1996 United States Senate election in South Dakota

none March 2026 September 2023 1996 United States Senate election in South Dakota South Dakota presidential no 1990 United States Senate election in South Dakota 1990 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota 2002 November 5, 1996 150x150px Tim Johnson, official photo as senator.jpg Tim Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 166,533 51.32% Larry Pressler 1989.jpg Larry Pressler Republican Party (United States) 157,954 48.68% 1996 United States Senate election in South Dakota results map by county.svg 260px County resultsJohnson: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Pressler: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% U.S. Senator Larry Pressler Republican Party (United States) Tim Johnson Democratic Party (United States) The 1996 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican Senator Larry Pressler lost his bid for a fourth term to Democratic nominee Tim Johnson by 8,579 votes and a 2.64% margin. Pressler was the only incumbent U.S. Senator to lose a general election in the 1996 election cycle, of which this was the only Democratic flip.2004-11-16 AllPolitics - South Dakota Senate Race - Nov. 6, 1996 CNN http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9611/05/senate/sd/ 2023-08-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20041116213158/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9611/05/senate/sd/ November 16, 2004 Barrett R. Morris 1996-11-06 AllPolitics - A Status Quo Senate - Nov. 6, 1996 http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9611/05/senate/analysis/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20011005230314/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9611/05/senate/analysis/ 2001-10-05 2023-08-30 www.cnn.com He later ran again unsuccessfully for this seat as an Independent in 2014, when Johnson did not seek re-election. General election Candidates Tim Johnson, U.S. Representative at-large (Democratic) Larry Pressler, incumbent U.S. Senator (Republican) Campaign The race between Larry Pressler and Tim Johnson was one of the most competitive Senate races that year. From the onset, Johnson was seen as a potential candidate,Curran Tim https://books.google.com/books?id=qlkeAAAAIBAJ&dq=larry+pressler+tim+johnson+primary+opposition&pg=PA15&article_id=2083,3082733 GOP licking chops over '96 prospects Times Daily 1994-11-20 D1 en and it was thought Pressler would face a tough race were Johnson, the state's sole congressman since 1987, to enter.Brasher Phillip https://books.google.com/books?id=qo8xAAAAIBAJ&dq=pressler+johnson+1996&pg=PA19&article_id=2686,8223602 Phone PACS aids bill's sponsor Rome News-Tribune 1995-08-06 2E en Initially Johnson was quiet on his 1996 plansLawrence Tom 2014-12-16 Lawrence: Tim Johnson's graceful exit from the Senate https://www.aberdeennews.com/story/opinion/2014/12/16/lawrence-tim-johnsons-graceful-exit-from-the-senate/45409433/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20230829222201/https://www.aberdeennews.com/story/opinion/2014/12/16/lawrence-tim-johnsons-graceful-exit-from-the-senate/45409433/ 2023-08-29 2023-08-29 Aberdeen News en-US but after a delay due to his wife's breast cancer surgery,Espo David https://books.google.com/books?id=PGlGAAAAIBAJ&dq=larry+pressler+tim+johnson+primary&pg=PA3&article_id=1326,859070 Democrats grow optimistic over Senate races The Daily Gazette 1996-03-04 A5 en Johnson formally entered the race on April 2, 1996.Kranz David 1996-04-03 Johnson says he'll fight for S.D. values in Senate https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-johnson-says-hell-fight-fo/142328799/ 2024-02-28 Argus-Leader 1 Neither candidate faced any primary opposition.Rosenbaum David E. 1996-10-19 A Rare Sighting in South Dakota: An Incumbent in a Battle for Re-election en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/19/us/a-rare-sighting-in-south-dakota-an-incumbent-in-a-battle-for-re-election.html live 2023-08-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20131113062235/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/19/us/a-rare-sighting-in-south-dakota-an-incumbent-in-a-battle-for-re-election.html 2013-11-13 0362-4331 One of the biggest issues of this campaign had to do with Pressler, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, and his increased stature. For example, Pressler received criticism for his suggestions to privatize public television.Anderson Jack Binstein Michael 2023-08-29 PRESSLER AND THE BARNEY' BACKLASH - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/02/13/pressler-and-the-barney-backlash/29e7c7b2-9c7c-47bd-af4e-a8611dc11e5c/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20230829230400/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/02/13/pressler-and-the-barney-backlash/29e7c7b2-9c7c-47bd-af4e-a8611dc11e5c/ 2023-08-29 2023-08-29 Washington Post He also faced criticism for enquiring the ethnic background and gender identity of PBS employees.Witt Karen de 1995-02-03 Queries on Public Radio Staff Start Furor en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/03/us/queries-on-public-radio-staff-start-furor.html live 2023-08-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526141548/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/03/us/queries-on-public-radio-staff-start-furor.html 2015-05-26 0362-4331 The backlash from the situation also led to bumper stickers saying "Keep public TV, privatize Pressler" popping up around the state.Marks Alexandra 1995-09-20 PBS Is Bowed But Unbroken In Budget Battle Christian Science Monitor https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0920/20013.html live 2023-08-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20150926181142/https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0920/20013.html 2015-09-26 0882-7729 Another issue which would arise was related to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 a bill which Pressler authored.Shribman David https://books.google.com/books?id=QTczAAAAIBAJ&dq=larry+pressler+chair+of+commerce&pg=PA8&article_id=2868,4226621 Contentious Senate Campaign in South Dakota Lawrence Journal-World 1996-09-23 6B en Johnson used the bill to attack Pressler for rising phone prices in South Dakota. This especially became a problem when Pressler had to pull an ad claiming phone rates went down, even though they had not. More challenging for Pressler, however, were the attacks relating to PAC donations Pressler received. Pressler received significant donations from telecommunication entities and their Political Action Committees. In the first nine months of 1995, Pressler received more PAC donations than any other politician.L'Hommedieu Jon https://books.google.com/books?id=3hoOAAAAIBAJ&dq=larry+pressler+1995&pg=PA3&article_id=2055,3855006 'Clean up Congress' means getting rid of PAC funds The Daily Courier 1996-05-29 4A en2023-08-29 Washingtonpost.com: Contributions On Call The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/oncall/stories/oc092196.htm 2023-08-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20230829233304/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/oncall/stories/oc092196.htm August 29, 2023 In a small state such as South Dakota, this meant the money could be spent on numerous ads. That said, this proved a double edged sword for Pressler. Johnson criticized Pressler for the donations he took from these companies and tied the donations to the Telecom bill.Schantz Harvey L. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203903155 Politics in an Era of Divided Government 2013-05-13 Routledge 10.4324/9780203903155 978-1-135-57766-7 Similarly, on tobacco donations, Pressler faced criticism for accepting over $50,000 in money from the tobacco industry, whereas Johnson had stopped accepting donations in 1995.Neergaard Lauran 1996-09-05 NEWSPAPER ADS SUPPORT FDA'S TOBACCO CRACKDOWN https://greensboro.com/newspaper-ads-support-fdas-tobacco-crackdown/article_4a29c5f2-0067-5fab-96d8-b28e46c4f9c3.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20230829235325/https://greensboro.com/article_4a29c5f2-0067-5fab-96d8-b28e46c4f9c3.html 2023-08-29 2023-08-29 Greensboro News and Record en This, coupled with allegations of Pressler using campaign funds for lavish travel, fed into Johnson's attacks that Pressler lost touch with the state's voters.Associated Press https://books.google.com/books?id=IzEjAAAAIBAJ&dq=pressler+johnson+1996&pg=PA3&article_id=5099,5997653 South Dakota senator in peril of losing seat The Southeast Missourian 1996-09-23 4A enDewar Helen 1996-10-20 NO MORE MR. NICE GUYS IN SOUTH DAKOTA en-US Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/10/20/no-more-mr-nice-guys-in-south-dakota/3d6b6b9f-c8cd-4a08-b6d1-d990c30c576d/ live 2023-08-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20170828204646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/web/20170828204646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/10/20/no-more-mr-nice-guys-in-south-dakota/3d6b6b9f-c8cd-4a08-b6d1-d990c30c576d/?utm_term=.d1526755ea98 2017-08-28 0190-8286 Johnson had faced the advantage of being the states lone U.S. House member, which some believe put him on an even keel with Pressler, and created the dynamic of an incumbent against another incumbent. Johnson also had a better record of winning, never getting less than 59% of the vote in his five campaigns and over performing Pressler on the same ballot in 1990.Lowy Joan https://books.google.com/books?id=v2UlAAAAIBAJ&dq=larry+pressler+tim+johnson+primary&pg=PA11&article_id=1037,6575946 Control of the Senate appears too close to call Reading Eagle 1996-10-13 A20 en Pressler tried to attack Johnson's record charging that he was too liberal for voters of South Dakota. Pressler ran numerous ads, starting in July 1995, attacking Johnson as a liberal, though Johnson's campaign's polling showed these attacks did not land.Struble Karl Campaigns and elections: contemporary case studies CQ press 2000 978-1-56802-495-0 Washington (D.C) 67 In terms of polling, it was seen as a close race throughout, albeit mostly through internal polls. In the end, Johnson was the victor of a close race, 166,533 votes (51%) to 157,954 votes (49%) in spite, of being outspent 8 to 5.Slavin Peter https://books.google.com/books?id=LfEvAAAAIBAJ&dq=larry+pressler+tim+johnson+1996&pg=PA9&article_id=3262,5373380 Incumbency helps congressional candidates Gallman Vanessa Lakeland Ledger 1996-11-05 A17 en Results General election resultshttps://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/election-resources/election-history/1996/1996_general_election_returns_presidential_statewide_candidates.aspx Election Resources: South Dakota Secretary of State Democratic Party (United States) Tim Johnson 166,533 51.32% +6.25% Republican Party (United States) Larry Pressler (incumbent) 157,954 48.68% -3.71% 324,487 100.00% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) See also 1996 United States Senate elections References South Dakota 1996 Category:1996 South Dakota elections