1996 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

1996 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

November 5, 1996
 
Nominee Bob Smith Dick Swett
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 242,304 227,397
Percentage 49.25% 46.22%

Smith:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Swett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Smith
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Smith
Republican

The 1996 United States Senate election in New Hampshire was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Smith won re-election to a second term. Smith had established himself as the most conservative senator from the Northeast, and Bill Clinton's coattails nearly caused his defeat. That was to the point that on the night of the election many American media networks incorrectly projected that Dick Swett had won.