1990 United States Senate election in South Dakota

1990 United States Senate election in South Dakota

November 6, 1990

Nominee Larry Pressler Ted Muenster Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 135,682 116,727 Percentage 52.39% 45.07%

County results Pressler:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Muenster:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Larry Pressler Republican Elected U.S. Senator Larry Pressler Republican

The 1990 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Larry Pressler ran for re-election to a third term, beating Democratic nominee Theodore 'Ted' Muenster by 19,000 votes. This was the last time until 2014 that a Republican would be elected to South Dakota's Class 2 Senate seat.

Candidates

Democratic

• Theodore 'Ted' Muenster, former dean at University of South Dakota, former chief of staff for Governor Kneip

Republican

• Larry Pressler, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

South Dakota U.S. Senate Election, 1990

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Larry Pressler (incumbent)	135,682	52.39%	−22.1%
	Democratic	Theodore 'Ted' Muenster	116,727	45.07%	+19.56%
	Independent	Dean L. Sinclair	6,567	2.54%	N/A
Majority			18,955	7.32%	−41.66%
Turnout			258,976	61.6%	−9.7%
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1990 United States Senate elections