1988 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 1988 United States Senate election in Wisconsin took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator William Proxmire decided to retire, instead of running for re-election to a sixth full term. Democrat Herb Kohl won the open seat.

1988 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1982 November 8, 1988 1994 →

Nominee Herb Kohl Susan Engeleiter Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,128,625 1,030,440 Percentage 52.08% 47.55%

County results Kohl:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Engeleiter:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William Proxmire Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Herb Kohl Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tony Earl, former Governor of Wisconsin
• Ed Garvey, former executive director of the National Football League Players Association and nominee for Senate in 1986
• Edmond C. Hou-Seye
• Herb Kohl, businessman & former chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
• Doug La Follette, Secretary of State of Wisconsin

Results

Primary results by county:

  Kohl

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Earl

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Herb Kohl	249,226	46.76%
	Democratic	Tony Earl	203,479	38.18%
	Democratic	Ed Garvey	55,225	10.36%
	Democratic	Doug La Follette	19,819	3.72%
	Democratic	Edmond C. Hou-Seye	5,040	0.95%
	Democratic	Write ins	215	0.04%
Total votes			533,004	100%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Susan Engeleiter, State Senator from Brookfield
• Steve King, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
• Peter Y. Taylor

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Susan Engeleiter	209,025	57.45%
	Republican	Steve King	148,601	40.84%
	Republican	Peter Y. Taylor	6,149	1.69%
	Republican	Write ins	87	0.02%
Total votes			363,862	100%

Results

General election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Herb Kohl	1,128,625	52.08%
	Republican	Susan Engeleiter	1,030,440	47.55%
	Independent	George W. Zaehringer	3,965	0.18%
	Socialist Workers	Patricia Grogan	3,029	0.14%
	Independent	Arlyn F. Wollenburg	1,198	0.06%
	Democratic hold
Total votes			2,167,257	100.00%

See also

• 1988 United States Senate elections