1996 Senate Republican Conference leadership special election

United States political party election 1996 Senate Republican Conference leadership special election United States presidential no 1994 Senate Republican Conference leadership election 1994 1996 Senate Republican Conference leadership election 1996 (regular) June 12, 1996 Trent Lott official portrait (3x4a).jpg 160x160px Trent Lott E81B23 File:Thad Cochran official photo (cropped).jpg 160x160px Thad Cochran E81B23 Leader Vacant Trent Lott Members' 44 8 Mississippi Mississippi 84.6% 15.4% Seal of the United States Senate.svg The 1996 Senate Republican Conference leadership special election was held on June 12, 1996, to elect the leader of the Senate Republican Conference following incumbent Bob Dole's resignation the previous day to focus on his unsuccessful presidential campaign. Senate Majority Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi won the election, defeating his colleague from the same state and Chair of the Senate Republican Conference Thad Cochran by a wide margin. This was the last contested Senate Republican Conference leadership election until 2022. Candidates The following candidates declared their intent to run. CandidateStateOther Senate roles125pxTrent LottMississippi(Served since 1989)Republican Senate Whip(Since 1995)125pxThad CochranMississippi(Served since 1978)Chair of the Senate Republican Conference(Since 1991)Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference(1985–1991) Results CandidateVotesPercent Trent Lott4444 52Thad Cochran88 52Total:52100%Source:Rudin Ken https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2009/06/on_this_day_in_1996_trent_lott.html This Day In 1996: Trent Lott Succeeds Dole As Senate GOP Leader NPR June 12, 2009 July 7, 2026 References * Senate Republican Conference leadership election Senate Category:104th United States Congress