retired after 41 years in the Senate. House Minority Whip Trent Lott (R) defeated Congressman Wayne Dowdy by a comfortable margin in the increasingly Republican Mississippi. Montana: Incumbent John Melcher (D) was defeated by Republican Conrad Burns. A political novice, Burns would score an upset victory riding on the coattails of Bush's modest Montana victory. Democratic holds New Jersey: Incumbent Frank Lautenberg (D) won re-election to a second term over Republican Wall Street executive and Heisman Trophy winner Pete Dawkins. Lautenberg's campaign, led by James Carville and Paul Begala, attacked the once favored Dawkins as a carpetbagger (he moved to New Jersey from New York to make his Senate run) and opportunist. Wisconsin: Former state Democratic Party Chairman Herb Kohl defeated Republican state senator Susan Engeleiter for the seat of retiring incumbent William Proxmire (D). Kohl capitalized on his popularity in the state as the heir to the department stores that bear his family's name and as owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team. Republican holds Washington: Former Sen. Slade Gorton (R) defeated Rep. Mike Lowry (D) for the seat of incumbent Daniel J. Evans (R). Gorton won the tight race despite having been voted out of the state's other Senate seat two years earlier. Wyoming: Incumbent Malcolm Wallop (R) defeated Democratic state senator John Vinich by less than one percentage point. Wallop became vulnerable due to attacks on his partisan voting record. Change in composition Before the elections After the elections Race summary Special elections There were no special elections in 1988. Elections leading to the next Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1989; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. Closest races In eleven races the margin of victory was under 10%. Ohio was the tipping point state with a margin of 13.8%. Arizona Incumbent Democrat Dennis DeConcini was reelected to a third term over Republican Keith DeGreen, Marine veteran and financial advisor. California Incumbent Republican Pete Wilson won re-election to a second term over Democrat Leo T. McCarthy, Lieutenant Governor of California and former Speaker of the California State Assembly. As of 2020, this is the last Senate election in California won by a Republican. Connecticut Incumbent Republican Lowell P. Weicker Jr. ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Democratic candidate Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut Attorney General and eventual