United States elections, 1996
Encyclopedia
The 1996 United States general elections were held on November 5. Bill Clinton
was re-elected as President of the United States
, while the Republicans
maintained their majorities in both houses of the United States Congress
.
Incumbent President
Bill Clinton
(D
) defeated Senator Bob Dole
(R
) to win re-election in 1996. Billionaire and 1992 Independent Presidential candidate Ross Perot
, the nominee of the newly founded Reform Party
, though performing strongly for a third party
candidate and receiving 8.4% of the vote, was unable to replicate, let alone improve upon, his performance from his 1992 campaign.
and even expanded their majority in the Senate
albeit that it would be abated by losses in the House
.
During the 1996 U.S. Senate elections, elections for all thirty-three regularly scheduled Class II
Senate seats as well as special elections in Oregon and Kansas were held.
Republicans captured three seats in Alabama, Arkansas, and Nebraska, but lost two in Oregon
(via a special election not held concurrently with the other Senate elections in November) and South Dakota.
from non-state districts were up for election that year.
Though Democrats made an effort to regain control of the House following massive defeats in 1994
, which in the process of doing so resulted in a net gain of eight seats, Republicans retained their majority. This election was one of the few instances in U.S. Congressional election history in which the winning party lost the popular vote.
In addition to all regularly scheduled House elections, there were five special elections held. They were held to fill vacanies for California's 37th congressional district
(on March 26), Maryland's 7th congressional district
(April 16), Oregon's 3rd congressional district
(May 21), Kansas's 2nd congressional district
, and Missouri's 8th congressional district
(both on November 5).
Going into the elections, Republicans held the governorships of thirty-two states, Democrats held those of seventeen states, all territories, and the Mayorship of the District of Columbia, and one Governor was a member of neither party. Republicans won in West Virginia, but this was countered by a Democratic victory in New Hampshire. Thus, there was no net change in the balance of power.
(though some were elected on the same ticket as the gubernatorial nominee), Secretary of state
, state Treasurer
, state Auditor
, state Attorney General
, state Superintendent of Education, Commissioners of Insurance
, Agriculture or, Labor, and etc.) and state judicial branch offices (seats on state Supreme Court
s and, in some states, state appellate courts).
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
was re-elected as President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, while the Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
maintained their majorities in both houses of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
United States Presidential election
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
(D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) defeated Senator Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) to win re-election in 1996. Billionaire and 1992 Independent Presidential candidate Ross Perot
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
, the nominee of the newly founded Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
, though performing strongly for a third party
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...
candidate and receiving 8.4% of the vote, was unable to replicate, let alone improve upon, his performance from his 1992 campaign.
United States Congressional elections
Despite the Democrats' strong performance in the Presidential election, Republicans would remain the majority party in the United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and even expanded their majority in the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
albeit that it would be abated by losses in the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
United States Senate elections
Classes of United States Senators
The three classes of United States Senators are currently made up of 33 or 34 Senate seats. The purpose of the classes is to determine which Senate seats will be up for election in a given year. The three groups are staggered so that one of them is up for election every two years.A senator's...
Senate seats as well as special elections in Oregon and Kansas were held.
Republicans captured three seats in Alabama, Arkansas, and Nebraska, but lost two in Oregon
United States Senate special election in Oregon, 1996
The 1996 United States Senate special election in Oregon was held on January 30, 1996 to fill the seat vacated by Republican Bob Packwood, who resigned from the Senate due to sexual misconduct allegations. Democrat Ron Wyden won the open seat. Smith would win election to the Senate later that year...
(via a special election not held concurrently with the other Senate elections in November) and South Dakota.
United States House of Representatives elections
During the 1996 House elections, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives as well as the seats of all non-voting DelegatesDelegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
from non-state districts were up for election that year.
Though Democrats made an effort to regain control of the House following massive defeats in 1994
Republican Revolution
The Republican Revolution or Revolution of '94 is what the media dubbed Republican Party success in the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pickup of eight seats in the Senate...
, which in the process of doing so resulted in a net gain of eight seats, Republicans retained their majority. This election was one of the few instances in U.S. Congressional election history in which the winning party lost the popular vote.
In addition to all regularly scheduled House elections, there were five special elections held. They were held to fill vacanies for California's 37th congressional district
California's 37th congressional district
California's 37th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district encompasses most of Long Beach and Compton as well as Carson, Signal Hill, and parts of other adjacent municipalities and neighborhoods in Greater Los...
(on March 26), Maryland's 7th congressional district
Maryland's 7th congressional district
Maryland's 7th congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives every two years. The seat is currently represented by Elijah Cummings . It encompasses the majority African American sections of Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland, in addition to the...
(April 16), Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district covers most of Multnomah County, including Portland east of the Willamette River, Gresham, and Troutdale. It also includes the northern part of Clackamas County, including Milwaukie. Parts of northwest Portland also lie within the district...
(May 21), Kansas's 2nd congressional district
Kansas's 2nd congressional district
Kansas's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas covering most of the eastern part of the state, except for the core of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The district encompasses less than a quarter of the state...
, and Missouri's 8th congressional district
Missouri's 8th congressional district
Missouri's 8th Congressional District is one of 435 congressional districts in the United States and one of nine congressional districts in the state of Missouri. The district encompasses rural Southeast Missouri and South Central Missouri as well as some counties in Southwest Missouri. The...
(both on November 5).
Gubernatorial elections
During the 1996 gubernatorial elections, the governorships of the eleven states and two territories were up for election.Going into the elections, Republicans held the governorships of thirty-two states, Democrats held those of seventeen states, all territories, and the Mayorship of the District of Columbia, and one Governor was a member of neither party. Republicans won in West Virginia, but this was countered by a Democratic victory in New Hampshire. Thus, there was no net change in the balance of power.
Other state-wide Officer elections
In some states where the positions were elective offices, voters elected candidates for state executive branch offices (Lieutenant GovernorsLieutenant governor (United States)
In the United States, 43 of the 50 states have a separate, full-time office of lieutenant governor. In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the highest officer of state after the governor, standing in for that officer when he or she is absent from the state or temporarily incapacitated...
(though some were elected on the same ticket as the gubernatorial nominee), Secretary of state
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
, state Treasurer
State Treasurer
In the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
, state Auditor
State auditor
State auditors are executive officers of U.S. states who serve as auditors and comptrollers for state funds....
, state Attorney General
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
, state Superintendent of Education, Commissioners of Insurance
Insurance commissioner
Insurance commissioner is an executive office in many U.S. states, some in the state cabinet. The office differs state by state:...
, Agriculture or, Labor, and etc.) and state judicial branch offices (seats on state Supreme Court
State supreme court
In the United States, the state supreme court is the highest state court in the state court system ....
s and, in some states, state appellate courts).
Mayoral elections
Some major American cities held their mayoral elections in 1996.- Baton Rouge- Incumbent Mayor Tom McHughTom Ed McHughThomas Edward McHugh, known as Tom Ed McHugh , has since 2001 been the executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association. McHugh is a former Mayor-President, a combined municipal-parish position, of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. A resident of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, McHugh...
(R) was re-elected to a third term as Mayor of Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
as a Republican (he was previously a Democrat until his realignment). - Cheyenne, WyomingCheyenne, WyomingCheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
- Fresno- Incumbent Mayor Jim Patterson (R) was re-elected.
- Honolulu- Incumbent Mayor Jeremy HarrisJeremy HarrisJeremy Harris, born December 7, 1950 in Wilmington, Delaware, served as Mayor of Honolulu from 1994 to 2004. A biologist by training, Harris started his political career as a delegate to the 1978 Hawai'i State Constitutional Convention...
(D) was re-elected. - Huntsville, Alabama- Loretta SpencerLoretta SpencerLoretta Purdy Spencer was the mayor of Huntsville, Alabama. Her first term began October 4, 1996, and her last term ended on November 3, 2008....
was elected Mayor of Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, AlabamaHuntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
to succeed outgoing Mayor Steve HettingerSteve HettingerStephen Ray "Steve" Hettinger served as mayor of Huntsville, Alabama from 1988 to 1996. During this period, Hettinger became particularly involved in leading the recovery of the city in the aftermath of the Huntsville Tornado of 1989....
(D) - Mesa, Arizona- Wayne BrownWayne BrownWayne Larry Brown is an English professional football goalkeeper who currently plays for Oxford United.-Career:Born in Southampton, former bricklayer Brown made a switch from Bashley to Bristol City for £40,000 in December 1992. Between 1993 and 1996 he made only 24 appearance for the Robins due...
was elected Mayor of Mesa, ArizonaMesa, ArizonaAccording to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
. - Milwaukee- Incumbent Mayor John NorquistJohn NorquistJohn Olof Norquist is an American politician and 37th mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as mayor from 1988 until he left office in 2004 to lead the Congress for the New Urbanism.-Personal background:...
(D) was re-elected. - Orlando- Incumbent Mayor Glenda HoodGlenda HoodGlenda Evans Hood is a U.S. politician, who was Secretary of State of Florida, from 2003 to 2005, and the first woman to serve as Mayor of Orlando ....
(R) was re-elected. - Portland, Oregon- Incumbent Mayor Vera KatzVera KatzVera Katz is a Democratic politician in the state of Oregon. She was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and was the 45th mayor of Portland, Oregon's most populous city. Growing up in New York City, she moved to Portland in 1962 and was elected to the Oregon...
(D) was re-elected. - Sacramento- Incumbent Mayor Joe Serna, Jr. (D) was re-elected.
- San Diego- Incumbent Mayor Susan GoldingSusan GoldingSusan G. Golding is an American Republican politician from California, best known as the former two-term mayor of San Diego. She is currently president and CEO of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation in San Diego...
(R) was re-elected. - San Juan, Puerto Rico- Former Secretary of State of Puerto RicoSecretary of State of Puerto RicoThe Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico provides for the position of Secretary of State of Puerto Rico who is first in line to exercise the role of acting Governor when the Governor is temporarily unavailable, whether because of being away from Puerto Rico or due to another temporary...
Sila María CalderónSila María CalderónSila María Calderón Serra is a Puerto Rican politician and businesswoman who served as the seventh Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005. She is the first and, to date, only woman elected to that office...
(PPDPopular Democratic Party of Puerto RicoThe Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
/D) was elected Mayor of San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
to succeed outgoing Mayor Héctor Luis AcevedoHéctor Luis AcevedoHéctor Luis Acevedo is a politician from Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is the son of Héctor N. Acevedo and Toñita, both public servants...
(PPD/D). - Virginia Beach- Incumbent Mayor Meyera E. OberndorfMeyera E. OberndorfMeyera E. Oberndorf was the 23rd mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was Virginia Beach's longest serving mayor, and she previously served as the city's vice mayor. She was the city's first female mayor and was the first woman elected to public office in the more than 300-year history of...
(D) was re-elected. - Wilmington, Delaware- Incumbent Mayor James Sills (D) was re-elected.