Colonel William A. Phillips

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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.

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

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

References