1998 United States Senate election in Alaska

The 1998 United States Senate election in Alaska was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Frank Murkowski sought re-election to a fourth term in the United States Senate. Murkowski easily won re-election against Democratic nominee Joseph Sonneman, a perennial candidate, earning nearly 75% of the vote.

1998 United States Senate election in Alaska

← 1992 November 3, 1998 2004 →

Nominee Frank Murkowski Joseph Sonneman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 165,227 43,743 Percentage 74.49% 19.72%

Results by state house district Murkowski:      40–50%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Frank Murkowski Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski Republican

This is the last time any one won this seat with a majority of the vote in the first round. As of 2023, this is the last time a male or a man was elected to the United States Senate from Alaska for the Class 3 Senate seat.

Open primary

Candidates

Democratic

• Joseph Sonneman, perennial candidate
• Frank Vondersaar, perennial candidate

Republican

• Frank Murkowski, incumbent United States Senator since 1981
• William L. Hale

Green

• Mary Jordan

Libertarian

• Scott A. Kohlhaas, perennial candidate

Results

Open primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Murkowski (incumbent)	76,649	71.76%
	Democratic	Joseph Sonneman	10,721	10.04%
	Democratic	Frank Vondersaar	6,342	5.94%
	Republican	William L. Hale	6,313	5.91%
	Green	Jeffrey Gottlieb	4,796	4.49%
	Libertarian	Scott A. Kohlhaas	1,987	1.86%
Total votes			106,808	100.00%

General election

Results

1998 United States Senate election in Alaska^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Frank Murkowski (incumbent)	165,227	74.49%	+21.44%
	Democratic	Joe Sonneman	43,743	19.72%	−18.68%
	Green	Jeffrey Gottlieb	7,126	3.21%	−5.14%
	Libertarian	Scott A. Kohlhaas	5,046	2.27%
	Write-ins		665	0.30%
Majority			121,484	54.77%	+40.13%
Turnout			221,807
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1998 United States Senate elections