1990 United States Senate election in Louisiana

none March 2026 September 2023 1990 United States Senate election in Louisiana Louisiana 1912 presidential no 1984 United States Senate election in Louisiana 1984 1996 United States Senate election in Louisiana 1996 October 6, 1990U. S. Senator File:Senator J. Bennett Johnston.jpg J. Bennett Johnston Democratic Party (United States) 753,198 53.95% File:David Duke speaks to press 1989.jpg 150x150px David Duke Republican Party (United States) 607,051 43.48% 1990 United States Senate election in Louisiana results map by parish.svg 280px Parish resultsJohnston: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Duke: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston Democratic Party (United States) J. Bennett Johnston Democratic Party (United States) The 1990 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on October 6, 1990. In a nonpartisan blanket primary, incumbent Democrat J. Bennett Johnston won reelection to a fourth term, avoiding a runoff on November 6, 1990, by receiving 54% of the vote. Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke placed second, as the leading Republican challenger. The involvement of Duke introduced unusual party dynamics to the race. Weeks before the election, several nationally prominent Republicans endorsed Johnston, and trailing Republican challenger Ben Bagert dropped out, saying that he would "reluctantly" vote for the leading Democratic candidate, hoping to avoid a run-off with Duke as the sole Republican. Candidates Democratic J. Bennett Johnston, incumbent U.S. Senator Nick Joseph Accardo Larry Crowe Republican Declared David Duke, State Representative and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan Withdrew Ben Bagert, State Senator Campaign This election was viewed at the onset as potentially competitive, as incumbent U.S. Senator Johnston was viewed as vulnerable in light of Louisiana's economic troubles at the time and Johnston's voting record viewed by Republicans as too liberal. The Republican Party leadership endorsed the candidacy of State Senator Ben Bagert, who was picked over Secretary of State W. Fox McKeithen, State Representative Quentin Dastugue and State Representative David Duke.Associated Press https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-14-mn-284-story.html Louisiana GOP Refuses to Back Duke for Senate Articles.latimes.com 1990-01-14 2018-09-20 David Duke, however, continued his candidacy and slowly overtook Bagert in attention and in the polls. Duke attracted national attention to the race due to his involvement with white supremacist groups and his appeals to white resentment over affirmative-action programs. With Bagert failing to gain traction, the National Republican Senatorial Committee tried to recruit former Governor David Treen to enter the race. When Treen passed, the effort turned from supporting Bagert to stopping Duke.Brownstein Ronald https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-07-mn-2993-story.html Johnston Beats Duke, 54-43%, in Louisiana Articles.latimes.com 1990-10-07 2018-09-20 As the election drew near, polls showed Johnston firmly in first place, with Duke in second place and Bagert trailing far behind at third. National Republicans grew fearful that Bagert's candidacy would only serve to force a runoff and that a potential runoff election with Duke being the de facto Republican nominee would hurt the national brand. On October 4, eight Republican U.S. Senators instead endorsed Johnston, with U.S. Senator John Danforth saying at the press conference that "all of us would be embarrassed and mortified to have to serve in the United States Senate with David Duke masquerading as a Republican." Bagert dropped out of the race the next day, announcing that "it became more and more apparent, that instead of forcing a runoff between myself and Bennett Johnston, I might very well be forcing a runoff between somebody else and Bennett Johnston." He announced he would "reluctantly" vote for Johnston.https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/05/us/republican-quits-louisiana-race-in-effort-to-defeat-ex-klansman.html Republican Quits Louisiana Race In Effort to Defeat Ex-Klansman - The New York Times Nytimes.com 1990-10-05 2018-09-20 Bagert's name remained on the ballot, but under state law his votes could not be counted as part of the official tally.Associated Press https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-07-mn-2989-story.html Johnston Takes Lead Over Duke in Louisiana Articles.latimes.com 1990-10-07 2018-09-20 After Bagert dropped out, HUD Secretary Jack Kemp endorsed Johnston, saying "there's no place in the Republican Party for someone who has practiced and practices racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism."https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/07/us/former-klan-figure-loses-to-incumbent-in-louisiana-voting.html Former Klan Figure Loses to Incumbent In Louisiana Voting - The New York Times Nytimes.com 1990-10-07 2018-09-20 Endorsements J. Bennett Johnston Republicans Jack Kemp, United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Rudy Boschwitz, United States Senator (R-MN) William Cohen, United States Senator (R-ME) John Danforth, United States Senator (R-MO) David Durenberger, United States Senator (R-MN) Nancy Landon Kassebaum, United States Senator (R-KS) Frank Murkowski, United States Senator (R-AK) Warren Rudman, United States Senator (R-NH) Ted Stevens, United States Senator (R-AK) Ben Bagert, Louisiana State Senator (R) (only tactically, to keep David Duke out of office) Results United States Senate election, 1990Election Results Democratic Party (United States) J. Bennett Johnston (incumbent) 753,198 53.95% Republican Party (United States) David Duke 607,091 43.48% Democratic Party (United States) Nick Joseph Accardo 21,578 1.55% Democratic Party (United States) Larry Crowe 14,345 1.03% 146,107 10.47% 1,396,212 100% Democratic Party (United States) Aftermath Johnston would retire at the end of this term, succeeded by fellow Democrat Mary Landrieu. Duke would run in that election as well, but would not make the runoff. Duke would mount a campaign for governor in 1991. He again became the most-supported Republican on the primary ballot, eliminating incumbent Republican governor Buddy Roemer and Republican congressman Clyde C. Holloway. Duke would be defeated in the runoff by former governor Edwin Edwards, a Democrat. As in the Senate election, Duke was denounced by mainstream Republicans, including President Bush.Suro Roberto November 7, 1991 Bush Denounces Duke As Racist and Charlatan https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/07/us/the-1991-election-louisiana-bush-denounces-duke-as-racist-and-charlatan.html The New York Times See also 1990 United States Senate elections References 30em Louisiana 1990 Category:1990 Louisiana elections Category:David Duke