United States Senate elections, 1998

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1998
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1996
previous_year = 1996
next_election = United States Senate elections, 2000
next_year = 2000
seats_for_election = 34 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 3, 1998

leader1 = Trent Lott
party1 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Mississippi
last_election1 = 55 seats
seats1 = 55
seat_change1 = +0
popular_vote1 = 25,346,613
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Tom Daschle
party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = South Dakota
last_election2 = 45 seats
seats2 = 45
seat_change2 = +0
popular_vote2 = 26,768,699
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

leader1 = Trent Lott
party1 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Mississippi
last_election1 = 55 seats
seats1 = 55
seat_change1 = +0
popular_vote1 = 25,346,613
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Tom Daschle
party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = South Dakota
last_election2 = 45 seats
seats2 = 45
seat_change2 = +0
popular_vote2 = 26,768,699
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

---

map_size = 320px
map_caption = legend|#800|Republican holdlegend|#f00|Republican pickupslegend|#008|Democratic holdlegend|#00f|Democratic pickup

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Trent Lott
before_party = Republican Party (United States)
after_election = Trent Lott
after_party = Republican Party (United States)

The U.S. Senate election, 1998 was a roughly even contest between the Republican and Democratic parties. While the Democrats had more seats, Republican attacks on the morality of President Bill Clinton failed to connect with voters and anticipated Republican gains failed to materialize. The Republicans picked-up open seats in Ohio and Kentucky and defeated incumbent Senator Carol Mosley-Braun (D-IL), but these were cancelled out by the Democrats' gain of an open seat in Indiana and defeats of Senators Al D'Amato (R-NY) and Lauch Faircloth (R-NC). The balance of the Senate remained unchanged at 55-45 in favor of the Republicans. Because of gains made in the House of Representatives, it was the first time since 1934 that the out of Presidency party failed to gain congressional seats in a mid-term election, and the first time since 1822 that the party not in control of the White House had failed to gain seats in the mid-term election of a President's second term.

Results summary