1990 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

The 1990 United States Senate election in New Hampshire was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Gordon J. Humphrey decided to retire and not run for re-election to a third term. Republican Bob Smith won the open seat, easily defeating the Democratic nominee, former senator John A. Durkin.

1990 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
November 6, 1990
 
Nominee Bob Smith John A. Durkin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 189,792 91,299
Percentage 65.1% 31.3%
County Results
Smith:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
U.S. senator before election

Gordon J. Humphrey
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Smith
Republican

Elections in New Hampshire
Federal government
Presidential elections
United States Senate elections
United States House elections
State government
Gubernatorial elections
Executive Council elections
General Court elections
Senate elections
House elections
Manchester
Mayoral elections

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
1990 Republican U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Smith 56,215 65.00%
Republican Tom Christo 25,286 29.24%
Republican Theo deWinter 2,768 3.20%
Republican Ewing Smith 2,009 2.32%
Democratic John Rauh (write-in) 94 0.11%
Democratic John A. Durkin (write-in) 66 0.08%
Democratic James Donchess (write-in) 48 0.06%
Total votes 86,486 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results
1990 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. Durkin 20,222 41.37%
Democratic James W. Donchess 15,205 31.10%
Democratic John Rauh 12,935 26.46%
Write-in All others 523 1.07%
Total votes 48,885 100.00%

Independents and third parties

Libertarian
  • John G. Elsnau

Controversies

The 1990 New Hampshire Senate race garnered national news after John Durkin, previously a senator from New Hampshire in 1975-1980, made a remark that was perceived as a racial slur against the Japanese. Durkin told reporters interviewing him, "If you want a Jap in the United States Senate, then vote for Bob Smith". "Jap" is a term that was frequently used in WWII to describe the Japanese, and was, by 1990, considered racist terminology. The quote destroyed Durkin's campaign and he ended up losing to Smith by a more than 2-to-1 margin, a devastating blow for the ex-Senator.[3]

Despite this, Durkin is much more well known for his victory in the closest U.S. senate election in U.S. history that spanned from 1974-1975, due to the entire election having been redone.[4]

Results
General election results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Smith 189,792 65.13%
Democratic John A. Durkin 91,299 31.33%
Libertarian John G. Elsnau 9,102 3.34%
Write-In Candidates 585 0.20%
Majority 98,493 33.80%
Turnout 291,393
Republican hold

See also

References
  1. "NH US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. "NH US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. Leubsdorf, Ben. "Former U.S. Senator John Durkin dies". Concord Monitor. CM. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  4. Chavis, Christopher. "Speak your Piece: The Last Federal Election Re-do". Daily Yonder. Daily Yonder. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  5. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3533
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