1996 United States Senate election in South Dakota

1996 United States Senate election in South Dakota

November 5, 1996
 
Nominee Tim Johnson Larry Pressler
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 166,533 157,954
Percentage 51.32% 48.68%

County results
Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Pressler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Larry Pressler
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Tim Johnson
Democratic

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. He later ran again unsuccessfully for this seat as an Independent in 2014, when Johnson did not seek re-election.