1990 United States Senate election in Minnesota
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 County results Wellstone: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Boschwitz: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1990 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz was defeated by Democratic challenger Paul Wellstone in a tight race. Widely considered an underdog and outspent by a 7-to-1 margin, Wellstone was the only candidate to defeat an incumbent senator as well as the only candidate to flip a seat in the 1990 election cycle and gained national attention after his upset victory. The race was also notable as the first in the history of the U.S. Senate where both major-party candidates were Jewish. Wellstone was re-elected in 1996 in a rematch with Boschwitz.
Background
[edit]In 1984, despite Democrat Walter Mondale's narrow victory in the state in concurrent presidential election,[1][2] Rudy Boschwitz won reelection to a second term defeating Democratic challenger Joan Growe 58% to 41%.[3][4]
The election was held as part of the midterm election cycle of Republican President George H. W. Bush's term.[5] Historically, the President's party struggles during the midterms.[6]
General Election
[edit]Major Candidates
[edit]- Paul Wellstone, professor at Carleton College and nominee for Minnesota State Auditor in 1982
- Rudy Boschwitz, incumbent U.S. Senator
Campaign
[edit]Paul Wellstone was considered to be a longshot candidate, being outspent by a margin of 7-to-1. Wellstone used grassroots campaigning tactics, and quirky campaign ads like "Fast Paul",[7] where he spoke quickly about himself and his platform, and "Looking for Rudy",[8] a two minute ad where he went searching for his opponent Rudy Boschwitz throughout Minnesota.
Debates
[edit]| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
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| Rudy Boschwitz | Paul Wellstone | |||||
| 1 | Oct. 14, 1990 | KMSP-TV League of Women Voters |
Beverly McKinnell | C-SPAN | P | P |
| 2 | Oct. 18, 1990 | Bob Potter | C-SPAN | P | P | |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Paul Wellstone | 911,999 | 50.49% | ||
| Ind.-Republican | Rudy Boschwitz (incumbent) | 864,375 | 47.86% | ||
| Grassroots | Russell B. Bentley[10] | 29,820 | 1.65% | ||
| Total votes | 1,806,194 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic (DFL) gain from Ind.-Republican | |||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Raines, Howell (November 7, 1984). "Reagan Wins By a Landslide, Sweeping at Least 48 States; G.O.P. Gains Strength in House". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Balz, Dan (April 20, 2021). "Mondale lost the presidency but permanently changed the office of vice presidency". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Ladd, Thomas E. (May 1, 1985). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1984" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ^ "Biden, Joseph Robinette (Joe), Jr. (1942–)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ^ Dewar, Helen; Yang, John E. (November 6, 1990). "The Senate Incumbents Win Control Remains with Democrats". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Elving, Ron (November 13, 2022). "The midterms didn't produce a wave. Here's what that's meant historically". NPR. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
- ^ Paul Wellstone TV Ad "Fast Paul", retrieved January 1, 2023
- ^ North Woods Advertising - "Looking for Rudy" - Paul Wellstone for U.S. Senate (MN), retrieved January 1, 2023
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1990".
- ^ The Bizarre Story of How a Hardcore Texas Leftist Became a Frontline Putin Propagandist, Tim Dickinson Rolling Stone, March 3, 2022 (archive)
