
Democratic nomination John Sweeney, retired city parks worker Ron Wyden, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
Republican nomination Valentine Christian, from Salem John Lim, State Senator from Gresham and candidate for Governor in 1990 John Michael Fitzpatrick, from Lake Oswego
Results
General Wyden, a consistent liberal Democrat, was considered to be the favorite throughout the campaign. State Republicans were weakened by division between moderate and conservative wings, with few candidates on the already sparse bench able to reconcile them. During his campaign, Wyden emphasized his work with fellow Oregon Senator and Republican Gordon H. Smith. Lim had very little name recognition outside of his Gresham-based State Senate district and focused his campaign on portraying Wyden as a Beltway insider and out-of-touch with the population of Oregon.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RonaldWyden (D) JohnLim (R) UndecidedDavis & HibbitssSeptember 30 – October 6, 1998618 (LV)± 4.0%68%16%16%
Results Wyden won in a landslide, winning every county in the state with the exception of Malheur County. Wyden's performance, both by his portion of the vote and margin of victory, would only be exceeded by his subsequent 2004 election, being his second-best performance in a Senatorial election.
See also 1998 United States Senate elections
Notes
References