1994 United States Senate election in Virginia
Introduction The '''1994 United States Senate election in Virginia''' was held November 8, 1994.Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Chuck Robb won re-election to a second term versus Republican nominee Oliver North, a Marine Corps veteran famous for his role in the Iran–Contra affair.Robb ultimately won by a 45.6% to 42.9% margin, with Marshall Coleman, a former Republican state attorney general of Virginia, taking 11.4% as an independent candidate.
Background and campaign ===Campaign===Oliver North was a very controversial figure as he was involved in the Iran-Contra Affair, a scandal during Ronald Reagan's presidency. Marshall Coleman, a former state attorney general, attempted to seize the middle ground between Robb and North. Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia endorsed Marshall Coleman.Douglas Wilder, the first black governor of Virginia, who served from 1990 to 1994, originally entered the Senate race as an independent before dropping out.In his failed bid to unseat Robb, North raised $20.3 million in a single year through nationwide direct mail solicitations, telemarketing, fundraising events, and contributions from major donors. About $16 million of that amount was from direct mail alone. This was the biggest accumulation of direct mail funds for a statewide campaign to that date, and it made North the top direct mail political fundraiser in the country in 1994.On the eve of the election, former first lady Nancy Reagan told a reporter that North had lied to her husband when discussing Iran-Contra with the former president, effectively eviscerating him. North's candidacy was documented in the 1996 film ''A Perfect Candidate''.
Democratic primary ===Candidates===*Sylvia Clute*Virgil Goode, state senator from Rocky Mount*Chuck Robb, incumbent senator since 1989*Nancy Spannaus, Lyndon LaRouche movement activist===Convention===There was an attempt to draft Governor Doug Wilder to run against Robb, but he chose to run as an independent candidate.===Primary===
Republican primary ===Candidates===*James C. Miller III, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget*Oliver North, Marine Corps veteran===Convention===North won a majority of the vote at the convention. He was not opposed in the primary.
General election ===Candidates===*J. Marshall Coleman, former Virginia attorney general and Republican candidate for governor in 1989 (independent)*Chuck Robb, incumbent senator (Democratic)*Oliver North, Marine Corps veteran and figure in the Iran-Contra affair (Republican)*Douglas Wilder, outgoing governor of Virginia (independent) (withdrew)=== Polling === Source Date ChuckRobb (D) OliverNorth (R) MarshallColeman (I) DouglasWilder (I) Mason-Dixon November 1–2, 1994'''37%''' 36% 17% Richmond Times-Dispatch October 31 – November 3, 1994'''39%''' 31% 12% Roanoke College October 27–30, 1994'''39%''' 35% 14% Mason-Dixon October 15–17, 1994 33%'''37%''' 16% Mason-Dixon September 22–24, 1994 33%'''35%''' 18% Mason-Dixon September 8–11, 1994'''33%''' 28% 15% 12% Virginia Commonwealth University July 7–15, 1994 '''29%''' '''29%''' 11% 16%=== Results ===
See also * 1994 United States Senate elections
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