1998 United States Senate election in North Carolina
← 1992 November 3, 1998 2004 →
 
Nominee John Edwards Lauch Faircloth
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,029,237 945,943
Percentage 51.15% 47.01%
County results
Edwards:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Faircloth:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Lauch Faircloth
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Edwards
Democratic

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The 1998 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth decided to seek re-election to a second term, but was unseated by Democrat John Edwards, a trial attorney.[1] As of 2023, this is the last time a Democrat won North Carolina's class 3 Senate seat. Edwards declined to run for reelection in 2004.

Party primaries

Democratic primary

Going into the 1998 campaign, several prominent Democrats declined to run for Senate, including Attorney General Mike Easley, former Mayor of Charlotte Harvey Gantt, and former Glaxo CEO and 1996 Senate candidate Charlie Sanders.[2]

In the Democratic primary, Edwards defeated his closest rival D.G. Martin, former vice chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The race also featured former Charlotte city councilwoman Ella Scarborough and several minor candidates.[3]

Republican primary

In the Republican primary, Faircloth easily defeated two minor candidates.[4]

General election

Major candidates

Democratic

Republican

Campaign

During the campaign, Edwards fashioned himself as a "people's advocate", while Faircloth accused Edwards of being too friendly towards labor unions.[5] Referring to Edwards as a "tobacco-taxing liberal", Faircloth's campaign ran ads alleging that Edwards' position on tobacco regulation would lead to job losses in the state.[6]

Edwards' campaign refused financial support from political action committees and ran ads criticizing Faircloth's record on Medicare and Social Security.[7] Edwards' victory was partially attributed by some observers to blowback against the Faircloth campaign's use of negative advertising.[8]

Results

1998 United States Senate election in North Carolina
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Edwards 1,029,237 51.15%
Republican Lauch Faircloth (incumbent) 945,943 47.01%
Libertarian Barbara Howe 36,963 1.84%
Total votes 2,012,143 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References

  1. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 33.
  2. ^ "EDWARDS SHOULD LEAD THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET\". Greensboro News and Record. May 1998. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  3. ^ "Stuart Rothenberg: Money Makes A Difference -- Again - May 7, 1998". www.cnn.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  4. ^ "State Board of Elections" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  5. ^ Dewar, Helen (July 11, 1998). "North Carolina's Stark Clash". Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Andron, Scott (October 26, 1998). "ATTACK ADS SIGNIFY CLOSE SENATE RACE\ SENATE CANDIDATES JOHN EDWARDS AND LAUCH FAIRCLOTH ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF LYING ABOUT EDWARDS' STANDS ON TOBACCO". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "North Carolina Senate - November 3, 1998". CNN. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  8. ^ Bragg, Rick (November 6, 1998). "THE 1998 ELECTION: THE DISCONTENTED; Rejecting Negative Advertising, and the Candidate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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