United States Senate election in Louisiana, 1990

United States Senate election in Louisiana, 1990
Louisiana
October 6, 1990

 
Nominee J. Bennett Johnston David Duke
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 753,198 607,091
Percentage 53.95% 43.48%
U.S. Senator before election

J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.
Democratic

The 1990 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on October 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. won re-election to a fourth term and avoided a runoff.

Candidates

Democratic

Republican

Declared

Withdrew

Campaign

This election was viewed at the onset as potentially competitive, as Senator Johnston was viewed as vulnerable in light of Louisiana's economic troubles at the time and Senator Johnston's voting record viewed by Republicans as too liberal. The Republican Party leadership endorsed the candidacy of State Senator Ben Bagert, who was picked over Secretary of State Fox McKeithen, State Representative Quentin Dastugue and State Representative David Duke.[1] David Duke, however, continued his candidacy and slowly overtook Bagert in attention and in the polls. Duke attracted national attention to the race with his involvement with white supremacist groups and his appeals to white resentment over affirmative-action programs. With Bagert failing to gain traction, the National Republican Senatorial Committee tried to recruit former Governor David Treen to jump into the race. When Treen passed, the effort turned from supporting Bagert to stopping Duke.[2]

As the election drew near, polls showed Johnston firmly in first place, with Duke in second place and Bagert trailing far behind at third. National Republicans grew fearful that Bagert's candidacy would only serve to force a runoff and that a potential runoff election with Duke being the de facto Republican nominee would hurt the national brand. On October 4, eight Republican Senators endorsed Senator Johnston, with Senator John Danforth saying at the press conference that "all of us would be embarrassed and mortified to have to serve in the United States Senate with David Duke masquerading as a Republican." Bagert dropped out of the race the next day, announcing that "it became more and more apparent, that instead of forcing a runoff between myself and Bennett Johnston, I might very well be forcing a runoff between somebody else and Bennett Johnston." He announced he would "reluctantly" vote for Johnston.[3] Bagert's name remained on the ballot, but under state law his votes could not be counted as part of the official tally.[4] After Bagert dropped out, HUD Secretary Jack Kemp endorsed Johnston, saying "there's no place in the Republican Party for someone who has practiced and practices racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism."[5]

Endorsements

Results

United States Senate Election, 1990[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. (inc.) 753,198 53.95%
Republican David Duke 607,091 43.48%
Democratic Nick Joseph Accardo 21,578 1.55%
Democratic Larry Crowe 14,345 1.03%
Majority 146,107 10.47%
Turnout
Total votes 1,396,212 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

References

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