Elections / 1988 · Senate · WI
The Democratic candidate won Wisconsin's Senate seat D+4.5.
Wisconsin, 1988. Candidate results and statewide totals below. The presidential race shared this ballot.
Wisconsin — 1988 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
1,128,625
52.1%
Republican (R)
1,030,440
47.5%
All others
9,125
0.4%
Margin
D+4.5
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1988 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herbert H. Kohl | DDemocrat | 1,128,625 | 52.1% |
| Susan Engeleiter | RRepublican | 1,030,440 | 47.5% |
| George W. Zaehringer | OIndependent | 3,965 | 0.2% |
| Patricia Grogan | OIndependent | 3,029 | 0.1% |
| Arlyn F. Wollenburg | OIndependent | 1,198 | 0.1% |
| Scatter | OOther | 933 | 0.0% |
Wisconsin's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +45.6% |
| 1980 | −1.9% |
| 1982 | +29.5% |
| 1986 | −3.5% |
| 1988 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | +6.6% |
| 1994 | +17.6% |
| 1998 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | +24.5% |
| 2004 | +11.2% |
| 2006 | +37.8% |
| 2010 | −4.8% |
| 2012 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | −3.4% |
| 2018 | +10.8% |
| 2022 | −1.0% |
| 2024 | +0.8% |