1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky

1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1992 November 3, 1998 2004 →

Nominee Jim Bunning Scotty Baesler Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 569,817 563,051 Percentage 49.75% 49.16%

County results Bunning:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Baesler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Wendell Ford Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Jim Bunning Republican

Elections in Kentucky
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Ballot measures 2004 Amendment 1 2022 Amendment 2 2024 Amendment 2
Lexington Mayoral elections 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Louisville Mayoral elections 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Government
v t e

The 1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held November 3, 1998. It was concurrent with elections to the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Wendell Ford decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican U.S. Representative Jim Bunning narrowly won the open seat, defeating Democratic U.S. Representative Scotty Baesler. This was the first open Senate seat since 1972. By a margin of 0.59%, this election was the second-closest race of the 1998 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in Nevada. Jim Bunning's swearing-in marked the first time since 1973 that Republicans held both United States Senate seats from Kentucky. This was the first open-seat United States Senate election in Kentucky since 1972 and the first open-seat United States Senate election in Kentucky for this seat since 1968.