The 1998 United States Senate election in Colorado was held November 3, 1998, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell won re-election to a second term by a landslide. This was Campbell's first election as a Republican as he left the Democratic Party in 1995.
As of , this is the only time since 1968 that a Republican won the Class 3 Senate seat in Colorado, and the last time that a Native American was elected to the United States Senate until 2022.
Democratic primary
Candidates Dottie Lamm, former First Lady of Colorado Gil Romero, former state legislator
Results
Republican primary
Candidates Ben Nighthorse Campbell, incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Eggert, 1994 Republican congressional candidate
Results
General election
Candidates Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R), incumbent U.S. Senator Dottie Lamm, former First Lady of Colorado
Campaign Campbell, who was elected in 1992 as a Democrat, switched parties after the 1994 Republican Revolution. He faced a primary challenger, but won with over 70% of the vote. In the general election, Democratic nominee Dottie Lamm criticized Campbell for flip flopping from being a moderate liberal to moderate conservative. In fact, throughout the entire campaign, Lamm mostly sent out negative attack advertisements about Campbell.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BenNighthorse Campbell (R) DottieLamm (D) UndecidedMason DixonOctober 26–28, 1998831 (LV)± 3.5%58%32%10%Mason DixonOctober 9–12, 1998804 (LV)± 3.5%50%37%13%Ciruli AssociatesOctober 1–10, 1998407 (LV)± 5.0%54%33%13%Mason DixonJuly 27–29, 1998849 (LV)± 3.5%46%34%20%
Results
See also 1998 United States Senate elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References