The 1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker ran for re-election to a fourth term but was narrowly defeated by Democrat Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut Attorney General and eventual 2000 nominee for Vice President of the United States, who would remain in office until 2013. This is the last time a Connecticut Senator lost re-election.

Both Weicker and Lieberman would go on to win state-wide elections as independents respectively in 1990 for governor and in 2006 for Senate. Lieberman's swearing-in marked the first time since 1971 that Democrats held both Senate seats from Connecticut. Lieberman was at times considered to the right of Weicker, with him benefiting from the support of National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr., and his brother, former U.S. Senator from New York James L. Buckley, with William Buckley running columns in support of Lieberman.

General election Candidates Joe Lieberman (D), Connecticut Attorney General Lowell P. Weicker Jr. (R), incumbent U.S. Senator since 1971 Howard A. Grayson Jr. (L) Melissa M. Fisher (NAP)

Debates Dates Lieberman Weicker LinkOctober 22, 1988ParticipantParticipant C-SPAN

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin LowellWeicker (R) JoeLieberman (D) UndecidedUniversity of ConnecticutNovember 1 - 3, 1988515 (LV)± 5%42%36%22%University of ConnecticutOctober 23 - 30, 19881,000 (LV)± 3.5%38%37%25%Hartford CourantOctober, 1988512 (V)–39%39%22%Quinnipiac UniversitySeptember 27 – October 5, 1988742 (RV)–41.4%26.9%–University of ConnecticutSeptember 12 – 18, 1988512 (RV)± 5%44%30%27%University of ConnecticutJuly 11 – 18, 1988508 (RV)± 5%47%31%–Hartford CourantApril, 1988500 (RV)–51%27%22%

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 1988CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJoe Lieberman (D)$2,650,603$2,570,779$79,824Lowell Weicker (R)$2,781,538$2,681,294$52,517Source: Federal Election Commission

Results

By congressional district Weicker and Lieberman won 3 of 6 congressional districts, respectively. Lieberman won one held by a Republican, while Weicker won one held by a Democrat. District Joe LiebermanDemocratic Lowell WeickerRepublican Others Total votes cast Representative # % # % # % 1st 122,631 52.05% 110,646 46.97% 2,290 0.98% 235,567 Barbara B. Kennelly 2nd 110,238 48.03% 116,207 50.64% 3,032 1.33% 229,477 Sam Gejdenson 3rd 123,634 53.95% 102,954 44.93% 2,571 1.12% 229,159 Bruce Morrison 4th 94,982 44.55% 115,244 54.06% 2,964 1.39% 213,190 Chris Shays 5th 113,984 49.16% 114,878 49.54% 3,001 1.30% 231,863 John G. Rowland 6th 123,030 50.37% 118,525 48.52% 2,705 1.11% 244,260 Nancy JohnsonTotals688,49949.76%678,45449.04%16,5631.20%1,383,516

See also 1988 United States Senate elections

References